Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-06-04
Great Defensive Prepare.
lions Of the Chinese.


The Moniteur de la Flotte publishes
some further details relative to the war in
China. The Chinese, it is said, are at pres
ent making formidable military prepare
tons, which are not to be despised. Since
the attack on Canton, the Chinese hare ex-
ecuted enormous works on the Peiho, a
river which falls into the Yellow Sea, and
by which communication is maintained
with Pekin. That river is now barred in
twenty-five different places by dams built
of stone, which completely intercept nav
igation. These works are regarded as GU
riosity. Moreover, the three branches of
the Peiho canalized by the Emperor Kia-
Kang in 1917 are cut, and the course of
one of them, the Huhe, has been turned
off into the lake of Hohotchi. When an
army invade the Chinese Empire the prin-
cipai means of defense is to let the waters
of this lake overflow the country. The
system of defence. efficacious against an
enemy, but most disastrous for the coun-
try, was first used against the insurgents
in 1342. The city of Pekin is consequent
ly perfectly safe from an attack either by
land or sea, and the Emperor will in any
desperate circumstance be protected by the
fanaticism of the people, who will stop at
no means to destroy the foreigners,
A circumstance has lately demonstrated
The truth of this fact. The British ships
proceeding to Canton have been in the hab-
it of taking fresh water at Whampoa from
small river which falls into the Tchuki-
ang. 1t was remarked that the sailors us
ing this water lately have been attacked
with cholic aGd after careful investiga-
ton it was discovered that the water had
been poisoned by the Chinese. They en-
ployed for this purpose the trunks of GER
tain trees, which after being prepared for
the occasion. impart a deadly poison to the
water. The Chinese are naturally malig-
nant, and their wickedness is increased by
their fanaticism, which is beyond descrip-
ton. There is but one way to subdue
them, and that is to act upon their senses
and to terrify them by display Of force,
and by maritime demonstration on a
grand scale, such as is about to be accom-
plished by the British Government. 1t
appears, moreover, that some of the wealth
lest Mandarins in the Empire propose to re-
vive the great commercial company found
ed in 1859 by Tsong Too.
These great dignitaries. through person
al interests, are highly favorable to an ar
rangement with the English, notwithstand-
ing their warlike manifestations; and, as
they are in direct communication with the
members of the Nuy-Ko or Cabinet Coun-
Gil at Pekin, they can bring their influence
to bear directly on the Emperor's advisers
The revival Of the company founded in
1859 will render it impossible in future
for the Chinese Government to violate al
will its treaties with foreigners. The Mon
iteur de la Flotte concludes that an ar.
rangement of the difficulties at present ex
listing between the Chinese and English il
perfectly possible. For this purpose the
British government have merely to adop
the only means effioaciors with the Chi
nese character, which is to make formid
able demonstration on the coast of the Chi
nese Empire.