The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-18
The New. from the Corea-T..: the situs-
ton REQUIRES.

ton Requires.
The news from the COrea which we pub
lished yesterday, although not as late rs the
official despatch Of Admiral Rodgers announc
ing bis defeat of the Coresns, is very interest
ing. 1t is evident that the Admiral, before
making his grand attack, in which SO many
forts and guns were captured, and in which
so many COreans and SO few Americans were
killed and wounded, had few other affairs
OF minor Importance. After the arrival OF the
feet at its destination parties were employed
In surveying; then peaceful mission came
from the Coreans, the members Of which asked
where the feet was from, its business, and
then hoped our men were all well. This
looked very encouraging for commencement,
and gave promise Of pleasant termination TO
the little difficulty that Admiral Rodgers and
Minister Low were directed to settle. While
the members of the mission were on board
the flagship Colorado and while being shown
the huge proportions aud powerful armament
Of an American frigate, they were at the same
time Informed that our mission was also one
of peace, and that no force would be
afterwards reconnaissance in force
was made, and then peace gave way to war.
Our vessels and boats were fired upon, thus
proving that the Coreans were determined to
resist any advance on our part, and to prevent,
if possible, any encr0achments upon soil
they hold sacred by outside barbarians.
Doubtless this fight, and the failure on the
A. co
therefor was the cause Of the more important
and san.uinary affair detailed in the official
despatch of the Admiral commanding
We may well ask, now that crisis has been
reached, and hostilities have been fairly in
auguratcd between the United States and Corea,
what is to be the result? What benefit will
accrue to us By pressing the matter further
We had wrong to redress; punishment had
to be meted out to those responsible for the
murder OF the crew Of the American schooner
General Sherman and this has been done.
The power of the United States has been
shown, its ability to chastise fully exhibited,
and the probabilities are that the Coreans have
received lesson which they will profit by
sufficiently to insure, for some tinle at least,
protection to those Americans who may
be unfortunate enough to be cast away
upon its inhospitable shores. This having
been done, the first and really the principal
object of the visit Of the feet to the Corca
has been fully accomplished, anu we should
be satisfied. The Admiral and Minister may,
however think otherwise. The former may
,,--,l 10 {l,.>
latter to do something for his diplomatic
reputation. Hence we may continue to
hear Of more badly constructed forts being
reduced, more contemporaries captured,
and considerable addition made to the
butchers bill-i. e., the list Of killed aud
wounded. 1t is plain that no more can be
accomplished. Our squadron contains but
handful Of men. We cannot force our way
into the interior, but must be con,ent 10 bonn
bard a few sea coast points and kill few
thousand Coreans; and by doing so we only
intiict an injury that can be made good in a
few days, for the Corcans, like tho Chinese,
have ample resources within themselves and
life
Experience has proved that treaties made
with such governments as that of the Corea
are hardly worth the paper they are written
upon. They will remain true to their agree
ment so long as m armed force is present to
enforce it, and no longer. We see what China
has been, and continues to be, even with all
the severe and expensive lessons it has
received, and surely we have no right or
reason TO expect more of Corea and the
Coreans. II they should succumb to the show
of force we now have there, if the shot and
she'll argument of Admiral Rodgers should have
sufficient effect to induce them to come to terms
and agree to all our demands would they
consider the treaty binding thirty days after
the feet had t,ken its DEPARTURE We think
not. As the affair stands nov il may be that in
order TO avoid second visit they would, from
policy sake, protect those WAC are thrown
upon their shores by accident. Bat if they
are driven to the wall, as ii were, and are
compelled to sign at the point of the bayonet
a document dis.astefu TO them, we may
defeat the very object We have aimed
at. and which has already cost some
money aud some valuable lives. We trust
that this il The view taken by orr government,
aud that instructions will be sen. to orr
Minister and the commander OF our naval
forces not to pursue the matter further than
there is absolute necessity for, and not to fire
another shot unless it is very plain that we
shall profit thereby. A continuation of hos
tities with the Coreans we do not think
polite. We have nothing to gain by it, and
NAV lose in the end all We have thus far
accomplished.
The truth is. we cannot afford TO carry on
war as il should be carried on so far away