Gov.YehpolitelyandcalmlyrespondstothearrogantdemandsoftheexcitedyoungBritishConsul'.Hestatesthereasonofthearrest,andregretsthatthereshouldhavebeenanymisunderstandinginthematter;
　　atthesametimeheunqualifiedlydeniestheslightestintentionofinsultingtheEnglishflag,andsendsbackthemen,whom,althoughlawfullyarrested,hedesirednottodetainattheexpenseofsoseriousamisunderstanding.ButthisisnotsatisfactorytoMr.ConsulParkes-hemusthaveanofficialapology,andamoreformalrestitution,orGov.Yehmustabidetheconsequences.NextarrivesAdmiralSeymourwiththeBritishfleet,andthencommencesanothercorrespondence,dogmaticandthreateningonthesideoftheAdmiral;cool,unimpassioned,polite,onthesideoftheChineseofficial.AdmiralSeymourdemandsapersonalinterviewwithinthewallsofCanton.Gov.
　　Yehsaysthisiscontrarytoallprecedent,andthatSirGeorgeBonhamhadagreedthatitshouldnotberequired.Hewouldreadilyconsenttoaninterview,asusual,outsidethewalledtownifnecessary,ormeettheAdmiral'swishesinanyotherwaynotcontrarytoChineseusageandhereditaryetiquette.ButthisdidnotsuitthebellicoserepresentativeofBritishpowerintheEast.
　　Uponthegroundsthusbrieflystated——andtheofficialaccountsnowbeforethepeopleofEnglandfullybearoutthestatement——thismostunrighteouswarhasbeenwaged.TheunoffendingcitizensandpeacefultradesmenofCantonhavebeenslaughtered,theirhabitationsbatteredittotheground,andtheclaimsofhumanityviolated,ontheflimsypretencethat"EnglishlifeandpropertyareendangeredbytheaggressiveactsoftheChinese!"TheBritishGovernmentandtheBritishpeople——atleast,thosewhohavechosentoexaminethequestion——
　　knowhowfalseandhollowaresuchcharges.Anattempthasbeenmadetodivertinvestigationfromthemainissue,andtoimpressthepublicmindwiththeideathatalongseriesofinjuries,precedingthecaseofthelorchaArrow,formofthemselvesasufficientcasusbelli.Butthesesweepingassertionsarebaseless.TheChinesehaveatleastninety-nineinjuriestocomplainoftooneonthepartoftheEnglish.
　　HowsilentisthepressofEnglandupontheoutrageousviolationsofthetreatydailypracticedbyforeignerslivinginChinaunderBritishprotection!Wehearnothingoftheillicitopiumtrade,whichyearlyfeedstheBritishtreasuryattheexpenseofhumanlifeandmorality.
　　Wehearnothingoftheconstantbriberyofsub-officials,bymeansofwhichtheChineseGovernmentisdefraudedofitsrightfulrevenueonincomingandoutgoingmerchandise.Wehearnothingofthewrongsinflicted"evenuntodeath"uponmisguidedandbondedemigrantssoldtoworsethanSlaveryonthecoastofPeru,andintoCubanbondage.WehearnothingofthebullyingspiritoftenexercisedagainstthetimidnatureoftheChinese,oroftheviceintroducedbyforeignersattheportsopentotheirtrade.Wehearnothingofallthisandofmuchmore,first,becausethemajorityofpeopleoutofChinacarelittleaboutthesocialandmoralconditionofthatcountry;andsecondly,becauseitisthepartofpolicyandprudencenottoagitatetopicswherenopecuniaryadvantagewouldresult.Thus,theEnglishpeopleathome,wholooknofurtherthanthegrocer'swheretheybuytheirtea,arepreparedtoswallowallthemisrepresentationswhichtheMinistryandthePresschoosetothrustdownthepublicthroat.
　　Meanwhile,inChina,thesmotheredfiresofhatredkindledagainsttheEnglishduringtheopiumwarhaveburstintoaflameofanimositywhichnotendersofpeaceandfriendshipwillbeverylikelytoquench.ForthesakeofChristianandcommercialintercoursewithChina,itisinthehighestdegreedesirablethatweshouldkeepoutofthisquarrel,andthattheChineseshouldnotbeledtoregardallthenationsoftheWesternWorldasunitedinaconspiracyagainstthem.
