The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-25
The Chinese War.

Lord Palmerston is reported to have said
in debate that he counted on the support of
he French and hoped for that Of the Anne
ncaR erms in prosecuting the present contest
with China. 1t is not certain that the latter hope
can be realized Eatangling alliances are MOTTO
the teste of this country; and it is quite likely
that Mr. Buchanan may decide that if we have
cause of quarrel with China we must settle that
quarrel ourselves. At the same time, il is compe-
tent for the Chinese to make us a party to the
war by inflicting injuries upon us: and we have
mcny reasons for supposing that this has already
been DONE
Our correspondent at Hong Kong inveighs
strongly but suitably against the apathy of our
government in leaving the protection of Ameri-
can interests in China to the British. 1t seems
that, in the language of our correspondent, 1--WE
are indebted to The British for protection to our
merchant ships from pirates, to the BritKh for
what little respect the Chinese have for us, to a
British colony for retreat on such emergencies as
the present war, and to British charts for our
sole guidance in Chinese waters" Here is an
obligation which it would be decent to tighten.
Vessels of light burthen would accomplish
the business OF protection which our large
men-of-war are unable to afford As to
the disrespect with which the Chinese regard
us, that is at once explained by the extract from
Commissioner Lin's report to the Chinese Emps
ror-published in these columns some days since
"The Americans" said this Chinese Talleyrand,
''are very good and judioious people; they al
ways obeyed our requests in every particular,
and when we killed some Of their people mistak-
ing them for English. they made no complaint,
and gave no trouble" For the rest, as to the
protection afforded by the colony of Victoria to
our countrymen in Chine, we must for the pre-
sent continue to be indebted to the Eaglish for
that much Were it feasible for the United
States to acquire territory for fort on one of
the islands at the mouth of the Canton river, or
in any part of the coest of China, the .G,quisi-
ton would relieve us from the obligation, and
materially add both to the safety and to the re-
pute of our countrymen abroad.
We have no apprehension that new British
Ministry will pursue this Chinese question in a
different spirit from the old. Whether Sir
John Bowring and Sir Michael Seymour are
recalled or no. it may be taken for granted that
the whole affair will be sifted to the bottom and
that no short sighted view of humanity will be
permitted to stand in tie way of such castiga-
| ton Of the Chinese as will serve them in good
| stead for the future. That the policy of the
| government at Pekin is inspired by the
| Cabinet Of Russia there seems to be every
reason TO believe. Fit be true Is stated, that
the Russian missionaries have effected recon-
Citation between the rebels and the imperislists
the evidence of Russian sympathy will be CON-
plete. But it is quite doubtful whether the dis
covery of Muscovite completely will help the
Chinese in their dispute with England. On the
contrary, the interposition of the Gar is the
very thing that would be most likely to embitter
the mind of the Eoglish, ard to impel them TO
proceed to extremities.