Year: 1870

ANOTHER WAR.


England and France conformity, we are in
formed by Cable, intend to declare war upon
China so soon as a stable government shall
have been established in France. The policy
which has hitherto animated the British
Government toward China must if this be
true. have undergone a sudden and unlocked
for change Great Britain has taken decided
stand in applying that doctrine of non-in-
reference and recognition of equal political
rights to secure which was the object of the
late Chinese mission, and has strenuously
supported the views entertained III this
country that, if China was obstructive, for
eigners were sometimes aggressive, and that
the native Government was sincerely de-
sirous of peace. An explanation of the differ
ent view now entertained by the Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs from that held by his
predecessor, may possibly be found in some
events which, owing to the recent excitement
concerning the Franco-German war, have as
yet been unnOticed in this country. Shortly
before the massacre at 1len-Isln, the
young Emperor Tung Chih was released
from the tutelage under which he
had, up TO that time, been subjected
and took formal possession of the throne.
The Regent, Prince Kung, and the Prime
Minister, Wen Slang by whom, in conjunction
with the Empress Dowagcr the Government
was administered during his minority, were, as
is well known, of enlightened ideas. To them
was owing, in great measure, the establish
ment of the Chinese mission to the Western
nations; and the most bitter opponents of the
Chinese officials and of Mr.. Burlingame's policy


toI fba
ing charges of bad faith and dishonesty of pur
pose which they brought against their assO-
ciates. When Tung Chih ascended the throne,
the power heretofore welded by Prince Kung
and the liberal party of course ceased; and, as
may be easily imagined, the conservative or
war party was not slow 10 improve the OppOrtu-
nifty by opposing the views of Hlose who, while
in power, had restrained their burning desire
to expel the unwelcOme foreigners from their
shores. The recent massacre at Tien-Tsin has
been by many attributed to the Vaccinations
of these now powerful Mandarins; one of the
most notable of whom earned a sorry celeb
rity by the exhibition of most imp0lite and in
solent conduct to Mr.. Burlingame just before
his departure from Shanghai.


1t il quite possible that the British and
French representatives at Pekin have so
strongly represented this aspect of the case as
to have induced their respective Governments
to take vigorous action against the Chinese.
In that case, the question very naturally
arises, What position will be taken by the
United States Minister, should war be declaredq
We have at present no quarrel with the
Chinese, nOr-except the seizure and destruc-
ton of an American schooner by tributary
people in the north of that empire some four
years ago-have we any cause of official COM
plant against them. Yet it is important to our
future interests that we occupy proper posi-
ton in the eyes of the Chinese Government.
We have been willing to credit it with de-
sire for progress and straightforward dealing;
nor, as regards those until recently at the head
of affairs, do we see any reason to alter our
opinion. But, with new set of advisers
around the throne, who have made constant
boast Of their hostility to foreigners, simply as
foreigners, irrespective of nationality, we see
cause for reasonable anxiety as to the future
of country which seems to have been
snatched from the depths of semi-barbarism
by enlightened statesmen, only to be again
plunged into the mire whence she emerged,
by the acts of selfish and narrow minded Off
Gals. AS sincere Well-WlsnerS OF tne OnlneSc
race and consistent opponents of the "high-
handed school of diplomacy in China, we
shall not be suspected of prejudice in admit
ting that the new regime gives rise to grave
doubts of governmental non-complicIty in the
recent massacre at Tien-Tsin.


The course of our representative at Pekin
is pretty clear. He must, if necessary, with
draw to Shanghai or Hong Kong, leaving the
insulted Powers to take their own measures
with the Son of Heaven" But it is desira-
able that, if he is convinced they are justified
in the action they take, he should plainly sig
Nifty his opinion to. the Chinese Cabinet. We
do not want, by apparent approval of cruel
outrage, to curry favor with the miscreants
who organized and perpetated it. digniied
remonstrance would maintain our proper posi-
ton toward China and other Treaty Powers in
that country. Still more important, 1t would
preserve our own self-respect. There may be
no necessity for resorting to hostile acts; but
it would be unworthy of oUr flag to seem, how
ever remotely, to approve such conduct as
there is but too much reason TO fear has of
late characterized the Chinese Emperor and
the bigotcd advisers who have succeeded Prince
Kung.


The Sun reports three persons as earning
anI of tho tina enrpfnU