Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-10-10


the subject under consideration, but is too per-
sonal for. any good resultsv We would be
honor-bound to give the author criticised space
for reply, and we have no desire to see the sub
ject protracted further
Tnr anticipated opening of the Chinese war
is regarded, as we perceive by glancing over
the late London papers, with totally different
sentiments by the two nations who are to be
allied in it In France it bids fair to be pop
ular movement Partly, as we infer from the
tone of the Paris etter.writers, because an alli-
ance with England in foreign war would pre-.
vent the rumorcd rupture with her at home
The English, on the other hand, seem to doubt
the present strength of their government, to
carry on successfully so distant and disastrously
expensive campaign. No surer proof of THU
doubt need be given than that of The sudden
fall of consols the morning the news of the
action at Peiho reached London That is the
infalbIe test of the British pulse. The war,
however, having been began-whether by acct
dent on the part of the Chinese Emperor, or
design on the part of the English Ministry
will be followed up by Britain for her ad-
vantage. She cannot stop short Of vigorous.
measures now. A glance at the position Of
China during the past few years with
regard to foreign powers, will show why
such a step on the part of England is i'm
peratiVely necessary il she would render,
the foothold she has gaiaed in that part o.!
the East profitable to herself in future Thus
far, it has,been source of loss and in this way:
Estimating the Chinese blythe neryeIess effemin.
ate Hondoos, from whose weak hands she had so
easily grasped their every source of wealth,
England, some years past, forced passage into
the ports of China and compelled a trade They
yielded to find themselves, after this length O,
time had elapsed, the gamers, by their quiet
but stubborn refusal to receive as imports
British manufactures in lieu of British specie
For the tea and silk sent to England, the opium
was but q partial equivalent. Consequently
Chinese trade has slowly drained into its own
channel the English silver to an extent which
has but lately become apparent. Yet so heavy
has been this drain thatan English paper alleges
that 'had it not been for the profuse production
of gold, in the past few years, it would have
proved ruinOus to the country. Over five hun
dred millions Of specie have been sent by Eng.
land, during the last ten years, to the East, for
which she has received only perishable imports"
Looking at the matter in this mercantile light.
no one can wonder that England and France il
they trade with China at all, shall try to force
her to trade upon more equal basis.
Their success even in this is predetermined.
We cannot but think England has always under
rated the inherent strength of resistance lying
dormant inChina. On such subject all pro.
phecies as to heresult, are, Of course, vueuest
speculation. Yet, founding such speculation
upon the little that is known of Chinese temper
and action, we believe that England, with all
her force. and skill, will be baffied at last
Popular tradition personiHes the vast empire of
the East as a figure, something like bowling
Mandarin, tea.drinking, cowardly, decked out in
silken friPpery, with gait as unsteady as
Chinese woman, frightening his enemies away
with painted COLLINS and monsters. But what
is the reality9 The absurdites which struck
the English eye on their first inroad into China.
their Wooden dragons and childish devices wore
but the effects of seclusion from the world of
ages, and proved no want of latent power
The very fact Of this seclusion, and its iuYiolate
preservation for thousands of years, argues an
inward strength. The man who can keep his
prison hiding place of idleuess The Chinese
nature is not sleepy QUO; it is always intensely
alive. No nationin existence is more thorough
y cultivated physically and mentally. In east
ern China, saysa botanist, so dense is the pop.
ulation, and so minute the tillage, that not one
plant can be found which is not of artificial
growth. The same remark might illustrate ev.
cry branch of Chinese industry. No atom of
matter or mind goes to waste. Not even the
famous Prussian system of education is half SO
thorough or complete as that of China. Under.
laying this indefatigable industry and ingenuity
which has already passed into proverb, we
find another trait Of character which never fails
to give force of character to man or to ma.
ton, viz: a tough obstinacy, combined with an
unconquerable sell>esteem. Believing them>
selves the actual children of the gods, and all
other nations barbarians for the space of four
thousand years, these comfortable traits of
character have had. think. ample time to take
roOtand bear fruit and to take root too deepyand