　　SOMEOFFICIALCORRESPONDENCENewYorkDailyTribuneJune2,1857
　　byKARLMARX
　　AMONGTHEpapersrelatingtoChinawhichLordPalmerstonhaslaidbeforeParliament,wefindsomeextractsfromthecorrespondencebetweenourDr.ParkerandMr.CommissionerYeh,inwhichwemustsaythatourDoctorseemstocomeoffsecondbest.Thus,theDoctorwrotetocomplainofthebread-poisoningatHongKongtowhichYehrepliedasfollows:
　　"IreceivedyourExcellency'scommunicationofthe16thult.onthe2ndinst.,andobservewhatitcontains:ThattheAmericanConsul,whohadarrivedatMacaofromHongKong,informedyoupersonallythattwoorthreedaysbefore,certainChinesepeopleinHongKonghadmixedpoisoninthebreadwhichtheyfurnishedthepublic,withoutdistinctionofcountry,ofwhichallhadeaten,andhadbeenmadeseriouslyill,andthatitwasnotyetknownwhethertheywouldsurvive.
　　"Onreadingthis,Iwasverygreatlysurprised.TheChineseandAmericanshaveusuallybeenongoodterms,andthetradebetweenChinaandothercountrieshasheretoforebeenconductedamicably;
　　buttheEnglishhavenow,forseveralmonths,inamostunprovokedmanner,broughttheirtroopsandengagedinhostilities,andrepeatedlysettingfiretotheshopsanddwellingsofpeople,anddestroyingaverygreatnumberofbuildings,andhaveruinedsomeentirefamilies.DoubtlesstherearemanyChinesewhosehatredagainsttheEnglishhasbeenmuchincreasedbythis;buttopoisonpeopleinthisunderhandmannerisanactworthyofdetestation:
　　still,asitalloccurredinHongKongitisimpossibleformetoexamineintoallthefacts.TheactisowingtotheunnumberedevilswhichhavebeeninflictedupontheChinesebytheEnglish;
　　andthenativesofthesurroundingdistrictshavetakenthiswayofrevengingtheirprivatewrongs.
　　"TheAmericanshavingneverinjuredtheChinese,thereis,ofcourse,nothingtomarthegoodfeelingexistingbetweenthem.
　　TourExcellencymightwithpropriety,issueadmonitoryexhortationsfortheAmericansquietlytoattendtotheirownbusiness,andtherecanbenoquestionbuttheChinesewillalwaystreattheminapropermanner.Whatcouldinducethemtothinkofsecretlypoisoningthem?——apointworthyofyourconsideration.
　　ForthisIreply——atthesametimewishingyoustablepeace."
　　Nothingcouldbebetterputthanthesuggestionwehaveplacedinitalics,thatDr.ParkerandhiscountrymenwoulddomuchbettertomindtheirownbusinessthantobemixingthemselvesupinthequarrelwhichtheEnglishhadpicked.
　　Instead,however,offallinginwiththispieceofgoodadvice,Dr.
　　ParkermustneedswritealettertoYeh,inwhichheundertakestojustifyhimselfandtheAmericanauthoritiesforsidingwiththeEnglishOfthisletterthefollowingisanextract:
　　"Weretheundersignedcalledupontopassjudgmentuponthequestionwhoisrightandwhoiswronginthepresentcontroversy,hemightwishtoinquireifithadnotbeenright,whentheoccasionforseriouscomplaintarose,forthehighofficersofthetwoGovernmentstohavemetfacetoface,andaccordingtoreasonandjusticehavesettledthematter,andthushavepreventedthevastdestructionofpropertyandeffusionofbloodwhichhavebeeninconsequenceofyourExcellency'sfailingtodoso.Hemight,also,perchance,inquireintothetruthofthestatementsregardingwhathadtranspiredinformeryearsinrelationtothesubjectoftheentreeoftheCityofCanton,whichdifferswidelyfromwhattheundersigned,whohaslongresidedinChina,apprehendstobethefactsofthecase.
　　"Theundersignedmaybeallowed,inthespiritoftruefriendship,toexpresstoyourExcellencyhisbeliefthatthefountainofalldifficultiesbetweenChinaandforeignnationsistheunwillingnessofChinatoacknowledgeEngland,France,Americaandothergreatnations,oftheWestasherequalsandtruefriends,andtreatthemaccordingly.SofarasrespectsthisgravemattertheAmericanGovernmentissensiblethattheEnglishareintheright,anddoeschoosetocooperatewiththem."
