The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-01-12


this position of honorable distinction, the press Yields
a most potent influence, and must act a conspicuous
part You, gentlemen of the press, are responsible
for efforts, judicious and ceaseless. to inculcate cor
rect principles in ethics and morals, TO denounce and,
if possible, eradicate those evils incident to national
adolescence, to stand up m~anfully for the right, and
by all legitimate appliances to stimulate and urge
forward those supplies of national cpulence and power
derived from agriculture. education, the Industrial
arts and commerce. May God help you thoroughly
to appreciate and discharge the duties of your great
commission.
Foreign relations with China are now eliciting con-
siderable interest and discussion in this quarter. The
subject has assumed such an unexpected and anoma-
lous aspect that the uninitiated find themselves ut
terly nOn-plussed by it. You have doubtless seen the
published accounts of the unfortunate and disastrous
collision between the Chinese and the Allies English
and French) at the mouth of he Peiho. Public
criticism on that lamentable occurrence is now per-
haps a bootless task, and can scarcely fail of being
invidious. The simple statement, however, of some
prominent features of the event may aid you in form
ing n reliable opinion upon the subject. 1t is, L be-
ieve, the general opinion that, under the circum-
stances, Mr.. Bruce, the English Minister, did right
in pursuing the course he adopted and though some
severe criticisms have been made upon the AdmiraI's
, - hNA biS AiSbD tAAits-hE llS I
in his case. 1t is indeed somewhat difficult to con-
ceive how these officers could have honorably adopted
any course differing materially from the one they
acted upon; and yet the COL lotion obtains quite ex-
tensiyely that had more tim. -per allowed for ohserv-
alton and communication with t.e Chinese author
ties, the catastrophe might have oeen avoided, or, if
a collision were inevitable, the dag of Old England,
rs of yore, would have come out of it in honorable
triumph.
The Chinese Government declares that the collision
was both unexpected and undesired on it's part, but
the public is slow to credit the statement. Whether
or not the Government of China is sincere in its pres
ent professions, there was one serious defect in its
programme for receiving the foreign ministers, the
grave character of which could not have escaped its
observation, and for the inevitable consequences of
which it is clearly and wholly responsible. The river
known among foreigners as The "Peiho" has always
been regarded as the highway TO Pekin from the sea.
Ii was up this river the Allied feet passed in 1858,
and Mr.. Bruce, of course, expected to go the same
way in 1859, on his way to the great Capital. 1t ap-
pears, however, that after the Allied fleet withdrew
from the river in 1858, the Chinese Government
blocked up the entrance to the Peiho, and erected
there Notifications of the most substantial and formid-
able character. All this was done without giving the
Allies any information of its proceedings or intimating
to them that in 1859 they must approach Pekin by a
new route, or even stationing a proper officer at the
former entrance, now destroyed, to advise the Allies
Of the change of route. This, public opinion declares
to be the fatal error OF the Chinese Government, and
the cause of the hostile collision to which I have re-
The failure to exchange the English and
French treaties within the time stipulated, of course
renders them null and void, and we now have the
of foreign officials exercising the functions of
heir Office in China, and foreign merchants holding
immense wealth and transacting business of incalcu-
able amount here without any tire : v or treaty rights
whatever. The Russian treaty u been exchanged
It Pekin before the battle at the mouth of the Peiho,
subsequent to that collision the American treaty
been exchanged by the proper authorities.
Mr.. Ward, the American Minister, arrived at Pekin
lbout the 18th of July, 1859, and remained there ff-
days with his suite. The Presidents letter was
at Pekin, and the exchange of the treaties
.ook place at Pehtang, a town at the northern en-
rance of the Peiho.
The Allies are now waiting for instructions from
heir respective governments, and will probably re-
'eive them within the coming month. What the
policy Of England and France will be on this impor-
ant subject it is idle to conjecture; but we feel as
ured, however, that it will be worthy of the honora-
lie fame of those great nations and the grave char
Of the present crisis. Meanwhile Chinese pol
move on in the usual channel. The poverty,
weakness and corruption of the Government grow
apparent. The 6 rags and rottenness'' to which
Eigin referred in his remarks on China, force
upon your notice in all directions. The
ai-Ping rebellion, too, is still unsubdued Despite
imperial manifestoes to the contrary, the rebels still
xist, and bursting occasionally from their Businesses,
scatter the Imperial troops as chaff before the
7ind. But my sheet is full and l must close, wish
ng you and the Commercial all prosperity and sue
ess. Yours, very truly, Il. S. MACLAY.