The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-03
The Threatened War Between Chfna
and Japan.

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The Threatened War Between Chfn6
and Japan.
The peaceful progress of civilizsdon In tho
East LIS in danger of being interrupted by the
horrors of war. The latest news represents the
Chinese as making preparations for defending
the mouth Of the Peiho so as to prevent the
plucky little Japs from visiting unceremo-
niously the Brother of the Sun. No doubt
if hostlities should break out the combined
European and American fleets would be abJs
to exercise such an influence as would consil-
erably mitigate the evil effect of the conflict ON
the commercial interests Of foreigners. At
the same time it is evident that the loas
inflicted on the trading interests could not
fail to be serious For this reason the pro-
gress of the dispute between the two Eastern
governments will be watched with anxiety
both here and in Europe. We are naturally
inclined to take sides with the Japanese.
because they have shown an eagerness to
avail themselves Of the advantages Of
our civilization, while their opponents
continue to wrap themselves up in
selfish and naughty isolation. Unwilling to
recognize the benefits which free intercourse
with other nations would not fail to confer,
the people and government of China shut
themselves off from all that sympathy which
the Japanese invite. The friendship and pref
erence shown by these latter to our country
and our institutions are other bonds Of union
between us. But the chief and most lasting
union must be based on mutual interests The
Japanese have shown that they comprehend
this fact, as well as the difference in our peace
full commercial policy from the ambitious pre-
tensions of the chief European Powers, the
history of whose dealings in the East is mel
ancholy catalogue of crime. Hence the desire
of the Japanese to cultivate close political and
commercial relations with us. We should
regret the occurrence of any conflict which
would have the effect of turning the minds of
this singularly gifted people from the pursuit
OF that peaceful progress in which the true
happiness of nations is to be found
The Belfast Riots-Our Mail Accounts.
In another portion of to-day's HERALD we
publish letter from our correspondent in
Belfast, Ireland, giving in detail an account of
tut VSITlDlc SCcucb VI IlOt, DlOOuSucO uuO NC.
struction which occurred there recently. It
would be difficult indeed, to imagine anything
more demoralizing, brutal and bloody than the
excuses committed by the mobs, who, with
false notions of religion, acted more like saw
ages than Christians living in Christian land.
For many days the inhabitants of the city were
in perfect panic Gangs Of drunken rufians.
bowling like wild beasts, surged to and fro in
the thoroughfares; the reports of musket and Of
pistol were incessant, the stores all closed bust
ness suspended, and the quiet inhabitants, in
fear and trembling remained within bolted
doors, fearing for life and property The
scenes which disgraced Belfast find o parallel
in those which took place in this city during
the riots of 1863, and more recently in the
bloody war of the Commune in the city Of
Paris. Some idea Of the extent to which tina
riot reached may be inferred from the fact
that at the end of the fourth day the avail
able force at the disposal of tho authorities
amounted to about five thousand five hundred
men. One thousand eight hundred soldiers.
fourteen hundred and fifty policemen, six
hundred IF ths mi. mlitls .... force together,
with the Thirty Fourth and Sixty-second regi-
ments, attempted to put a stop to the
violence, which broke out in one quarter as
soon as similar violence was suppressed in
another. According to the letter Of our corres
spondent the city presents the appearance
of a wreck Paving stones were torn from the
streets, lampposts thrown down, window,
shutters wrenchcd from their hinges, and
broken doors and smashed furniture literally
barricaded the streets and INSTRUCTED the move
ments of the military. Drunkenness went
hand in hand with violence and pillage. Peo-
pie fed from their homes in fear of meeting
threatened death, and sought shelter wherever,
their sense suggested security. The story
altogether is a painful one, and the dreadful
excuses prove to what on extent bitterness Of
feeling will infame the passions Of the ignoH
rant The Belfast riots may be laid ct the
doors of the lowest and most bigoted of the
Orange faction. In spite of the warning Of
their lodges they allowed themselves to be car
ried away by their bigotry and hate. The
London Post in writing on the subject, thus
condemns Orangeism, in its reference To
the riots. Itsays:-" 1t is not too much to say
that society the outcome of which is
law-breaking, riot and bloodshed, is in direct
antagonism to the principles underlying true
patriotism. The Orange Society has now, at
oil events, no allowable roison d etre As far
as protection to the lives and property Of