New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-22
COMMENTS OF THE EASTERN PRESS.


The proceedings of the United States eXpe-
dition have not been conducted In spirit consistent
with the OF civilization nor with the principles OF
the United States Constitution The intention OF the
President and his Ministers may have been pure There
was a good ground for sending minister to Corea, to
formation respecting shpwrpckcd American subjects.
force was also necessary to protect the minister and
give dignhed character TO his mission But before
such force called upon 10 pour forth It's artillery
upon the poor c aEan TO- rx6apsg eTeT
effort OF diplomacy We do not discover that this was
done and Mr. Low seems 10 have acted as lnehcently
the head Of the mission as he did in Picking on the oc-
cason of the Ten Tn massacre The whole OF the blame
that had he acted well and wisely, the
folly of the Coreans might have led them into
ships and called down upon them similar reribuOn
TO that they have suffered and then they would have
tunes and the verdict Of the civilized world would have
been that they were rightly served But MT; Low 1,'
ron approached the capital and communications were
opened with the natives These communications were
ages who announced themselves as sent by the KING
sGuadron had no credentials: nothing to indicate their
rank nothing even 10 show that they came rom lhe
them directing the Interpreters inform them that the
Minister and Admiral would treat only with some high
officer bearing proper credentials as the Kings penpo
ten larry"
states Government IN sending on such dccate mission
man totally IMMERSED in diplomacy. Can anything be
more absurd than to refuse TO see any one but an
officer bearing plenipotentiaIy Credentials was NJ
Harris penipotentary when lie arranged the
American treaty with this country or at any time
during his residence in Japan The officers who
arrived board the Colorado at least so far accred
tied that d they bore S wound G S
well therefore to have been more modest in the demands
dignity had he caused letter 10 be written 10 the King
or his Minister'S detailing the objects of the visit OF the
squadron, announcing that there was Minister Plen-
potentlary on board the flagship, who had come Oh
simple diplomatic mission, and who would be glad if
him. and 10 pave the way for further friendly advances
The United states Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
fla gn1a pf no frbf iY
and hlOodshed that took place; ana ALPHABETICALLY the
expedition was unqualified failure; but the singular
inapude of the Minister for the duties dcvOving upon
him reflects on the Government who accredited him.
The COreans aid only what any other people III the world
would have DONE There is no treacheIy on their part
II is altogether a msappication OF terms 10 call
their acts by that name. The survey party were
ron was a menace TO the Sovereign. Not ali the
sophism and special pleading in the universe make
anything else OF them. The moment the boats were
ordered of on the survey duties was virtual DECLARE
ton of war; and the Coreans would have been very re-
enough however, for their enemy and the boats gave
them an intatory lesson as to The kind Of metal and
party returned TO the ships and are told that.
as after waiting some days no apology was offered
When apology Is required is generally asked for be-
fore extremites resOrted to- No account that we
have that any communication ships
attempted 1t is as clear as possible that having
sunk into a mere cipher, nonentty We rejoice most
heartily that American pluck triumphed where it
called into play but we regret entirely that the exped
ton was ever undertaken; or being organized, was
placed in the hands of a minister utterly wanting in
tact-whatever may be his talent.
From TIE Shanghai Budget, Jane 30
1t must never be forgotten that the original
object Of the expedition strictly pacific that its
tentOn was simply 70 place American Tor European
sailors satisfactory footing If bad luck should ind
them wrecked on COrean shores and that the fufent
OF this design was most important 10 all civil
ized trading nations. The force which de
tailed to ask for and TO support these very needful
demands was on a moderate scale, and its component
parts not such as TO Justify In any way the idea Of
undue coercion The ships were Of moderate size meant
for survey than for hard hghtlng their armament
was perhaps, unGuy small in OF active resistance
while the disposition alike Of the ConmanGern-Chief
and OF the Minister known TO be- for many reasons
most anxious to avoid all violent measures.
But recent events have changed the whole aspect Of
affairs and md the AmericanAsiatic fleet lying
oil Bois6e semipowcress for want OF orders and re-
endorsements. The honor OF the American flag has
been fully vindicated by the action AT Kanghoa
and by its very substantial results but
much more remains behind Al present
the position is that Of simple deadlock. AS far we
can learn Admiral Rodgerss instructions leave him no
recourse TO wait home and reinforce
mentsf sent His present force is utterly insufficient
70 back him up In naSing his way to the capital Inc
tiOns leave him no oCpEOo Tor ting at once and with
NIgOr.
We have only word 20 say regarding our idea OF
the duty deyoying on the American Government under
the present circumstances IL has never yet been back
ward IN the acknowledgment OF It's self-respec nor
In thai regard which II owes 10 the civilized world, and
an opportunity mas now arrived for yindlcating both
these principles at small cost and trouble IL may be
doubted II semi-haTbarUus people has right TO
stand aloof from the comfy Of nations regards com
ercal aud general intercourse but In any the III
terests OF humanity demand that IT and s subjects must
De Induced or compelled to gave ample protection at al
times TO shipwrecked seamen Of all natonaites, and
thar It shall receive an pedton having for its object
the iulthering OF TINS laudable design, In manner
according with the dignity Of the sender. Too
much stress cannot be laid the fact that the present
whole OF the East II touches only men OF white
blood, but inhabitants OF distant ciimes, and b, not
question OF today, bat one for all me We trust there
fore, that the Government Of tue United State, win set
aside ail party iuha-nce ana not ggo up this Corean
bls,-cs. ii ts 81 al end VI humanity has been eAcctu-
ally secured.