Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-02-06


yerous ana meddlesome mischief. maker in the world.
but In spite OF our occasional squabbles with her. we
americans must respect her spirit, and admit that
where she does meddle and make mischief, the re-
suit is generally service in the cause of humanity
The first object is of course her own aggrandize-
ment; but in every part of the world outside of the
United States, where England establishes her hag
civilization finds base OF operations from which to
begin the conquest ignorance and barbarism.
sometimes she is Quixotc in her enterprises of this
KIND, and very often she is uni Just But neither the
wisdom nor the justice of her course is part of
present subject and the happy cordlality exist
ing between the governments and peoples OF the
United States and England need not now be disturbed
by any eproaches for her conduct to other nations
We simply wish to refer, in connection with
political topic started by English ia China. TO
the restless vigilance of English pluck and the ex
treme readiness TO plunge into fight, upon very
moderate pretexts.
Not 10 revive old btternesses by recalling the nu-
me'0os Tlsunn~rs,andings with our government, we
neeo only refer to faw of the other embroilments
'ha' sne mas recently been engaged in. The Russian
was her grandesl enterprise of Teceut times. But
she had also, before and during it's prosress the con-
quest OF Burmah in hand. She has since then, an
neXed the kingdom of Dude to her dominions She
has contEved 10 have Observation-Disclosures seri-
GUS, howeve-with Spain She had threatened the
King of Naples with war, and actually had a fleet
all ready to lombard his capital. She has threaten
ed to blockade the ports of Mexico and near
executing similar threat ag"Inst New Grenada.-
GH,
heavy one still with Russia, which she is quite ready
TO settle by the sword, If the pen does suit her
Qulte lately she has undertaken war with Persia,
the quaTre! having begun, ike good many other
great ana small quarrels, about woman But IL
has been aggraved by the fact that Persian force
| has taken town beiOngihg not TO England but to
Afghdnsian. But scncely has he war in Persia
been begun, before we hear Of her IInprovising au-
other one III China, and bombardng Canton without
even premonIlOry hint that she had any i'll feeling
towards The Celestial Empire. Truly my we say
that England, under the exercise of the Palmerston-
ian policy, has her hands tull.
he particulars Of the quarrel that has become so
serious at Canton are only imperfecty given in the
English papers that we have received 1t appears
that lorcha, sailing under British col0rs had been
seized by the Chinese, and it is reported that the
! heads OF several Of The were removed by the
summary process of Chinese justice. What their
offence was is not stated, do the brief English
accounts pretend that they re committing no Of
fence. But 1t may be presumed that they were en-
gagged IN some outrage or they would not have been
50 harshly treated. However, being under British
coOrs the living prisoners entitled 10 British
protection and the dead to British venAe eance A
naval force was despatched from Hong Kong, and the
Chinese othclalS refusing to make any amends Tor
their conduct, Canton was bOmbarded from the river,
and an attack also made from the land side
Considerable damage was done 10 the walls and a
fleet of twenty three war junks was destroyed. The
British loss OF life be inconsiderable, and
we have no means of estimating the destruction
among the Chinese. At the latest dates, the difficult
y unsettled, and more fighting anticipated.
Thus far the story, in brief. The motive for the
terrible punishment inflicted on the Chinese, in the
bombardment of lhickly -peopled Town, seems
what questionable. The emergency was moi so des-
perate to demand the destruction of probably many
hundreds of lives and vast amount of property
Still, when the English arm is raised to chastise
inferior nation, it rarely gives gentle blow. In this
instance the blow is treated the beginning of verl
table war, and the London journals already with
the commercial instinct the nation, discussing lis
probable effects upon the prices of and silks, and
pointing out defects in the last treaty with China
which ought 10 be remedied in the treaty that is TO
conceal it's satisfaction that the opportunity for ap
g plying this remedy has been furnished by Admiral
, Seymour In this negotiation England will have her
e own way. There will be no balance of power to
spect, perplexing protocols. and no embarrassing
Paris Conference, where French is the language, and
English dignity, we'll the English tongue is at
n a discount AS Americans are Interested, partly
f because we have many traits in common with the
English, and would have been, perhaps ready to
lombard Canton if an outrage had been done to our
flag but especially because we are great tea drink
ers and great silk We must hope that the
quarrel will neither be long nor bloody but we
should also be ready to avail ourselves OF any ac-
ties that may offer, in the of its settlement by
, which may obtain these staples more advantage
, ousy, and improve, if possible, of n'er-
course with the hinese-Philadd. PennsWUanlan.
E The LATEST CT MEN-1here a society es-
tablished somewhere in England, many years ago,
entitled the Lazy Society Applicants for admission
we're rigidly scrutnzed in respect to Their habits,