　　Yeh'sanswerisnotgiven,butitcanhardlybesupposedthathefailedtomaketheretorttowhichtheDoctorhadexposedhimself.TheDoctorknowsperfectlywell,nobodybetter,thatthetruecauseofthepresentandformerdifficultiesbetweentheChineseandtheEnglishwasandis,notashepretends"theunwillingnessofChinatoacknowledgeEngland,France,AmericaandothergreatnationsoftheWestasherequals,"buttheunwillingnessoftheChineseauthoritiestoallowtheirsubjectstobepoisonedwithopiumforthepecuniarybenefitoftheBritishEastIndiaCompanyandafewunprincipledBritish,AmericanandFrenchtraders.HowisitpossiblefortheChinesetoregardthese"greatnationsoftheWest""astheirtruefriends,andtotreatthemaccordingly,"whentheyfindthattheprincipalbusinessofthesegreatnationsinChinahasbeenandistosellandspreadtheuseofopium,apoisonousdrugintroducedbytheseforeignerswithinacenturypast-beforewhichtimeitwasutterlyunknowntotheChinese——andtheuseofwhichincreaseswithafrightfulrapidity,fatalatoncetothemorals,thepecuniarywelfareandthehealthoftheFloweryEmpire?
　　Whenthese"greatnations"shallhavefirstprovedthemselves"truefriends"byjoiningwiththeChineseauthoritiestoputanendtothiswickedtraffic,itwillbequitetimetocomplainthattheChineseareunwillingtorecognizetheminthatcharacter.
　　OtherChineseofficialsseemnotinferiortoYchinthematterofdiplomaticcorrespondence.Onthe9thofDecember[1856]SirJohnBowringsenttotheViceroyofFukien,etc.,astatementofhiscomplaintsagainstYeh,requestingthattheCourtofPekingbeadvisedofthesame.InhisreplytheViceroysays:
　　"ThedocumentforwardedtomebeinginEnglish,itscontentsareunknowntome,andIhavenomeansofdecipheringthem.
　　"Inconclusion,itismydutytoaddthatourtwonationshavingbeenonfriendlytermsformanyyears,IamstillinhopesthatbydueobservanceoneithersideoftheTreatyofPeacethatwastolastforever,itwillbetheirgoodfortunetostrengthentheamicablerelationsheretoforeexistingbetweenthem."
　　TheViceroyofanotherprovince,towhomasimilarletterwassent,repliedasfollows:
　　"IrejoiceinyourExcellency'sprofessionsofpeace;butitwouldonlydoharmtotheinterestsofpeace,towhichyouprofessyourselfsofriendly,wereItotelltheEmperorthat,becauseofYeh'sact,youhaveprecipitatelybrokenthepeacethattheTreatysaidwastolastforever.Anotherreasonagainstmyaddressingthethroneis,thatYeh,andhealone,iscompetenttodealwithcommercialquestions;andthiscanbenothingelse,beingaquestionwithforeigners."
　　ThefollowingImperialedictofthe27thDecember[1856]doesnotevinceanypresentdispositiononthepartoftheEmperortogivewaytothedemandsoftheEnglish:
　　"WehavethisdayinstructedYch,thatiftheEnglishbarbariansturnfromtheirpresentcourseoftheirownmotion,angerorhateneednotbecarriedtoextremity;butiftheydaretopersistintheirextravaganceandobstinacy,peaceisnottobenegotiatedbyaconciliatorymovementonourpart,asthiswouldopenthewaytodemandsforotherconcessionsofimportance.
　　Yeh-mingchinhasbeenverylonginchargeoftheKwangprovinces,andissothoroughlycognizantwithbarbarianaffairsthathewillbeableinallprobabilitytodeviseapropercourseofproceeding.
　　"ItoccurstousthattheseaboardofKiangsu,ChekiangandFukien,isgroundwithwhichthesteamersofthesebarbariansare,bylongexperience,wellacquainted,andasprecautionshouldbetakentodefendthatcoastalsoagainstthebarbarians,who,whentheyfindthemselvesunabletoworktheirwillintheCantonprovince,mayattempttodisturbotherportsalongit,wecommandEleang,Chaou,andIlo,togiveinstructionprivilytothelocalauthorities,intheeventofbarbarianshipsapproachingtheirjurisdiction,totakesuchstepsaswillrenderthemsecure,withoutsoundorsignthatmayattractattention.IftheycometoexplainthecircumstancesoftheruptureatCanton,theymustbesosilencedbyreasonableargumentsthatnoloop-holebeleftthem;andseeingthis,theymaybemindedtofallbackfromtheirundertakingashopeless.Buttheauthoritiesreferredtoareriotinanywaytotakethealarm,asthiswoulddisturbandperplexthepublicmind."
