New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-11-24

the peculiarly Of Chinese character. that, having
the way open, his ordship did not insist upon 3
visit to PehiD, since such decided step could not
iall to produce moral effect upon the public mind
The apparently hurried departure of the fleet has
with true Celestial ingenuity, been already con-
strucd into triumph of Chinese diplomacy and
bravery and one Of the articles Of the Treaty, at
least, has been broken before the ink waswel dried
with which j. Has written. The following Imperial
decree, issued July -, only weeh or 80 after
the departure OF the Allied fleet, shows distinctly
the spirit of the people and the amount Of depend
ence 10 BE- placed on their seraclty II should be
borne in mind that Article 81 of the Treaty, ex-
presslv provides that the reproachul term OF
- Barbarian" 50 long in use shall not b. applied
Ia Europeans and get, in The Pehih G0-eiie OF July
%. is the following:
kweiliang and Iwashana request Is Of Oar favor
TO reward and encourage those officers, gentry, AMI
merchants who have eXerted themselves AT Tien-.sn.
The barbsrian- on this occasion had come head.ong
with their ships up to 1en-tsiD. Mored By me
MINDS of Kwcilarg and H@ashaHa, signihei - them
with afectiona;e carnestness, they have weighed
anchor ard stood out to The officials. gentry, and
others concerned whether for their earle IN OPP
posing themsclycs 10 danger and their activity or for
iber exerons in tine enlistment Of braves for the ap-
rehepsion of robbers, certainly deserve or less
credit and viii lie doubtless the proper course to
1t seems almost beyond belief, that such childish
productions should come from an Imperial Court,
and vet this il only one from . great number OF
Lac tenor which have been scattered broadcast
over the whole empire. When Canton lay nj the
mercy Of the British troops and was REASONED for
millions al dollars, IN. common people were
taught 70 helieyc that the inyincible arms OF The
braves saved The CITY and oYercame the baro0rians.
So that 10 this DAY, eghttenhs of the Cantonese
dor ltct 4 n u, ia huV tel
in complete triumph over their enemies. The
same intention il evident now on the par: of the
Chinese officials al the north, and viii doubtless
meet with the same success. II Is utterly ysln ~
look for anything like honesty or ycrocity in
dealing with this singular people, and II Is an open
question whether or not the treaties now formed
will prove of the slightest advantage. Doubtless
treaty has been signed, snd has received the I'M
perial sanction. In this respect it has perhaps
great advantage over the treaty o! June l-43 It
being now generally understood that the Inparsi
signature to that document was forgery. But it
is very evident that the Emperor has promised to
perform that which he has not the abllt! 70 per-
FORM while the various DEGREES and cict, emanat
ing from the capital show plainly that inclination is
evt n more wanting than ability. The antpathy OF
the Chinese toward European nations is an instinct.
as much as that of mice toward eats and rabbits
toward dogs. BY long training, may, In individual
instances, be overcome, and a sort OF happy
a" family" arrangement be brought about. But tle
instructive feeling is fear, mingled with aversion.
Contention is out OF the question when force mees
force and, hence, cunning and deceit and trcschery
must come to the assistance of the weaS. DO not
think the feeling of the Chinese can be rightly
termed hatred. 1t ia aversion, strong and nsface-
able. Such being the case, all the treaties which
be formed will have no moral power over the
public mind. On the contrary obtained rs they
are by force, they simply stand as monuments OF
defeat to all who understand them, reminding them
not of the amity and good viii contained IN the
articles but of the destruction and blOOdshed which
preceded.
The treaty of I1i3 opened the gates Of Canton,
it is true; but who dared TO 90 in 1t is on record
that when the proclamation of Ke-ying (announc.
ing the fact that foreigners were to be allowed safe
access TO the city, was publicly posted 10 less than
thirty hours every copy was torn down and in their
places appeared placards of defiance and patriotic,
determined resistance, such as might We'll have
rraced the fences and houses and walls in the
neighbOrhoOd of Bunker Hill i'll our earlier years.
And now Canton is heap of ruins bearing silent
witness to the devoted constancy of her defenders
Ii may be saving too much to assert that this
feeling of aversion can never be overcome, but II
certainly has not diminished within the last fifteen
Years nor will its effects be any less strong upon
the fulilnent of the present treaty than upon that
of ioi3.
Leaving, then, the further deyelopcment Of the
general policy of China to future experiences, We
will glance at affairs III this vicinity.
visit to Canton last week showed the place in
strange, quiet desolati0n. Since the arrival OF
official dispatches from Pekin announcing The treaty
and the Imperial sanction thereto. the petty dis
turbances and kidnappings in which the braves
have INDUCED have entirely ceased. The city is
safe for ingrcss or egress and any who IL fond
of dust ard charcoal and dlapidated ruins can sat-
isiy his taste I'D Gbhum.
A few shops are omen here and there, snd few
natives loiter about without seeming 10 have any
object in view. There is a strange silence over
this city. which used 10 resemble beehive more
than anyihinc else with its crowdng, buzzng,
scrambng multitudes. In the river which flows
along the front of the city, and which formerly was
90 covered with boats great and small, that one
might walk for miles, stepping from one boat to
another-now scarcely IL boat To be seen, save
those belonging 10 the five or six gunbosts and
steamers living before the place. To one whO hiss
known Canton IN lis palmy days, there IS some
thing almost supernatural in the change.
More recent events. however, are already effect
inc an improvement The Imperial proclamation
of peace followed by the edict OF the Governor
General OF the Canton Province, is gradually eN.
ertng favorable influences snd as there IRE great
stores of merchandise, the owners OF which are
anxious for trade, doubtless trade will BE- opened
az once. Within the last few days there has been
large accession oi returning t""hs-peoPe' au ai'
increase of activity. If IL takts little to destroy
Chinese house, it takes little 10 build II again, 50
that, when once the tide of return fairly sets in
Canton will resume It's Old appearance without
much delap. Already detachment OF the huge
fleet |, us at this hsrbcr departed to Whampoa,
to be- in readiness Tor the first dropping of the mer
camille shower while most Of the principal trm'
have already secured temporary accommodations
at Canton.
Still, while the Allied troops hold the city, Il IA
doubtful whether entire revival OF trade can be
brought about, aud the perpleIne question oi III
demniN still remains unsettled The Chinese Off