New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-17
the mystery. So far as known, however, they have
not yet obtained satisfactory clue

CALCULATIONS NONNltNiNh lhb ASoAlihNiS'
lnnumerabe rumors, and conjectures and theories
rife but few of these have any value. The pre-
vailing opinion among the japanese themselves is
that the assaiants soldiers Of the newlyauiyed
regiments from Tosa one of the Southern provinces
of Japan. This belief is based partly upon the fact
that persons wearing garments of the kind in use by
the Tosa regiments close to the spot of the
attack Thursday evening, and partly on the fact
that the hatred which formerly existed against for
eigners in Tosa has not yet been totally dspelled
and that if fanatics may naturally be looked for any
whore it should be this direction 1t is quite true
that the TOsa more active in their hostility
three years ago than those of almost any other sec
ton. The memorable attack upon the French
sailors near Osaca in March, 1865 made by these
people, and the eleven retainers who wore beheaded
in consequence became objects Of sort Of religious
admiration among their associates. That the old
feeling should have entirely died away is not to be
expected and the idea of the Japanese that some
newly arrived recruits, beholding Europeans for the
first time, were either moved 20 sudden demonstra-
tion OF had secretly concerted plan of attack to be
made on the first convenient opportunity, is certain
" not without reasons in its favor. Among Euro
peans there are nearly as many different suspicious
as there are individuals. few arc united on the
old notion OF O general conspiracy for pOllti-
cal purposes, one part Oh tho plan OF
which is to be general destruction OF strangers and
few have adopted an impression that Messrs
Dallas and Ring were the victims of some personal
malice But nothing is less probable than that
political plot Of this kind should be laid at time
when each one of the rival asprants 70 power is
seheming to obtain the favor of the foreign embassa
doris; and it is next TO impossible that these two
English teachers should have in any way made them
selves the object Of individual hatred They are
both old residents well acquainted with tho people
and uniformly courteous and consderate IN their
dealings with all. 1t might be, indeed, as some
imagine that they were mistaken in the dark for
other Europeans
THE BRUTALITY or FOREIGNERS
The behavior Of too many foreigners is brutal and
ferocious in tho worst degree, and declare upon my
honor that am utterly amazed ut times 10 witness
the patience and forbearance with which the Japan
csc submit to their insoleuco and JaTharity IL
would be little matter for wonder if decently dis
posed strangers had often TO suffer for the misdoeds
Of the rude and the violent u s amentable thing
to see the manner in which this painful occurrence
is dealt with by large proportion OF our commu-
nifty From their tone Of eXtraya gantly affected
| horror and their cries for wholesale ven
geancc. one would fancy they had never
heard of such thing as crime in their
| own countries. The only dissent among those per
sons is upon the point of who shall show the most
ingenuity IN OeNlEIDB means Oh tu Nch-
reance. The city must be sacked; an English gun
boat must be sent up from Yokohama; the wearers
of swords all over the island must be degraded their
weapons taken from them and the heaviest pecuni-
ary ndennties must be eXacted at the point of the
bayOnet or the mouth of the cannon by the English
Minister. If tbs be panic, it is disgusting. Ii
il be cunning method of helping along un-
inst claims OF otherwise taking advantage OF
feeble people in trying and difficult moment. ~ is
infamous. blush TO see the contemplate attitude
in which many of my own cOuntrymen have placed
themselves Many of them openly aver that they
will row kill any Japanese upon suspicion, and they
are fortified in these declarations by formal official
proclamation publicly posted So much cowardice
and cruelty have observed. Others have taken a
more dgnifed course and have done fair justice to
tho earnest and straightforward way in which the
Jauancse authorities have acted but the brain Of
the foreign public in this region, at least, seems TO
be quite upset. It's eyes blinded and its voice III
capable Of any utteance excepting vicious cries for
revenge.
TIE RESPONSIBILITY or TIE GOVERNMENT.
How far the japanese Government is really re-
sponsible, and to what extent anything beyond the
Just execution of its own laws may rightly be de-
mauded Of it, can easily be shown The crime il one
which might have been committed in any land, but
against the chances Of which precautions are here
choose to avail themselves. For every foreign resi-
dent of Nedo guards arc in constant attendance,
aud if srangeIs go about the streets unaccomPaned
by their officers, they take the consequences upon
themselves and the Government declines to DC held
accountable There ere some who prefer
to halitualy dispense with guards, and
who penetrate everywhere and at all hours
quito alone, believing that Yedo is as safe
az any civilized capital in the world. But am sure
that none OF these would suffer the authorities to be
called to account if any accident happened 10 them;
and this thoroughly believe is the view which
Nsssrs Dallas and Ring viii take of their own case.
They indeed, as employees OF the Government should
be especially prompt to cXonerate it for IN action
occurring at a time when they were eyading one Of
its well understood regulations. j do not know
whether they would OF would not have been any
more secure with their usual guards, but at any rate
the japanese think So and they have right to Their
opinion in the matter Beyond doubt, the perpe-
traitors would have been detected had guards been
present. private individual may take what risks
he peases, but recognized servant OF the Govern
ment is morally bound to abide by the regulations.
OF course would not imply that the gentlemen in
question suffered solely in consequence of their
failure to comply with this requirement. think
nothing of the kind but they suffered at time
when they were Intentionally disregardng it, and
that single circumstance is sufficient TO deprive them
of the right TO claim exceptional consideration, as
they will be the first 10 admit. What the Govern
ment means to do is punish the guilty parties. if 1t
can discover them and nobody doubts their desire
10 do to the full extent Of the japanese law which
is more severe in such than ours The young
tutor who ran away will also be punished according
TO japanese usage unless Mr. Dallas, who is greatly
interested in him, can succeed in obtaining his