Year: 1869

News from China and japan.


BY the steamship japan, at San Francisco,
and the use of the telegraph from that city, we
have important and interesting reports of the
condition of affairs in the far East dated at
Hong Kong the 10Th and Shanghae the oath
of March, and at Yokohama on the lst OF
April, which we publish in our columns to-day.
Our readers will not fail to observe the gravi-
tation toward our shores of that immense trade
from both countries which will completely
revolutionize the current Of commerce and
travel, European as well as American, upon
the completion of the Pacific Railroad, this
steamship alone bringing one thousand two
hundred and ninety passengers and one thou
sand three hundred and twenty-six tons OF
merchandise.


The news from China shows that the central
lowery kingdom is undergoing re-
ligous and social revolution. This is
the natural consequence of the political
revolution that commenced few years ago,
the new relations which China has entered
into with the rest of the world and the newt
able progress of modern civilization. We need
not be surprised to hear before long of conflicts
and changes like those that have taken place
and are going on in Japan. Similar causes
produce like effects. The Christian mission
aries, in the excess Of their zeal, are coming in
conflict with the old conservative Chinese
party, and the Taepings are not yet destroyed
The latest news from China brings accounts of
the massacre of Catholic missionaries and
several hundred native converts in the Pro-
vince of Sechuen. We learn also that Sir
Rutherford Alcock the British Minister to
China, denies what Mr.. Burlingame asserts
that the Chinese desire progress. We are
inclined to believe Mr.. Burlingame, and sus-
pect Sir Rutherford Alcock belongs to the old
British coercive party. The missionaries
in China and are too ready to get
into trouble with the people. The
great agents Of modern progress are commerce,
steam power, railroads, the telegraph, and the
application of the science and useful inventions
of the Western World. The Chinese will
prove practical and sensible people when
they learn the value of such improvements, and
it is TO these that we look for progress in
China. In the meantime, and while the
Chinese are in their transition state, conflicts
and troubles, both with foreigners and among
themselves, are unavoidable.


Japan remained agtated by rebellion and
the effects Of the measures adopted by the Ex-
ecutive for its repression. The insurgents had
captured several islands Osaka was in a state
Of continual alarm and many Of the leading
daimios had Joined the revolutionists. The
tariff on exported copper had been reduced.
Amid the local turmoil the journals find space
to publish President Grants inaugural


The. EAST. RIVER BRIDGE.-The members of
tn g government commission appointed to exam
Inc into all the points in regard to the bridge
between this city and Brooklyn are in full
agreement that the bridge is practicable and
will be safe on Mr.. Roebling's plan. The point
they have most in doubt just now is the inter-
ference with navigation. The fact in regard
to this is that finally navigation must accommo-
date itself to the bridge, and not the bridge to
navigation. There Is dock room above for
ships that come by the Sound and room below
and on the North river for ships that come by
the Narrows, and thus there is no necessity
that ships should pass the bridge, save for the
convenience of shippers who want freight
deposited at one point rather than another.
These individual desires must give way to the
great public necessity.