The New York herald., 1874-10-10
The war In the East.

The War In the East.
The rumor that war has been declared be-
tween China and Japan, which comes to US
from London, may be untrue; but there have
been 50 many disagreements between these
two countries that an outbreak at any time
would not surprise US. The Formosa question
has never been actually settled China and
Japan, in the cant of modern diplomacy, are
about entering '.into the family of civilized
nations" and as the elementary duty of civil
lization is to fight we can understand why
there should be war. The Oriental mind Is
peculiarly subtle and initiative; and, since war
seems to be the aim and end of modern civil
lization, what more natural than that they
should go to WARP
We could better understand the threatened
war between these countries if We knew how
far their policy was influenced by the diplo-
macy of Europe, and especially Of England
and Russia. If we recall the progress Of the
Indian power in Asia, we remember that when-
ever England found it necessary to advance
her power she tostered quarrel between two
of the local princes and then 'took sides" A
curious illustration of this habit is seen in the
just published correspondence between Pal
merston and Henry Bulwer, when Bulwer was
English Minister in Madrid, at the time of the
Spanish marriages. Lord Palmerston inti-
mated to Bulwer that if no better way offered
of preventing the marriage of Montpensier
with the sister Of the Queen Of Spain then an
insurrection might be Of value. In other
words, the English Minister was perfectly will
ing to see disorder in Spain to serve the pur-
poses of English ambition. There can be no
sincere war in the East, and especially between
countries that have SO many ell ments Of accord
and 50 few points of discord as China and
Japan, unless it is stimulated by the policy of
England, Russia or France.
1t would be pitiful sight to see countries
as interesting and civilized as China and
Japan busy cutting each others throats
merely to serve the ambition of European
Powers. We have never entirely compre-
hended the civilization of China and Japan.
We have evidences every day OF higher art,
a more exquisite finish in mechanics, further
advancement in agriculture and the science of
living, and more general education in these
countries than we have yet found in America.
The deeper we 60 into the Oriental times and
especially their literature and theology the
more we see our dependence upon the East
Our very nursery gods are seen to come from
Persia and China Max Miller showed the
other day that Dick Wilmington and his cat
were Eastern phantoms and that the bells
which rung for his return we're most likely the
bells of Ispahan, and not Of London. These
people are not warlike, and there can be only
one result of war, to make easy the advent
of European power and ambition.
In this question the United States cannot
be really neutral. We are more closely
identified with the East than any of the
European Powers-the East SO far as China
and Japan are concerned. We are their
neighbors, for between us rolls sea that
may be crossed in q short time. The COM
mercial relations between our Pacific coast
and the East are growing more and more.
Thousands Of Orientals come to our shores,
and the number increases. In few years
we shall have large body of Cinnamon and
Japanese as our fellow citizens. Thus far
the barriers Of race and sentiment have pre-
vented any amalgamation of nationality or
citizenship; but in time these must pass
away, as they have vanished with the negro.
America already possesses a vast and national
influence in China and japan. If our dip
lomacy had been enterprising and wise, if
instead of barren adventures in Alaska and
st. Domingo it had been steadily directed
toward the East, we should now
be the arbiters in any war, and
without our permission no war could take
place. 1t would be better for civilization if
this should be SO, and if America were power
full enough to protect China and Japan from
European Intervention.
This whole problem of American influence
in the East is one of transcendent importance.
1t grows from day to day. If Burlingame had
lived he might have shaped career in China
as marked as that of Hastings in India. If we
had sent q minister to China worthy to sue
ceed him this influence might have been re-
tanned. AS it is, our power in tho East has
been neglected, and our natural legitimate
and much needed influence upon China and
japan has been usurped by European nations,
who have no purpose but ambition, aggran-
dizement and the greed Of empire