The New York herald., 1868-05-04

change from the rule Of aboriginal cannibals to that
OF strong, but not lChnawardsl ambitious Euro
terested in Eastern trade. Then came rumors
OF an intention len in allegiance. owing to
the late war, TO make Formosa q ''nasaf statOnn-
The headquarters OF a fleet now insignificant but
possibly at some future period menacing other in
teress. People began TO shake their heads, but
not quite sure that other European Powers would
care To interfere; that China would dare 70 refuse
the concession OF slice OF territory over which she
had no real jurisdiction; or, finally, that even were
the naval headquarters duly established it would
materially interfere with either foreign or native
INTERESTS; a'se Ie days, mater erco was however, simply
passed into the limbo OF forgotten rumors
when our nerves were rudey shocked
were on foot regarding the cesson TO Prussia OF Ch
san. There is much which might be said regarding 2
TINS idea from simply diplomatic point of view; and
u may, we imagine, be taken for granted that no
matter what arguments might be brought TO bear
upon the question, Great Britain and France would
a.inc refuse TO consent 10 such alienation ofterr
tory on the part of the Chinese Government. Even
the or quoted cession OF Hong Kong would afford no
precedent upon which to ground such negotiations
the occupation OF a small barren and almost unn,
naoited rock or the southern coast being very
a. a. herent TO that OF large and populous island
In the very centre OF the trading routes and by its
position commanding the approach to the most i'm
portant settlement in Eastern Asa--that OF Shang-
hae But, argument aside, venture to predict that
nat refusal to consent would be the response Of the
great Powers TO any such propOsition-and without
ineir consent China would not dare, however Will
ing 10 cede Chusan TO Prussia. SO much for the
pare proposition. Eut when we learn that the in
tended use of the to-be-acguired island would be
tnat or penal settlement for the scum of Germany,
the natural objections TO such a measure are
Vastly increased: Apart from the possible danger
in the neaSbornoed Of ongSas r%assm tn a ana
TO emma generally from the presence OF a
convict settlement amid population notorousy
would naturally ny TO native haunts, where reckless
scoundrelism would be at a premium, and half a
dozen convicts at large might set the seaboard OF
kLlngsi In fresh blaze Of rebellion.
l might add to this copious extracts from other
sources, but this is sufficient to indicate the general
tone. Something has been said about Uncle Sans
Intentions as regards Wusung, in the neighborhood
OF Shanghae, but nothing sufficiently ''spicy" to de-
mand quotation. OF one thing you may be certain-
that any efforts to obtain first concessions for the ct
zens Of the United States win be received with no
small amount Of alarm and jealousy by British SUBJ
jec;s. t. r1
The British Minister has issued lengthy notiHca.
ton on THE subject Of security chopsn These are in
effect native documents whereby one party of means
and position binds himself to be surety for the
honesty &c, or another party concerned in transac
t0ns with foreigners. IT is found in practice that
Is extremely difficult to get the Chinese authori-
ties to take the smallest measures towards
enforcing these engagements. They plead that the
wording OF the documents is not considered binding
by natives (they are binding enough in all transac-
tons between Chinaman and Chinaman), and by one
means or another contrive to eyade the plainest
treaty stipuatons Sir X. Alcock, who seems to be
of softer mould than the average Of British Diploma
u msls mas brought much oboquy upon himself by his
where our own Charge d'Atiaires has hidden himself
away, that he neither endorses nor demonstrates
AGAINST this monstrous perversion OF common sense
toms organization. Mr.. Hart. the Inspector General
in whose hands reside the executive power brought
the United States into much disrepute by the sngu-
lar selections he made for the appointments appro-
prlated to our citizens. do not think the United
States have had fair play from the British Inspector
General AT all events there Is one fact which
must be recorded. The French, whose desire
to have finger in every pie is disgust
intention to upset Hart and nominate a
Frenchman in his place. II remains to be seen
whether the Chinese win permit anything Of the
sort, and have good and reliable information that
the British officials will strennousy oppose any at
tempt to make French influence paramount In China
Zens to responsible positions IN this line would be
ceved with comparative tranquility, and am more
than surprised that effort has been made to place
us in a better position than heretofore. MIR. Glquel
is the Frenchman named to succeed Mr.. Hart, but |
am greatly mistaken II the French are not reckoning
considerably "without their hOst' in this matter.
The Chinese authorities at ShaDghae have been
very forward in paying their respects to Mr.. Anson
have called upon the Chinese oiciaIs detailed to ac-
company him, and exceiled each other in polite
speeches: Mr., Brown, the secretary of the new
bassy who is by the by, of the best living Chi
nese schoars), has been granted the grade OF Com
nus Of Customs As he and Hart are old col
hsi, hs Is likely 70 ,, Se Of Or material aid 70 Bur;
the interpreter bright, intelligent man,
whose only fault is that he is Frenchman instead
other nationalities. ! sincerely hope that neither
Washington nor New York will fall into the error OF
letting the Chinese assistant ambassadOrsn imagine
that they are regarded the backbone OF the mis-
sion. Let our citizens remember that they have to
deal with astute representatives OF nation to which
the aristocracy OF England is mushroom, the pride
OF Spain Insignificant in comparison and the pro-
verbal astuteness Of the Greek fooshness and take
TO let the Chinese clearly understand that thew
tO ha
accredited envoy Of the Chinese government. Even
now whispers are going about that the natives hold
Mr.. Durlingamc to be the mere "catspaw'' Of the
whole affair, and regard him as . mere addition to
the bona fde native mission. ! need say no more.
confess to hope that the editorial pen will endorse
the views PROFOUND, which are not mine simply
East.n ~
The nquities Of the Macao coolie trade have at
length reached such pitch that the Portuguese gov
erninent has at length sent out commission OF in
qury which, II its members are less open TO bribes
and more amenable TO shame than the vile set who
have hitherto formed It's executive, may do much
good. The case which brought about this measure
was one IN Which some sixty Annamtes from Cochin
CHINA were plratcaliy stolen from their junk by
deavored 10 pass them OF as voluntary Chinese emf
grants. lie had nearly succeeded in his neiarous
design; but the truth fortunately leaked out and the
Macao authorties much TO their disgust were
Obliged TO do something Even then tney DELAYED
matters as long as they could allowed the kldnapper
aud nis coniederates 10 escape, ana positively re-
fused to take any steps against tile honorable sner.
chants' who had purchased them. The Hong Kong
papers went into the matter thoroughly af
Otner parts Of the coast were afraid 10 saw
anything, for the editor OF the CHINA MAJ
had but just escaped second criminal
prosecution for libeilng reverend German
or Dutch, coole agent on the same matter me
Portuguese Journal the Echo do 1ogo, translated his
articles and set the Lisbon press going until they
shamed the mother country into making some In.
qury into the fearful abuses perpetrated under the
name OF the cOolie trade. What the result OF This
mission will be / cannot say, but expect that n will
end IN a triumphant acquittal OF all concerned for
the simple reason that actual proof OF slave deainq
Will he almost Impossible. one or two citizens of
the United state are interested Ia the matter
On the Sth OF February Iuost disas trous fire
occurred nj FOochOw, by which eight or nine honys
or banks Including the United States Consulate,
were completely consumed, with nearly $500 Doo
worth OF property. l subion an extract from the
letter OF a correspondent to one OF the shanghae
papers. He says:-"Ibe lire broke out in some
ises and Gilman Il Co.'s offices, both OF which were
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