The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-24

u
administration were discussed with the airy and
Ignorant aqdacity which always distinguishes the
with Japanese toplcS Il is the rule Of the Yoke,
I mama p0pulace and press to assall every action
clumsy us on
were applied In the present instance Nothing
whatever was accurately known OF the lntent.on5
Of the authorities, but the widest ncs.cas we're In
vehteo0r ASSUMED and put forward with reckless
DISREGARD OF honesty and decency, which 10 common
which Ia probably equalled In no other spot upon
the face OF the earth. In tins case the cOntaeion
rose to somewh higher level than usual The
Russian Charge d'AfYares published . reclamation
pate IN the expedition. As there are no Russian
SUBJECTS in al Japan. the proclamation was looked
upon as coming within the category OF the famous
vexaiious. 1t was thought expedlent 70 send .
brief circular despatch to the foreign ENJOYS.
ae ar
ana c0mpacty as might be. This was done about
the middle Of April and, there was a. nrst good
.ns. sa HosaR as Mar was S@
carry Messrs. Cassell and WATSON, to whom pre-
lminary duties were assigned, the rapid execution
Thew we're resd1 and on board At the appoIntea
time, but the vessel did not start. Delays are not
30 uncommon here as to occasion establishment,
aud for while no anxiety was lelt; but alter sew
eral days had passed IL became evident that some
extraordinary hndrance had occurred. Finally,
coming on board at the last moment and bringing
number o. dispatches, among which were letters
10 S o 10 Inc e
cradle Time. They were from the United States
Minister, and contained strong, though not per-
empt0ry warning against joining the expedition.
There was no word OF explanation, and nothing TO
indicate what influences, II any, had brought about
sas sd " ers Sss hume s % e
done, and II was then supposed that there would
be no Opportunity Of answering the communca-
n
A message from the Japanese Prime Minister
had also arrived, announcing the remarkable,
the United States envoy had protested
to the Japanese government against the employ
TIE p to 20 IS n
further Instructions. Nagasaki although the rem
devious Tor great part OF the fleet, was point
entirely remote from that to which the HOkal
Maru was destined, and the cnange involved not
only the annoyance OF delay and the material con-
sheraton OF Increased expense but also the ahsO
lutte arrangement OF plans which had been long
settled, and upon which the whole OF the early
operations Of the expedition were to turn. But
regarded, and the ship arrived at NagasaH on
Here it was soon evident that
SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES
had arisen, and that Others possibly more awk-
hours 1t was known to the commissioners that
General lie Gendre had also received q letter of
protest rom Mr.. Blngnam and that secret orders
steamship Company to delay or altogether
obstruct the departure OF the New York. This
last impediment, under the circumstances was
real calamity. The possibility OF difficulties in the
case OF the Yorkshire had been foreseen, and
affairs had been so arranged that her aid could be
dispensed with without serious embarrassment but
no shadow OF anxiety mad been felt IN
out that the YORKSHIRE would only be forbidden
to touch at any Of the open Chinese p0rts-whicn.
OF course had never been c0ntemplated-whte the
further progress OF the American vessel was abs0-
lutely prohibited. The worst OF the business Yves
that the asent had been instructed to withhold all
impossible to discover by what means the COM
panys Servants had been wrought upon to the ex-
and 10 tie question s" Whether it was intended to
prevent the voyage entirely or only to check 1t l0r
while no satisac DRY answer could ne oOtained.
The mystery and obscurity Of the proceeding we're
its worst features. The Japanese commission.
ers felt that there was nothing di. nned in the
opposition TINS exhibited, anu did not hesitate
to stt2marze 1t as a transaction In wh,cn low cum
ming had been arrayed against them instead OF
open and honorable antagonism. Although they
were in the dark as to the particular influences at
work. it was not very difficult to conjecture
10 tne s ns tseu
disturbed and narassed. They were not without
one o their 81 nes hp had met w
GUS ACCIDENT, and having suffered from severe
weather on ner way from sinagawa. lay disabled
more dependent upon the New YORK. Troe ps.
to Dc transferred to her, but, in the the
uncertainty OF the prospect, 1t was useless to 60
di,ion was stopped and the action OF It's leaders
paralyzed. Mean while the time assigned tor the
performance Of the special laDors ass gned to
The situation was extremely critical, and the Sc
cret influences ut work in Jeddo had already pro-
duced injurious effects that Tor q time seemed
almost irreparabe.
Fortunately for the national credit the of1cials
charged with the conduct OF the enterprise were
men OF much irmness and resolution, and were
not TO be lightly turned from their convictions OF
positive orders OF their own government
should induce them to withdraw. Tney
which commanded neither their sympathy nor re-
sell and WATSON should proceed without delay to
the execution OF their tasks by sucn conveyance
war was frst selected, but this was found TO be
unsuitable small chartered steamship was ar
,erward chosen as tne best ior the purpose that
In every essential requisite On board tnis craft
already overloaded with stores, the necessary
troops were crowded in haste and the first real
advance was made from Nasasaki ON the night OF
the 27tn.
mentng disc0morts and the dangers OF the early
part OF that VOYAGE out they may at least be
OF hardship men may be brought under the neces.
sity of ulhiling their ObligaiO in spite Of vexa
tlous aud disprltlng obstacles. More than 800
men were put On board a vessel which, under the
most favorable circumstances, could not properly
accommodate $50. she was already heavily laden
not such as to warrant even the ordinary
risks OF an ocean passage. The mere sanitary
dangers OF sailing thus OvercrOwQed into u hot
climate were by no means lnconslderaole espe-
cialy In view OF the careless and dsease-invitlng
haD;ts of the Japanese on shtpbOard. But there
was worse to be apprehendcd. Speaking without
the slightest purpose OF exa.geratOn, and as one
haOitually inclined to underrate rather than fully
recognize the chances oil personal peril, say that
on more than one occasion these 800 beings
stood, probably without consciousness OF their
actual situation, trembling upon the brink uf
eternity. And II Is fatally certain that nothing
but tine most favoring weather-it was almost un-
changlngly mud and fair from Nag saki to Annoy
have brought something like serious reflection to
the minds OF those whose ash aud selfish eager
ness to interfere in O business which In no wise
concerned them would have been the chief oc.
caslOn Of the disaster
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY DURING THE CRISIS.
Without pretending at present to offer any Opin-
Ion OF my own upon the general subject, think 1t
desr abe to set Ortn the various successive iacts
OF Mr.. Dinghams relations 10 the Form0sa expedi-
ton, as they are now represented BY the japanese