The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-19
Another s. Crisis, in China.
Eoogn the Lou1on Standard

Since we last touched upon Chinese af-
fairs q crisis has arrived which viii show
the necessity of q new policy towards
that country. The grasping encrOsch-
ments of Mr.. Lay, which tended 10 moth
ing less than sovereign sway over the
largest empire in the world were bad
enough when they seemed acceptable TO
the Chinese Government. Now that his
latest proposals have been definitely re-
iected, even by the tolerant Administra-
tion of Prince Kung, nothing but sheer
madness could urge their support from
home, or accord to them the shadow of
liberation. To have the Administra-
ton of China. forced upon US would be q
misfortune but to insist upon assuming
it ourselves would be a crime. The ma
ture of Mr.. Lays designs, which we have
repeatedly pointed out, now stands con-
fessed in official documents, and the
most incredulous may see that our denun-
Citations were deserved.
Since the death of the late Emperor,
and the Bedchamber plot" by which
the Empresses brought about 3 reVOlu-
ton, strangled antiqusted prejudices in
the persons of the old Ministry, and set
up new men with new ideas under the
Regency of Prince Kung, our relations
with the Celestial Empire have been on
a far better footing than they had ever
been before; and if they have not re-
mained SO the fault does not lie with the
Chinese Government. Prince Kung,
the first Chinese in high station
who had ever been favorable TO
foreigners, desired nothing better
than to please all parties and keep
things quiet. To any extent on the safe
side of embroiling himself with the
Court and the country he desired to give
encouragement TO his English allies, and
even to make them useful, and identify
their interests with his own. he had a
difficult part to play for be must have
been well aware that the association of
foreigners with the Administration. by
giving Mr.. Lsy the control of the Gus
toms duties, was an admission of the
thin end of the wedge, which some un-
scrdpulous hand would SEEK sooner or
later to drive home. And he must
have strongly suspected, too, that useful
IS was our aid in beating the rebels, the
aid was originally giventO protect our
own interests at Shanghi, and that it
had nothing to do with any abstractlo love
for the Imperial Government, Conf
dence, however, might have been i'm
planted by degrees by course Of mod
GRAFTON on tho part of our countrymen.
But Mr.. Lay, nominslly in the service Of
the Chinese Government, but in reality
representing-no British interests but
British ambition and British power Of
making mischief-kneW not when TO
stop. With the entire control Of an i'm
mense and increasing revenue, which be
had managed SO well IS to make his SER
vices absolutely essential to the Chinese
Government, he was desirous Of further
developing it by means of a feet. By
this means entire command might be
obtained Of all the ports and rivers Of the
empire, with results 50 profitable
to its rulers, that they grsspsd
ct the idea The feet was accord
ingly obtained, and Captain Osborne
was appointed its admiral. The measure
excited grave suspicious At home, but the
Legislature, being assured that it would
not cost the country any money, nor COM
promise il in any way-thOugh it was
admitted that the force would go far be
national one that it would wear the uni
form Of the Royal Navy-cOnsented to
the arrangement. That it was destined
to break down may be considered for
tuuase; for had Mr.. Lay condescended 10
more reasonable conditions be would
urobably have carried bis point, aud we
should have been fairly launched upon
the sea Of Chinese politics, when for cur
own honor and safety we should have no
alternative but to arule the waves" AS
il is. Mr.. Lay has spoiled al his brilliant
prospects by asking too much at first.
The conditions he proposed were simply
these: that he (Mr. Lay) should re-
ceive from the Emperor such authority
as might be necessary to cover Captain
Osborne's acts as the ccmmander-in-
chief of the European Chinese navy;
that Captain Osborne should undertake 10
sei uoon all orders Of the Emperor con-
veved direct 10 Mr.. Lay, and engage not
a .ttend TO orders conveyed through sny
other channel; and that Mr.. Lay should
rsfues to be the medium CT any orders Of
lI,e reasonableness Of which be was not
safisfieI. Is IL wonderful that after
auch preposterous demands IS these
Prince KuDg should fear the Greeks, and
anticipate bad effects from their good
Offices? The acceptance Of the condi-
tons would have made Mr. Lay the most
powerful man in China. For, with the
eontrol of eli She ports Of the empire,
With it's purse strings for the mosi part
!. his hards, with the fleet pNd By him
self and acting under his exclusive
crSsrs-so say nothing Of the chanse OF
his getting the administration OF the
Ss6oy Amy, already otiieered oy Euro
Desna-he might have been 900 ltfcng ior
the Emperor himself. Fer ne wise
counsel which has led him to reject MF.