The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-21

/ aDtse 10 MI bucxhatn, VINO Ii certainly lbe
first citizen in the United States, ana "a such is
entitled 10 be spoken o. nj least, IN decent
rhraseology. The ChevaIier, however, calls
| him "a Wholesale murderer and "a traitor, y
and says that he "basely skulks from the dis-
| charge Of his duty" that he il "the instigsaor
and author Of contemplated massacre" and =
good deal more Of that sort. What does Webs
mean by using such language to The President
| OF the United States.
| We always thought that Cheyalcr Webb had
something of the gentleman about him. We
knew that he was slow in paying his debts and
! that the old United States Bank suffered some
what from that frailty Of his nature; but then
we always supposed that he could be polite
even when be had not the money to pay. If
the President elect should decide to send him
as Minister TO Austria, and give him chance
to wear out that old court suit of his, he will
| have to take few lessons in politeness before
| he goes Such language as we have quoted ia
| not at all according to Chesterfield, and will
| never do for the court Of the Kaiser. We are
| afraid the Cheyaler has been keeping very bad
! company lately; he must have been mixing
with some very low people. Has he had any
| social intercourse with Aldermen, or Council
men, or members of the legislature Because
| if he has that would account for it entirely.
| Important from China-The Allies In Pc
kin-Flight of the Emperor
| The Persia brings the intelligence Of the
fall Of Pekn and the fight of the Emperor into
Tartary. The imperial palace was sacked
IL - - Ia I'LL
membered that on the 18th of September the
Chinese effected the capture of Lord Elgn's
private secretary and interpreter, a captain
and lieutenant in the army, the London Times
special correspondent and two others, who were
| out in search of a camping ground. Nothing
| was heard Of them for several days, when
an imperial commissioner addressed letter to
Lord. Elgin on the subject of peace, in which it
was stated that all the prisoners were perfectly
safe in Pekin, to which they were conveyed
Immediately after their capture, and lodged in
large public building, where they met with
good treatment. Lord Egin very reasonably
| demanded the restoration Of the prisoners to
his camp before renewing any negotiations
| whatever, but no attention was paid to his re-
clamation. On the entry Of the Allies into Pc
kin they found two Of the parties alive two
dead and two unaccounted for. If living the
latter will soon be forthcoming, as the victors
| will accede to no terms without being assured
| Of their fate.
II must be owned that the Allies have had
anything but smooth work before them in the
Flowery Land. They found themselves beset
with difficulties at every step, owing to
the peculiar objects they had in view. They
were not, as in ordinary warfare, DESTROYS of in
fiicting as much punishment and loss upon the
enemy as possible, but only just enough to
produce certain definite effcct-to wit, the
humiliation of the Emperor at Pekin sufficiently
to induce his compliance with the terms of a
proposed commercial treaty, and to exact the
payment of an indemnity.
They were aware that too much humiliation
would probably result in an immediate over
throw q the present dynasty in favor of the
Tapping insurgents and that in such event
| they would have to do their fighting over again
with new party. The consequence was that
they labored under disadvantages which were
construed by the Chinese into weakness and ir-
| resolution Thus the Celestials were alter
natcly puzzled and encouraged The mode
Of action adopted by the Allies was
calculated to quicken them to resistance.
and We were therefore not surprised to
hear of fresh difficulties in the march upon
| Pekin. engagements were fought on the 18th
and 2lst Of September at Chang-kia-wan and
Jang chan, on each of which occasions the allied
forces were opposed by 10000 Tartar cavalry.
who were repulsed with loss Of 1000 killed
| and fifty guns taken, while the Allies had only
| eighteen wounded-a significant fact showing
the immense disproportion of military strength.
lows and arrows and gingalls are evidently
no match for Armstrong artillery; but taking
| into consideration the inferiority of their wea.
| pons, the Chinese have fought well throughout
the campaign.
However much we may disapprove the pro-
cess Of making customers by force, we can
not but wish the Allies well out of this, the ug-
liest and most unsatisfactory of conquests.
Our belief is that although successful in
the capture Of Pekin, matters will re-
sumo their old way i'm the empire. The
Chinese are no respectors of treaties,
and only agree 10 one for the sake of get
ting rid Of an unwelcome visiter. and then
turn round and by its direct violation show
how little II is worth. They may be penny
wise and pound foolish in pursuing such
line Of policy; but it is their nature TO do
what they say they viii not do, and rice rrso
Perfdy and deceit are the great elements Of
Celestial diplomacy, and to these they still ad-
here, Notwithstanding the carnage. and ruin
which they have suffered as the bitter penalty
| SECESSION RrN mo TUE GRorSp-Some OF
our small newspapers and small potato ward
and grogshop politicians, seized with this