The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-26

with the aid OF the sensible portion of the com
munity they will prove efficacious in bringing
!. about radical and much needed reform in our
. municipal government.
Minister Ward at rekin-American In
i Muence In China and Japan.
The dispatches that reached Washington on
| Monday last from Colonel Pickens remove all
doubt as to the arrival and favorable reception
Of Minister Ward at Pekin. The intelligence
was received overland by the Russian govern
ment, and was considered reliable at st. Peters
burg If it be true, as stated, that Mr.. Ward had
had an interview with the Emperor, the fact
proves that the friendly disposition towards
this country attributed to the Imperial govern
ment is not exaggerated. It also confirms the
impression that now generally prevails, that if
the English envoy had not been stupidity pre-
JUDGED on the subject of Chinese insincerity
he might have reached the Imperial capital az
soon as our Minister. Our representatives have
gained more by taking the Chinese as they are
and making allowance for their starched and
primitive notions Of etiquette, than by attempt
ing to infringe on their usages or to force them
out of their slow routine modes of proceeding.
Without resorting to heavy ornaments without
having occasion even to fire shot or to hold
out threat of any kind, we have secured, in
relation to this exclusive people,
position which the European govern
ments have never as yet succeeded
in attaining, although aided by long diplo-
matte experience and armed demonstrations of
the most formidable character. The lesson
will prove valuable one to the statesmen of
the Old World if they know how to employ it.
1t shows them that in their relations with the
Asiatic, any more than with other governments
it is not good policy to violate those principles
of equity and right which are common to all
nations. Had Mr. Bruce taken for granted the
sioners, as to the preparations made for his
journey to Pekin by the route indicated by the
imperial government he would probably have
been there at the present moment, consulting
with the American Minister as to the best
means of securing to the commerce of the
world the advantages to be derived from this
final breaking down of the Chinese spirit Of ex-
clusiveness. As it is, he and his government
have now the humiliation of rejecting that, as
in the case Of Japan, it will probably be to
American influence and American generosity
that they will be compelled to owe the settle
ment of the pending difficulties.
AS to the military preparations which are
being made by England and France to force a
passage to Pekin, we do not believe that it is
seriously contemplated to carry out such step.
The idea Of invading an empire of four hun
dred millions of people with an army of thirty
thousand men is simply ridiculous. The argu-
ment drawn from the conquest of Hindostan,
in support of the feasibility of the scheme has
no force OF analogy in its favor. In India the
British first obtained footing as peaceable
and inofensive traders; then, profting by the
feuds of the native princes, they acquired terri
tory by aiding them in their wars against each
other, and after long lapse of years they sue
ceeded in subjugating the whole of them to
their own sway. In China they have different
elements to deal with. In the first place, the
population is homogeneous in its character; for
though the Chinese profess variety of reli-
gions, their creeds are not SO antagonistic as to
create the insurmountable barriers which
exist between the Hindoo and Mahometan races.
In the next, they will find the population ami
mated by a common feeling Of hostility
towards them. Their conduct during the
opium war, and the whole Of their proceedings
since then, have been of a character to induce
the conviction that their endeavors to open the
commerce of China are only SO many pretences
to acquire territory and to make fresh con-
quests. IT. therefore, the English and French
were to attempt so mad scheme as the inya-
sion of that vast empire, 1t is very certain that
they would in short time be crushed out by
the overwhelming odds that would be brought
to bear against them. The late disastrous af-
fair at the Peiho must have taught them that
the Chinese are not such despicable opponents,
or so entirely inexperienced in the science of
war as they had previously supposed them
to be.
The expedition which is being fitted out by
to be regarded merely in the light Of de-
monstration intended to give weight to
such further diplomatic efforts as circum-
stances may favor. Public opinion in Eng
land has pronounced itself so general
ly condemnatory of Mr.. Bruce's and
Admiral Hopes proceedings that we believe
Lord Palmerston, notwithstanding his en-
dorsement of them, will be glad to find another
opportunity of renewing the negotiations
which were broken off by their rash precipi-
fancy. That chance is now afforded him by
! the presence of Mr. Ward in Pekin. We trust