　　PERSIA-CHINANewYorkDailyTribuneJune5,1857
　　byKARLMARX
　　THEEnglishhavejustconcludedanAsiaticwar,andareenteringuponanother.TheresistanceofferedbythePersians,andthatwhichtheChinesehavesofaropposedtoBritishinvasion,formacontrastworthourattention.InPersia,theEuropeansystemofmilitaryorganizationhasbeenengrafteduponAsiaticbarbarity;inChina,therottingsemicivilizationoftheoldestStateintheworldmeetstheEuropeanswithitsownresources.Persiahasbeensignallydefeated,whiledistracted,half-dissolvedChinahashituponasystemofresistancewhich,iffollowedup,willrenderimpossiblearepetitionofthetriumphalmarchesofthefirstAnglo-Chinesewar.
　　PersiawasinastatesimilartothatofTurkeyduringthewarof1828-9againstRussia.English,French,RussianofficershadinturnstriedtheirhandsattheorganizationofthePersianarmy.Onesystemhadsucceededanother,andeachinitsturnhadbeenthwartedbythejealousy,theintrigues,theignorance,thecupidityandcorruptionoftheOrientalswhomitwastoformintoEuropeanofficersandsoldiers.Thenewregulararmyhadneverhadanopportunityoftryingitsorganizationandstrengthinthefield.ItsonlyexploitshadbeenconfinedtoafewcampaignsagainstKurds,TurcomansandAfghans,whereitservedasasortofnucleusorreservetothenumerousirregularcavalryofPersia.Thelatterdidmostoftheactualfighting;theregularshadgenerallybuttoimposeupontheenemybythedemonstrativeeffectoftheirseeminglyformidablearrays.Atlast,thewarwithEnglandbrokeout.
　　TheEnglishattackedBushire,andmetwithagallantthoughineffectiveresistance.ButthemenwhofoughtatBushirewerenotregulars;theywerecomposedoftheirregularleviesofthePersianandArabinhabitantsofthecoast.Theregularswereonlyconcentrating,somesixtymilesoff,inthehills.Atlasttheyadvanced.TheAnglo-Indianarmymetthemhalfway;and,thoughthePersiansusedtheirartillerywithcredittothemselves,andformedtheirsquaresonthemostapprovedprinciples,asinglechargeofonesingleIndiancavalryregimentsweptthewholePersianarmy,guardsandline,fromthefield.AndtoknowwhattheseIndianregularcavalryareconsideredtobeworthintheirownservice,wehaveonlytorefertoCapt.Nolan'sbookonthesubject.Theyare,amongAnglo-Indianofficers,consideredworsethanuseless,andfarinferiortotheirregularAnglo-Indiancavalry.NotasingleactioncanCapt.Nolanfindwheretheywerecreditablyengaged.Andyet,thesewerethemen,sixhundredofwhomdrovetenthousandPersiansbeforethem!SuchwastheterrorspreadamongthePersianregularsthatneversincehavetheymadeastandanywhere-theartilleryaloneexcepted.AtMoharnmerah,theykeptoutofharm'sway,leavingtheartillerytodefendthebatteries,andretiredassoonastheseweresilenced;andwhen,onareconnaissance,theBritishlandedthreehundredriflemenandfiftyirregularhorse,thewholeofthePersianhostmarchedoff,leavingbaggage,storesandgunsinthepossessionofthe——victorsyoucannotcallthem——theinvaders.
　　Allthis,however,neitherbrandsthePersiansasanationofcowards,norcondemnstheintroductionofEuropeantacticsamongOrientals.TheRusso-Turkishwarsof1809-12and1828-9offerplentyofsuchexamples.
　　TheprincipalresistanceofferedtotheRussianswasmadebytheirregularleviesbothfromthefortifiedtownsandfromthemountainprovinces.Theregulars,wherevertheyshowedthemselvesintheopenfield,wereatonceupsetbytheRussians,andveryoftenranawayatthefirstshot;whileasinglecompanyofArnautirregulars,inaravineatVarna,successfullyopposedtheRussiansiegeoperationsforweekstogether.Yet,duringthelatewartheTurkishregulararmyhavedefeatedtheRussiansineverysingleengagementfromOltenitzaandCitatetoKarsandtoIngur.
