The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-18
Revolution in China and Japan.

Our grand budget Of news from that west
ern shore Of the Western Sea that we call the
Eastern World, indicates three points that do
First is the progress of the revolution in Japan;
second, the progress Of the revolution in China;
third, the departure from Hankow of q COM
pany Of bold adventurers who hope to follow
up the course OF the Yangtse Kiang river to the
mountains Of Chinese Tartary, in which the
to reach India and descend by the Brahmapoo-
ira to the Bay Of Bengal.
The events in Japan result from the efforts
OF the reactionary party-thc nobles-to arrest
the progressive development Of the nation
under the influence OF foreigners and foreign
commerce. The Daimios or local princes are
not only conservative but reactlonary they
not only oppose further concessions to foreign
trade, but they are jealous OF the concessions
already made aud would withdraw these, and
might, perhaps, even go to the extreme of fall
ing back to the old traditional policy and in
dulge their instincts by slaughter OF all the
foreigners in the country, rs was once before
done. The Tycoon, 1t will be remembered, was
driven from power some time since and imme-
diately after the last concession made to for
eign trade. Now the Mikado Is In danger, and
there is actual fighting in the streets of the
capital between the government troops and
those Of the refractory princes; but the strug-
gle between parties is now carried on with
better sugury for the success of the one with
enlightened ideas, sustained, as it is, by the
moral support Of all the Western nations, and
as it will be in its eventual effort by the i'm
mensely growing power Of our trade in those
seas.
China seems to be getting along better in
her contest with the rebels than for q long pc
Rod before, rs IL her recent afiiation with
foreign ideas had conveyed to her some enec.
tive lessons as to the mode in which she might
best assert her authority. Her appointment of
Mr. Burlingame and his native attendants is
significant Of the growing lberslity Of her
ideas and Of her discrimination between foreign
Powers. But the most important fact, perhaps,
Of the Chinese news IL that permission has
been accorded for the departure Of the expo
dtion up the Yangse Kiang. This vast river
rises in Central Asia. in the home OF the wild
tribes that for scarcely numbered centuries
have been the enemies Of Chinese civilization.
drains the northern slope Of the eastern ex-
trsmity Of the Himslsya Mountains. and enter
ing the land of the Celestisls al its west
ern border traverses the whole breadth
OF the empire and discharges itself into the
Chinese Sea. To soil up this river is to pcne-
trate country known to Us only through the
vague fables OF travels that are half romances :
and from this expedition, IL Il go through and
get out by India, as u proposes, geographical
science may date its irst positive kAowledxe
Of the most interesting country known TO us
even by name.
American activity is the energetic influence
mat h efecting ell these great changes In tina,
part Of the world and our influence in China
dates from the building mp Of the active inter
course with that nation which resulted from
our establishment on the Pacific In California
China IL becoming y commercial dependency
Of the United States. Her vast produc tivenes,
in The richest staples OF the earth IL beine
made tributary 10 our wealth--is TO mako Nov
York eventually Tho great mart. DOT only Q