The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-29
NEW YORK HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBEK ~, 1865.

great Influences of the present time it will
be found thai they arc operating all the
same, and moulding the life Of the world
into now FORMS Having made the easy
government Of large States possible, they
have already gone great way toward
celebrating the large number Of boundary
lines that disfgure the map Of Europe. We
see how they will operate in the case Of Spain.
Spain and Portugal-the Spanish peninsuls--s
practically one country; tho differences be-
tween the people are only those that have
grown up in local prejudices and habits, whose
influence the telegraph and the newspaper will
destroy. That two such countries should be-
come one Is IN inevitable fact Of the future.
Belgium, . merely political nation, will be abb
sorbed by the States from which It was made,
in the general consolidation that will recognize
no good reason for nations existence except
geographical reason, or reason founded on
radical differences Of race But with England
the law will, and already does, operate the
other way. because the British empire is SO
soat3ered over the world that its parts are only
reAobed by long sea voyages. In her case the
law'does not-spply that renders it now more
feasible to govern large nations than It was
anciently. She will be left behind in the race
for national supremacy, and is, therefore, the
one vast Power Of the earth that this great law
will destroy.
The European Nations and the Chlnosc--
Oar In&erests I'm Asia.
The latest advices from China reveal the
fact that most of the European Powers are
making very slow progress in establishing
amicable relations with that country. The
policy Of alternately drugging with opium,
bullying and fighting does not seem to con-
vince the Celestials that those nations which
adopt those styles Of argument are entitled
to their confidence and respect A nation
which has existed till late years for
centuries without internal revolution Of
any moment, and has been free from wars
for generations, very naturally looks with
suspicion upon the government which resorts
to the means that England has been in the
habit of using in Asia to advance her COM
MERGE. Almost the first step taken by England
in her efforts to establish commercial inter-
course with the Chinese was to demoralze the
people by feeding them with opium. Then
came the clandestine trade in that article in
violation of the laws Of the empire which in
turn led to wars and Instructions A govern
ment whose traditions have been that of nom
intercourse with other nations must have had
that policy strengthened in their own estima-
ton when they saw that the first fruits Of in
ternational intercourse were decentralization OF
the people, war, murder and instruction. Yet
all Of these were brought upon the Chinese by
the Powers Of Europe in their efforts to open
thas country to their commerce. This mode Of
procedure is 30 averse to that in vogue among
the Chinese that we are not surprised that but
little progress Ia made in establishing full
friendly relations. 49, ....,,.. !.
Our government has very wisely thrown the
weight Of its influence against this policy.
The intercessions Of our representatives a!
pekin succeeded for time in breaking up the
policy Of demanding cession OF territories by
the Powers Of Europe, and thus opened the
doors Of China, by peaceful means, wider and
more effectually than all tho threats, bullying
and warlike operations Of other nations com.
that the governments Of Europe arc again re-
sorting to their old dodge, and that efforts are
being made to involve this country with them
We trust that our representatives in that quar-.
ter will be instructed to keep aloof from all
such alliances. While we do not intend to pocket
an insult from any foreign government, yet II
should not be our policy to plunge ourselves
into war, especially when the reverse of thai
policy will the best serve our interest, a. il
clearly will, with the Chinese. We want no
cession Of territory in Asia we have sufficient
on this continent for our purposes; nor should
We assist England, France or any other gov.
i-ernmens In securing grants Of that kind from
the Emperor Of China. If Englapd or any othe,
country desires to engage in war for that pur
pose let them do il on their own responsibility
and accept the consequences. Our true policy
il that of q mastery and energetic peacc. We
are 90 situated that we have everything to gain
and nothing to lose by that course. The cor.
RICHNESS Of this view has already been Nahown
by The large orders which our ship builders
have received from the Chinese, and that, too, al
the very time when England and other nations
were trying to force their trade upon them
The moral effect Of peaceful diplomacy has &C
complished for rs what the threats Of war and
bullying demands Of other countries have failed
to bring about. Such viii unquestionably lead
to this result hereafter.
II is but short time since the efforts Of Rus.
sia TO construct telegraph across the Chinese
empire were interrupted by the Chinese govern
ment Serious complications were threatened;
but we presume that Russia will finally carry
her point, although II may arouse such snimosi-
ty on the part ofthe authorities in China that
II will embsrrass for long time it, operations.
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