　　ThefactisthattheintroductionofEuropeanmilitaryorganizationwithbarbaricnationsisfarfrombeingcompletedwhenthenewannyhasbeensubdivided,equippedanddrilledaftertheEuropeanfashion.Thatismerelythefirststeptowardsit.NorwilltheenactmentofsomeEuropeanmilitarycodesuffice;itwillnomoreensureEuropeandisciplinethanaEuropeansetofdrill-regulationswillproduce,byitself,Europeantacticsandstrategy.Themainpoint,andatthesametimethemaindifficulty,isthecreationofabodyofofficersandsergeants,educatedonthemodernEuropeansystem,totallyfreedfromtheoldnationalprejudicesandreminiscencesinmilitarymatters,andfittoinspirelifeintothenewformation.Thisrequiresalongtime,andissuretomeetwiththemostobstinateoppositionfromOrientalignorance,impatience,prejudice,andthevicissitudesoffortuneandfavourinherenttoEasterncourts.ASultanorShahisbuttooapttoconsiderhisarmyequaltoanythingassoonasthemencandefileinparade,wheel,deployandformcolumnwithoutgettingintohopelessdisorder.Andastomilitaryschools,theirfruitsaresoslowinripeningthatundertheinstabilitiesofEasternGovernmentstheycanscarcelyeverbeexpectedtoshowany.EveninTurkey,thesupplyofeducatedofficersisbutscanty,andtheTurkisharmycouldnothavedoneatall,duringthelatewar,withoutthegreatnumberofrenegadesandtheEuropeanofficersinitsranks.
　　Theonlyarmwhicheverywhereformsanexceptionistheartillery.
　　HeretheOrientalsaresomuchatfaultandsohelplessthattheyhavetoleavethewholemanagementtotheirEuropeaninstructors.Theconsequenceisthat,asinTurkeysoinPersia,theartillerywasfaraheadoftheinfantryandcavalry.
　　ThatunderthesecircumstancestheAnglo-Indianarmy,theoldestofallEasternarmiesorganizedontheEuropeansystem,theonlyonethatissubjectnottoanEastern,butanexclusivelyEuropeangovernment,andofficeredalmostentirelybyEuropeans-thatthisarmy,supportedbyastrongreserveofBritishtroopsandapowerfulnavy,shouldeasilydispersethePersianregulars,isbutamatterofcourse.ThereversewilldothePersiansthemoregoodthemoresignalitwas.Theywillnowsee,astheTurkshaveseenbefore,thatEuropeandressandparade-drillisnotalismaninitself,and,maybe,twentyyearshence,thePersianswillturnoutasrespectableastheTurksdidintheirlatevictories.
　　ThetroopswhichconqueredBushireandMohammerahwill,itisunderstood,beatoncesenttoChina.Theretheywillfindadifferentenemy.NoattemptsatEuropeanevolutions,buttheirregulararrayofAsiaticmasses,willopposethemthere.Ofthesetheynodoubtwilleasilydispose;butwhatiftheChinesewageagainstthemanationalwar,andifbarbarismbeunscrupulousenoughtousetheonlyweaponswhichitknowshowtowield?
　　ThereisevidentlyadifferentspiritamongtheChinesenowtowhattheyshowedinthewarof1840to'42.Then,thepeoplewerequiet;
　　theylefttheEmperor'ssoldierstofighttheinvaders,andsubmittedafteradefeatwithEasternfatalismtothepoweroftheenemy.Butnow,atleastinthesouthernprovinces,towhichthecontesthassofarbeenconfined,themassofthepeopletakeanactive,nay,afanaticalpartinthestruggleagainsttheforeigners.TheypoisonthebreadoftheEuropeancommunityatHongKongbywholesale,andwiththecoolestpremeditation.AfewloaveshavebeensenttoLiebigforexamination.Hefoundlargequantitiesofarsenicpervadingallpartsofthem,showingthatithadalreadybeenworkedintothedough.Thedose,however,wassostrongthatitmusthaveactedasanemetic,andtherebycounteractedtheeffectsofthepoison.Theygowithhiddenarmsonboardtradingsteamers,and,whenonthejourney,massacrethecrewandEuropeanpassengersandseizetheboat.
　　Theykidnapandkilleveryforeignerwithintheirreach.Theverycooliesemigratingtoforeigncountriesriseinmutiny,andasifbyconcert,onboardeveryemigrantship,andfightforitspossession,and,ratherthansurrender,godowntothebottomwithit,orperishinitsflames.EvenoutofChina,theChinesecolonists,themostsubmissiveandmeekofsubjectshitherto,conspireandsuddenlyriseinnightlyinsurrection,asatSarawak;or,asatSingapore,arehelddownbymainforceandvigilanceonly.ThepiraticalpolicyoftheBritishGovernmenthascausedthisuniversaloutbreakofallChineseagainstallforeigners,andmarkeditasawarofextermination.
