The Washington union., 1857-05-08
From the New York Journal q Commerce
THE CHINESE WAR.


THE CHINESE WAR
The latest Paris journals contain long accounts o. the
preparations which the Chinese making resist the
attack of the British the anatcism of the people, and
their determination TO make stubborn resistance. If
these accounts authentic they contradict completely
the stories OF the Emperors disapproya Of Yehs pro-
ceedings and prove that the is not confined to local
quarrel between the British officials at Hong Kong and
Governor Yeh and the authorities at Canton but that 1t
is national conflict. The Ao,tew de la Fsoae
liable and wellinfomed paper published in Paris, states
that formidable military preparations in progress for
the defence OF Pekin that immense works have been
constructed the Peiho, river which by the cap
a into the yellow sea- and that the of the canals
has been tunedas toaest the advance Of hostile force
at any moment by flooding the country. The people
represented determined to every to destroy
the foreign DEVILS and it s stated that they recently
threw poisonous plants into river Whampoa where
British vessels in the habit Of obtaining fresh water
in order poison the British sailors In the time
the British government collecting formidable force
the Chinese coast, to cooperate with the French
peon with the hope ii is believed OF frightening the
Chinese into submission by adspay of irresistible power
and il that fails with the determination the prompt
est and most energetic to resistance and
compel them yield what the British envoy charged To
demand If the Paris Poys is we'll informed to the
precise nature of Lord Ens Instructions the concessions
which he Is demand of the most comprehensive
ture and the most opposed to the ncnaons Of the Chi
people and their habits Of intercourse with foreign
es Instead OF five ports being opened to foreign
merce stipulated by the treaty Of Nankin eight ports
be declared free TO all nations English ships
to be allowed to put in for repairs and shelter to port
ON the coast British college, like that of Russia to
be established at Pen to be composed Of five members
whose duty it will be to maintain official relations be
tween the governments of Great Britain and China Eng
ish military posts are to be established at every British
consular station and permission is to be given and land
ceed for the construction of British forts at Shanghai
and Canton as permanent military establishments for the
better protection British residents and their interests
If this is authentic summary of Lord Elgns nstruc
tons is scarcely be supposed that the Emperor
his advisors will consent to yield much before they find
resistance unavailing and from what is known OF the
Chinese il is certain from their notorious reckessness
of human life that they will not give in unless they
find some more valuable interest in danger than the
lives of any number of their countrymen II the Anglo
French forces triumph ultimately ii is to be supposed
they must they will hardly do without sanguinary
and protcted struggle, to sustain which the Chinese
are far better qualified than they in the last
| war Whatever il won win be at the point of the
bayonet and the cannons mouth and will have to be
held in the same manner.
| good deal OF bitter and disappointed feeling is ex
sal Of the United States government join any alli
ance to compel the Chinese to establish their relations
with foreign nations liberal and satisfactory
footing This bitterness OF expression arises, fancy,
in a great measure from imperfect knowledge of the
facts from ignorance of the established policy OF gov
with regard to foreign alliances Of every de-
1 scription and from mistaken appreciation OF the
motives which induced government to decline
| Joining in any hostile expedition against nation
with which at peace and with which we have
no cause of quarrel We the Manchester Guar
diam and all those who entertain the opinions,
that neither Jealousy nor ill-wi to England has
induced our government to decline joining in any hostile
combination against China and that far .na-
tiona dignity and the true policy of the country
concerned we believe the statesman who fills the
ecutiye chair il fully competent to maintain the and
select and pursue the other without dictation adj
! vice The Manchester Guardian and the London Post
| NAV believe that to declare against China with
out any ground of complaint any injury to avenge
would be very dgnifed and that to help to force the
Chinese to grant what Lord EIgn is commissioned to
auire would be the '.true policy of this country but
thinks otherwise that adhere the old
established policy Of avoiding alliances with European
powers-of lighting own battles and leaving other
people to fight hersis wiser policy and most in
fornity with the straight line OF public duty SO far
the moral cooperation and friendly intervention of
representative avail to promote peace, and to place
the commercial relations Of foreign nations with the Chi
nese on surer and liberal basis, believe that
the distinguished gentleman who has just been appoint
ed United States commissioner to China will exert him
self to put an end the present hostes and that this
peaceful intervention will be eectual in advancing
the carsc Of humanity and civilization and in protect
ina opr fellow-citizens in China dor which the Man
chester Guardian is most solicitous than if to
send s.squadrons Of gun-boas seek o tcrrify the
Chinese by force and by maritime demonstration on
1 great scale.