The New York herald., 1870-04-22

England Drifting to War with the Chi
nese-The Buriingame Mission and Its Couse-
qucnccs.
from the Japan (Yokonama) Ma-Englsh sympa.
thlZer--uarch l2l
There Is but one opinion at this moment In China
respecting our relatons Win the EMPIRE and thaC
opinion is that we are inevitably drifting into war.
IL matters from wnlca port the CRY comes or vino
utters it-long Kong alrees with ananghae, liankow
WIN Ningpo and Talwan with Annoy. IL Is one uni
sonous chorus led by tue most experienced, the most
discreet ana the most SagdclOu3 men lii Cdila SIN
gle voices raised the cry the day that news
reached England Of the despatch OF the i,aringame
mission, aud II gathered strength with every fresh
u,terance Of the Envoy and IN spite OF the prOtes-
Latlons he maze and the cred IoUs enthusiasm with
WHICH probably IN all honesty, but certainty with an
utter lack OF insight, he proclaimed Inc dawn OF q
new era OF progress In Chna, IL has become the
burden OF every intelligent utterancc which has been
heard during the past twelve months and 1t Is pe-
cause we snare these views ana dread the conse-
quences of war. wnicn we are certain can be
avoided, that we VISA TO add our voice to those
which reach Us from China. Nor are tho causes
Tor this apprehension difficult to discover Tbey lie in
the fact tnat the Chinese are retreatIng month by
month from the oDligations imposed on them by Jae
treaty OF Tentsln and tnat we yield to their eva
sions they tninx US poweriess to punish them they
VIII assurediy 20 too lar-wiii outrage the natiuua
honor ny some overt oct, and, trusting to their
new arsenals their gunDoats ana tho Northern
army, tney Will refuse TO apologize, and then oaly
one course Is open TO England
We are very prone a nation 10 accept the plca
al nlseTicOi Qidnt; mingled with the 1erceness OF
the English Character there is great generosity aud
advantage OF it, They plead weakness lnaolllty "
carry out their promises, tho disturbance OF The
FOOnD MueN anu host OF other excuses, when
are urged with such cOnsummate skill tnat we can
not hn1 1t III our hearts to galnsay them. we gve
way on some apparently unlmportant point, and
from that moment they begin to advance and We
10 retreat. THIS retreat confirms tncm in their
policy, and no one VINO reads the dispatches of
their statesmen can dOuDt that as lar Us their
light goes those statesmen are among the NEST
acute IN the world. But all statesmen, whether
European or Asiatic Will oppose Innovations OF
every kind; FOR innovations alter the existing reh-
lions OF 'hings, involve FRESH distribution OF me
national mora forces, and t Is long ere the Old
chlnery Is adjusted and brought into harmony with
the new weights or springs. And II this is the case
even In Europe, where the progress OF society is
law ana CONDITION vi It's existence much mere Is tso
III CuiDa, Wnere there Is no sucl progress, ana
where lmmooility Is the real law or the national
existence an inmoOiiity all tue more difficult 70
deal with, because In addition To tue causes which
have produced 1t, you find II In the lag gest mass
the word mas any experience OF. As We cenny
observed, social law, which admits OF no
exception, provides that the larger che space
over which circular set OF tnstita-
lions Is dnused the greater IS It's tenacty and VIAL
n.y. In Europe the problems TO De dealt with are
problems III dynamics; IN CHINA they are problems
IN staucs. In one case you have OOdies In notion
In the Other boli at resi- But It aoDears to tnat