　　Whatisanarmytodoagainstapeopleresortingtosuchmeansofwarfare?Where,howfar,isittopenetrateintotheenemy'scountry,howtomaintainitselfthere?Civilizationmongerswhothrowhotshellsonadefencelesscityandaddrapetomurder,maycallthesystemcowardly,barbarous,atrocious;butwhatmattersittotheChineseifitbeonlysuccessful?SincetheBritishtreatthemasbarbarians,theycannotdenytothemthefullbenefitoftheirbarbarism.Iftheirkidnappings,surprises,midnightmassacresarewhatwecallcowardly,thecivilization-mongersshouldnotforgetthataccordingtotheirownshowingtheycouldnotstandagainstEuropeanmeansofdestructionwiththeirordinarymeansofwarfare.
　　Inshort,insteadofmoralizingonthehorribleatrocitiesoftheChinese,asthechivalrousEnglishpressdoes,wehadbetterrecognizethatthisisawarproarisetfocis,apopularwarforthemaintenanceofChinesenationality,withallitsoverbearingprejudice,stupidity,learnedignoranceandpedanticbarbarismifyoulike,butyetapopularwar.Andinapopularwarthemeansusedbytheinsurgentnationcannotbemeasuredbythecommonlyrecognizedrulesofregularwarfare,norbyanyotherabstractstandard,butbythedegreeofcivilizationonlyattainedbythatinsurgentnation.
　　TheEnglisharethistimeplacedinadifficultposition.Thusfar,thenationalChinesefanaticismseemstoextendnofartherthanoverthosesouthernprovinceswhichhavenotadheredtothegreatrebellion.
　　@1Isthewartobeconfinedtothese?Thenitwouldcertainlyleadtonoresult,novitalpointoftheempirebeingmenaced.Atthesametime,itwouldbeaverydangerouswarfortheEnglishifthefanaticismextendstothepeopleoftheinterior.Cantonmaybetotallydestroyedandthecoastsnibbledatinallpossiblepoints,butalltheforcestheBritishcouldbringtogetherwouldnotsufficetoconquerandholdthetwoprovincesofKwangtungandKwang-si.What,then,cantheydofurther?ThecountrynorthofCanton,asfarasShanghaiandNanking,isinthehandsoftheChineseinsurgents,whomitwouldbebadpolicytooffend;andnorthofNankingtheonlypointofattackonwhichmightleadtoadecisiveresultisPeking.Butwhereisthearmytoformafortifiedandgarrisonedbaseofoperationsontheshore,toovercomeeveryobstacleontheroad,toleavedetachmentstosecurethecommunicationswiththeshore,andtoappearinanythinglikeformidablestrengthbeforethewallsofatownthesizeofLondon,ahundredmilesfromitslandingplace?Ontheotherside,asuccessfuldemonstrationagainstthecapitalwouldshaketoitsground——workstheveryexistenceoftheChineseEmpire——acceleratetheupsettingoftheManchudynastyandpavetheway,notforBritish,butforRussianprogress.
　　ThenewAnglo-Chinesewarpresentssomanycomplicationsthatitisutterlyimpossibletoguesstheturnitmaytake.Forsomemonthsthewantoftroops,andforastilllongertimethewantofdecision,willkeeptheBritishprettyinactiveexcept,perhaps,onsomeunimportantpoint,towhichunderactualcircumstancesCantontoomaybesaidtobelong.
　　Onethingiscertain,thatthedeath-hourofOldChinaisrapidlydrawingnigh.CivilwarhasalreadydividedtheSouthfromtheNorthoftheEmpire,andtheRebelKingseemstobeassecurefromtheImperialistsifnotfromtheintriguesofhisownfollowersatNanking,astheHeavenlyEmperorfromtherebelsatPeking.Cantoncarrieson,sofar,asortofindependentwarwiththeEnglish,andallforeignersingeneral;andwhileBritishandFrenchfleetsandtroopsflocktoHongKong,slowlybutsteadilytheSiberian-lineCossacksadvancetheirstanitzasfromtheDaurianmountainstothebanksoftheAmur,andtheRussianmarinescloseinbyfortificationsthesplendidharboursofManchuria.TheveryfanaticismofthesouthernChineseintheirstruggleagainstforeignersseemstomarkaconsciousnessofthesupremedangerinwhichOldChinaisplaced;andbeforemanyyearspassawayweshallhavetowitnessthedeathstrugglesoftheoldestempireintheworld,andtheopeningdayofaneweraforallAsia.
