The Washington union., 1857-05-20

every article of food necessary to its existence
if it remained in the country procure its sunni
Heaven knows where-from home, or from so~'
remote region, perhaps thousands of miles dist.
This would doubtless be difficult matter ~
withal rather expensive But cousin John doT
mind money when his honor is in question--atI Is
so he says Like the little man in the nursery soS
the learned and critical Chancellor of the Excbaos
may sing or say:
my means they are but small,
But you II have my little all,
And the rest we can borrow, borrow borrow"
The probability is however, that Great Britain ;.
lies principally for the successful result of this
on the weakness and pusillanimity of the Emperor
China. She hopes to frghten him into submissior
having once before succeeded. But things are N,
terially changed since that happened. There i
new party that will probably have finger in the ii,
"The great northern monster las the LonS~
Times used to call hm) is not probably laid SO a,
his back" las the aforesaid Times likewise used
say) but that he may be able to kick little M
not probable--nay, it is quite inconceivable-tb,
Russia can be indifferent spectator of this auar
We do not how it is possible for her to avoid
king deep interest, if not active part wheths
secret or open, III a war which involves, if not R
existence, at least the independence OF great en-
pire lying at her very Threshold and whose subiuoa
ton subserviency would so greatly increase NJ
power of her great rival in the East
We take it for granted, at least, that the nfuene
of Russia at the court of Pekin--which we have n
doubt is now paramount to that Of any other foregD
power-will be greatly increased by China becow,
ing in measure dependent on her for support N
the coming struggle and, of course, exerted in nr0
venting the older brother of the and moon from
showing the white feather. Without any palpabh
breach of neutrality or violation Of treaty Russia
may materially assist in various ways in sustaining
neighboring, friendly power; and that she will moi
do so is to suppose the spirit Of Peter the Great be-
~ II, fl,aE .nha
On the whole, therefore, we can conceive it poss.
bic that the Chinese may not result in the abSo
lutte triumph Of Great Britain and in saving thai
we simply express an opinion not wish. Though
not willing that the United States should become
party in the contest, not partisans Of ChipA
except so far as that cannot bring ourse,v ves !,
wish success to what we conceive to be a captions
unnecessary, and unjust war, which, at all evenh
must result in an interruption OF orr commerce wiR
China-for what length of time and to what extent Il
is impossible to conjecture as one can foretell h0
duration of the war, and it is not at all unlikely that
Great Britain may declare all the ports of China n
state of blockade. Were we the enemies Of Great
Britain we should contemplate this war with much
more complacency, believing, as we do that under
the most favorable circumstances, it will result n
throwing China into the arms of Russia, in vastac
cumulation Of debt, and series of disappointmenp
But this is no affair Of ours, and are mere look
ers-on. We have no objection to our cousin John ma
king war on Persia, China, or any other power att
reasonable distance, provided he don insist on ha
United States becoming party. We think, how
ever, that we understand what is due to ourselves
and others quite well cousin John, and that il
is bad policy, well as bad manners to call us hard
and abuse us for set of ignorant blockheads
who don't understand which side our bread is butter
ed because we declined to sicoAoperate in the MAG.
nfccnt enterprise ofcivilzing China as Great Britain
has civilized Hindoston. AS before stated we believe
the United States have not the slightest disposition
to interfere with the policy of Great Britain in tho
Eastwe will not say as much for the West--but athe
same time we think we may venture to predict that
neither bullying wheedling, fattery nor abuse on
the part of the British press, or the Anglo-Ameri
press in the United States, will bring about CO
aliton Tor cooperation, it is ermed) between the
"Great Republic of the West" and the Great Cham.
pion of Civilization in what is believed an unjust
and unnecessary war. A fellowship of this kind
once begun would naturally lead to something like
entente coraie, which must invariably end in total
alienation Once linked in with the policy of Great
Britain, there might be imminent danger that tho
United States would be lugged into almost perpetual
wars---in other words, perpetual cooperation the
English, though not martial, are pugnaciops peo
pie. War is almost always popular with then, since
whether successful or not nothing is moy easy than
to make them believe it has had glorious termpa
ton. Their insular position and IT, cir wooden walls
protect them from all the domest evils Of war. their
fields are devastated, Heir Gresides disturbed
or their affairs overthrown; and if the burdens Of tho
nation are increaseda great portion is shifted on
the shoulders OF postcrity. Their history shows they
are always ready for war, and "plucky minister is
Almost sure q, 70 be the popular idol. 10 make com
mon cause with such nation is therefore dangerous
Let us be friends, if you please but not allies Let
us shake hands, but not fall into hugging and kiss
ing, Al RETIRED STATESMAN.