The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-22


flames. Such are the known facts Of the move
ment. Rebel papers Of the 10th inst. stated that
Sherman was moving on q line that would
bring him to Mobile, and called attention at the
same time to the fact that large feet of trans
ports bad just arrived in Mobile bay. II is
their very evident desire to give their readers
the impression that Mobile is aimed at. On the
other hand, it is very boldly stated that the
points first aimed at from Macon will be Sa-
vannah and Augusta, and that the army will
move to those points in two columns. Such is
the substance of Washington despatch, and If
it is .rce it should certainly have come under
the head of contraband news>s Meantime. while
Sherman goes on toward his unknown destina-
ton, Beauregard and Hood remain on the Ten
nessee. There they stand. utterly unable to
carry on against Thomas the grand operation
that they projected az a;nst Sherman. They
cannot invade Tennessee with any possible
chance OF success, nor Is it likely that they will
be able to even get away from their present
position safely for they cannot retreat in the
face Of Thomas il bis orders contemplate any
conquests OF Civilization I'm the East
Trade OF China and Japan. /.
The opening to foreign commerce Of the
Straits of Simonasaki is an event the Importance
of which cannot be overestimated. Although
the result of combined operation by the fleets
of Great Britain, France. Holland and the
United States, there is no doubt thatsit is in
accordance with the views and wishes of the
progressive party in japan. The embas-
sizes sent to this country and to Europe suffi-
GENTLY attested the disposition Of that party to
open up Japan to the trade Of the world. The
influence Of the Damios, or great feudal princes,
succeeded for time in defeating the steps they
took in that direction. A military terrorism,
like that which has maintained JEFF. Davis and
bis fellow traitors in their positions, kept down
the patriotic tendencies of the enlightened men
who endeavored to obtain for Japan admission
into the brotherhood of nations. They had the
modification of finding the public sentiment
sure crushed out by despotism which they
bad no means OF resisting. Fortunately
the violation by the latter Of existing treaties
and its insoent aggresslons upon foreign COM
merce came to their aid. In selfdefence the
allied governments have been compelled to
resort to step which, if it does not annihilate.
will efectually cripple the power Of the feudal
princes, and give ascendancy to that party
which desires to bring Japan within the circle
Of civilized nations.
1t is hardly necessary for us to point out the
immense advantages which must result to us
in common with the rest Of the word from
this event. The development, partial as it was,
given to our commerce by the limited privileges
which We extorted from the Japanese govern
ment enabled Us to form a tolerably good idea
of the extent to which the trade with that en-
pire might be pushed. Nor is it to be donbtcd
that 1t also opened the eyes of the masses of its
people to the reciprocative benefits that they
were likely to derive from it. So long, how
ever, as the ruling party committed no open
breach OF faith with US, and confined
itself to its old tricks OF delay and
equivocation. we were obliged to con-
tent ourselves with the slow progress
we made. Now, however, all necessity Of that
kind has passed away, and we are at liberty to
give effect to the aspirations Of the progressive
party in the empire without subjecting our
selves to any imputation of bad faith or
desire to force on matters too rapidly.
When We take into consideration the rich
resources Of the Japanese empire in minerals
as we'll as in tea, silk and other products, we
have reason to congratulate ourselves on the
prospect Of being able to establish CONNER
cial intercourse with it that will not be subject
to rude checks from its internal political
difficulties. To maintain their influence the
Daimios will now have to cultivate the foreign
element; for If we teach the Japanese masses
that we can whip their masters into compli-
ance with anything we demand, they will soon
profit by the lesson. We may, therefore, look
upon it as a settled thing that we shall have
no further trouble Of any kind with them.
Thus another comparatively unexplored field
of commercial enterprise is opened to our
people.
Although in China, owing to the mixed and
less intelligent character Of its population as
we'll as to the difficulty Of penetrating to the
interior Of the empire, our progress has been
slower, still within the last half dozen years
We have made considerable headway. The
emigration to California Of shoals Of its laborers
and artifcers has undoubtedly helped us good
deal. These people return to their own coun-
try with little fortunes, the fruits Of their
industry here, and they become so many mis-
sonsriss for the spread Of information regard
ing those whom it has been their habit to style
"the barbarians Of the outer world" Then the
fact that the Chinese are compelled to have
rscourse to us for ofcera tn orpa nize and disci-