　　[TRADEOROPIUM?]NewYorkDailyTribuneSeptember20,1858
　　byKARLMARX
　　THENEWSofthenewtreatywrungfromChinabythealliedPlenipotentiarieshas,itwouldappear,conjuredupthesamewildvistasofanimmenseextensionoftradewhichdancedbeforetheeyesofthecommercialmindin1845,aftertheconclusionofthefirstChinesewar.SupposingthePetersburgwirestohavespokentruth,isitquitecertainthatanincreaseoftheChinesetrademustfollowuponthemultiplicationofitsemporiums?IsthereanyprobabilitythatthewarOf1857-8willleadtomoresplendidresultsthanthewarof1839-42?
　　SomuchiscertainthattheTreatyOf1842,insteadofincreasingAmericanandEnglishexportstoChina,provedinstrumentalonlyinprecipitatingandaggravatingthecommercialcrisisof1847.Inasimilarway,byraisingdreamsofaninexhaustiblemarketandbyfosteringfalsespeculations,thepresenttreatymayhelppreparinganewcrisisattheverymomentwhenthemarketoftheworldisbutslowlyrecoveringfromtherecentuniversalshock.Besidesitsnegativeresult,thefirstopium-warsucceededinstimulatingtheopiumtradeattheexpenseoflegitimatecommerce,andsowillthissecondopium-wardoifEnglandbenotforcedbythegeneralpressureofthecivilizedworldtoabandonthecompulsoryopiumcultivationinIndiaandthearmedopiumpropagandatoChina.Weforbeardwellingonthemoralityofthattrade,describedbyMontgomeryMartin,himselfanEnglishman,inthefollowingterms:
　　"Why,the'slavetrade'wasmercifulcomparedwiththe'opiumtrade'.WedidnotdestroythebodiesoftheAfricans,foritwasourimmediateinteresttokeepthemalive;wedidnotdebasetheirnatures,cormpttheirminds,nordestroytheirsouls.Buttheopiumsellerslaysthebodyafterhehascorrupted,degradedandannihilatedthemoralbeingofunhappysinners,while,everyhourisbringingnewvictimstoaMolochwhichknowsnosatiety,andwheretheEnglishmurdererandChinesesuicideviewitheachotherinofferingsathisshrine."
　　TheChinesecannottakebothgoodsanddrug;underactualcircumstances,extensionoftheChinesetraderesolvesintoextensionoftheopiumtrade;thegrowthofthelatterisincompatiblewiththedevelopmentoflegitimatecommercethesepropositionswereprettygenerallyadmittedtwoyearsago.ACommitteeoftheHouseofCommons,appointedin1847totakeintoconsiderationthestateofBritishcommercialintercoursewithChina,reportedthus:
　　Weregret"thatthetradewiththatcountryhasbeenforsometimeinaveryunsatisfactorycondition,andthattheresultofourextendedintercoursehasbynomeansrealizedthejustexpectationswhichhadnaturallybeenfoundedonafreeraccesstosomagnificentamarketWefindthatthedifficultiesofthetradedonotarisefromanywantofdemandinChinaforarticlesofBritishmanufactureorfromtheincreasingcompetitionofothernationsThepaymentforopiumabsorbsthesilvertothegreatinconvenienceofthegeneraltrafficoftheChinese;andteaandsilkmustinfactabsorbtherest."
　　TheFriendofChina,OfJuly28,I849,generalizingthesameproposition,saysinsetterms:
　　"Theopiumtradeprogressessteadily.TheincreasedconsumptionofteasandsilkinGreatBritainandtheUnitedStateswouldmerelyresultintheincreaseoftheopiumtrade;thecaseofthemanufacturersishopeless."
　　OneoftheleadingAmericanmerchantsinChinareduced,inanarticleinsertedinHunt'sMerchants'Magazine,forJanuary,1850,thewholequestionofthetradewithChinatothispoint:"Whichbranchofcommerceistobesuppressed,theopiumtradeortheexporttradeofAmericanorEnglishproduce?"TheChinesethemselvestookexactlythesameviewofthecase.MontgomeryMartinnarrates:"IinquiredoftheTaoutaiatShanghaiwhichwouldbethebestmeansofincreasingourcommercewithChina,andhisfirstanswertome,inthepresenceofCapt.Balfour,HerMajesty'sConsul,was:'Ceasetosendussomuchopium,andwewillbeabletotakeyourmanufactures.'"
　　Thehistoryofgeneralcommerceduringthelasteightyearshas,inanewandstrikingmanner,illustratedthesepositions;but,beforeanalysingthedeleteriouseffectsonlegitimatecommerceoftheopiumtrade,weproposegivingashortreviewoftheriseandprogressofthatstupendoustrafficwhich,whetherweregardthetragicalcollisionsforming,sotosay,theaxisroundwhichitturns,ortheeffectsproducedbyitonthegeneralrelationsoftheEasternandWesternworlds,standssolitaryonrecordintheannalsofmankind.
