The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-03


The war between China and the western
powers, which resulted In the capture OF
Pckln, originated in the seizure by the
customs authorities of O small smuggling
craft with Chinese captain and crew, but,
as was asserted with doubtful truth, sailing
under the English flag. From this apparently
insignificant circumstance arose the combi-
nation of the armies and fleets of Great
Britain and France, with the professed object
of revenging the insult to the English flag,
but really to obtain commercial advantages,
which the Chinese were unwilling to grant.
These petty disturbances are always taken
advantage of BY the English commanders in
the China seas, to send troops for the purpose
of obtaining redress, and hence the COM
plants of the English merchants at Hong
Kong against the treaty negotiation by Mr..
Burlingame, under which the summary
power of demanding satisfaction Is taken
away from the subordinate officials. The
necessity of this provision Is plainly seen from
the report of Rear Admiral Rowan, U. 8.
Navy, that the latest collision between the
English and Chinese arose out Of the fact
that few stones were thrown at some Eng
fish sailors. An English naval officer was
exercising some Of his boats, and In passing
u village the inhabitants, principally boys,
Commenced pelting the boats with stones"
A fight ensued, arms were used, and before
wounded, while eleven Of the villagers were
reported killed and thirty wounded. When
the English commander heard the news, he
dispatched two coryettes and two gunboats,
with four hundred seamen, to "redress the
unprovokcd outrage on the English dag"
No report has as yet been received of the
result of the expedition, but taking the course
heretofore pursued by the English forces as
a basis from which to draw u conclusion, 1t
hn ha r1inD tnn munh In aRaAFt
that the village will first be pundered and
then burned down, aud that the inhabitants
will be massacred. The question Is very
pertinently asked, what British commander
would do In case his boats were attacked
with stones by unruly boys In the seaport
towns of civilized nationl Would he burn
down the offending town, or would the matter
be referred to the English Minister
CLOSE COMMUNION IN ESGLASD.-some
strange statements have lately been made In
this country about the relative success and
growth of the open and close communion
churches in England. Mr.. Sturgeon says,
in a late letter, In reply to question on
this subject;
''Whether open communion be right or no,
one thing ! should think Is beyond all dis
pute-viZ., that where 1t has been adopted II
has been like life from the dead TO many old
and decaying interests; and in no case has Its
adoption retarded the growth ofthe churches,
except where strict brethren have seeded
and made themselves into parties. do not
look upon the fact as Of any consequence,
because churches may grow all the more
with sort of increase under unhealthy
systems; but venture to assert that cur
largest, most wealthy, most intelligent, and
and most growing churches everyWhere, ex-
cept in Yorkshire, are all open communion.
Indeed strict communion Is about extinct
among us, except in certain districts. The
assertions which you allude to are baseless,
and the small show of statistics, taken years
ago, and in a limited area goes for nothing.
Ask any man who knows England, and he
will tell you that the practice Of open COM
munlon has been the sign Of growth among
us, and has always followed at the heels OF
enlightenment"