New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-14
JOHN BULLS LATEST INTER
HENT1ON.

VEN
To be percbed upon a spike.fringed fence,
upon one side of which lie beds of broken bot
tie, while tie other brlstcs with improved msn-
traps, Is a position conducive neither to com.
fort nor good temper. We are therefore some
times moved to lock with tenderness upon the
attitude of the British Government. which, IN
~ relations t. this country, occupies station
not unlike that We have pictured. Wine on
The ieuce, the moral -pkcs OF DOM site distress
afl It if, aud, III the present aspect OF Affairs.
It is ahc apprebensNo OF the man'traps oil
Northern indignation. and the broken bottles Of
Southern fury. While the pathway was clear.
ON one eide. at least, it stubbornly refused 10
descend, expect TX, 30 doubt, that more ~
yitlne avenue would open ~ tho opposite diec-
ton. But no such avenue APPEARED. The
bottles grew thicker, ard the Inon-,rGps more
complicated, every day. The spikes, too. be-
came rusty, which irIitated matters, and 70 tho
British Government Was leit as 1t remains To
tins moment, IN a situation materially Injurious
to ito dignity aad It's ease.
Ia this ca-c. as in otlers, il il had only
seen its way clear, The British Government
would have pursued it, Characteristic policy,
and sided with that party which represented
its own Interests. Not Ia have Its fingers ia
the political pie oil every nat.on under the Sun
is Brtain's mi-ery; but prudence sometimes
tempcrs its appetite. aud where doubt eIi.ts
as ~ expcdicucy, It holds uloof, aud makes q
virtue OF necessity. It's disappcnlmcnts IN
America, however, are now compensated by
the opportunity for active interference in the
affairs Of the East. China IS in tie throes OF
rebellion that has nlcuaccd the Imperial
dynasty for ten year,. Zach year the in,nr-
rrctiouists nave gained strength, aud. up To u
recent period their movements have bce0
locked upon with favor BY the powers OF Eu-
rope. Ii not themselves more civilized than
their lmperaliSt opponents. they lad at lcast
shown respect for civilization, ard had sought
with earnesness to establish a libe'al relation
ship with the outside world. England saw,
and tactly approved. On two occasions she
even made war upon the supporters Of the
Empire, ana thrsslied them wherever rhe could
get at them, thereby indirectly encouraging
tue hopes Of the Rebels. Having brought tho
Imperial Government to proper humiliation,
and secured all advantages Of commerce which
could BE- demanded, she rested from her labors.
but China still remained ia q state 0i internal
DISCRIMINATION. To have abstained from inter-
ference IN ono way or another, provided 1t
were saf, way. would have been to depart
from al the traditions OF the British Govern
ment. Ths lmp"ralists having yielded every
concession that was asked, and being ready T.
yield any others that might be, they could not,
in decency, be ret upon again, and so tue Rebels
were notified that their turn was coming.
With characteristic stolIdity they pretended II
calm Indifference and were presently attacked
in their positions. aud slaughtered to such
extent az was convenient at the time. Unlike
the lo,alists, however, they manifested
strange spirit OF resentment which took effect
in an advance upon Shanghae in such force MS
to drive tue English and French peil-Inell from
their positions near that place.
The details Of this reverse, which was proba-
bly, not very serious, have been withheld from
the British people, the Ministry acting upon
that principle which it ascribes to the Govern
mcnt Of the United Suites, Of husblDg up what
ever news may iDjure its own credit if made
public. 1t has been determined, however, H.
send rc-eniorcen,uts 10 China without delay,
and the conviction is becoming general that the
Government means great deal more than IL
las yet revealed. The only serious pretense
for taking up arms ut all IL this: Certain
Chinese ports, among them Nlngpo and Shang-
hae, were opeued to commence by the latc
treaty with the Imperial authorities. The re-
possession Of these cities formed part Of the
plan OF the rebels, who, up to recent period,
had occupied them in security. This was
objected to-fnt by England, and aiterward
by France--on the plea that commerce would
thereby suder, tie real fact beng that, under