　　Previousto1767thequantityofopiumexportedfromIndiadidnotexceed200chests,thechestweighingabout133lbs.OpiumwaslegallyadmittedinChinaonthepaymentofadutyofabout$3perchest,asamedicine;thePortuguese,whobroughtitfromTurkey,beingitsalmostexclusiveimportersintotheCelestialEmpire.InI773,ColonelWatsonandVice-PresidentWheeler——personsdeservingtotakeaplaceamongtheHermentiers,Palmersandotherpoisonersofworld-widefame——
　　suggestedtotheEastIndiaCompanytheideaofenteringupontheopiumtrafficwithChina.Consequently,therewasestablishedadepotforopiuminvesselsanchoredinabaytothesouthwestofMacao.Thespeculationprovedafailure.In1781theBengalGovernmentsentanarmedvessel,ladenwithopium,toChina;and,inI794,theCompanystationedalargeopiumvesselatWhampoa,theanchoragefortheportofCanton.ItseemsthatWhampoaprovedamoreconvenientdepotthanMacao,because,onlytwoyearsafteritsselection,theChineseGovernmentfounditnecessarytopassalawwhichthreatenedChinesesmugglersofopiumtobebeatenwithabambooandexposedinthestreetswithwoodencollarsaroundtheirnecks.About1798,theEastIndiaCompanyceasedtobedirectexportersofopium,buttheybecameitsproducers.TheopiummonopolywasestablishedinIndia;whiletheCompany'sownshipswerehypocriticallyforbiddenfromtraffickinginthedrug,thelicencesitgrantedforprivateshipstradingtoChinacontainingaprovisionwhichattachedapenaltytothemiffreightedwithopiumofotherthantheCompany'sownmake.In1800,theimportintoChinahadreachedthenumberof2,000chests.Having,duringtheeighteenthcentury,bornetheaspectcommontoallfeudsbetweentheforeignmerchantandthenationalcustom-house,thestrugglebetweentheEastIndiaCompanyandtheCelestialEmpireassumed,sincethebeginningofthenineteenthcentury,featuresquitedistinctandexceptional;whiletheChineseEmperor,inordertocheckthesuicideofhispeople,prohibitedatoncetheimportofthepoisonbytheforeigner,anditsconsumptionbythenatives,theEastIndiaCompanywasrapidlyconvertingthecultivationofopiuminIndia,anditscontrabandsaletoChina,intointernalpartsofitsownfinancialsystem.
　　Whilethesemi-barbarianstoodontheprincipleofmorality,thecivilizedopposedtohimtheprincipleofself.Thatagiantempire,containingalmostone-thirdofthehumanrace,vegetatingintheteethoftime,insulatedbytheforcedexclusionofgeneralintercourse,andthuscontrivingtodupeitselfwithdelusionsofCelestialperfection-thatsuchanempireshouldatlastbeovertakenbyfateon[the]occasionofadeadlyduel,inwhichtherepresentativeoftheantiquatedworldappearspromptedbyethicalmotives,whiletherepresentativeofoverwhelmingmodernsocietyfightsfortheprivilegeofbuyinginthecheapestandsellinginthedearestmarkets-this,indeed,isasortoftragicalcoupletstrangerthananypoetwouldeverhavedaredtofancy.
　　FREETRADEANDMONOPOLYNewYorkDailyTribuneSeptember25,1858
　　byKARLMARX
　　ITWAStheassumptionoftheopiummonopolyinIndiabytheBritishGovernmentwhichledtotheproscriptionoftheopiumtradeinChina.
　　ThecruelpunishmentsinflictedbytheCelestiallegislatoruponhisowncontumacioussubjects,andthestringentprohibitionestablishedattheChinesecustom-housesprovedalikenugatory.ThenexteffectofthemoralresistanceoftheChinamanwasthedemoralization,bytheEnglishman,oftheImperialauthorities,custom-houseofficersandmandarinsgenerally.ThecorruptionthatateintotheheartoftheCelestialbureaucracy,anddestroyedthebulwarkofthepatriarchalconstitution,was,togetherwiththeopiumchests,smuggledintotheEmpirefromtheEnglishstoreshipsanchoredatWhampoa.
　　NurturedbytheEastIndiaCompany,vainlycombatedbytheCentralGovernmentatPekin,theopiumtradegraduallyassumedlargerproportions,untilitabsorbedabout$2,500,000in1816.ThethrowingopeninthatyearoftheIndiancommerce,withthesingleexceptionoftheteatrade,whichstillcontinuedtobemonopolizedbytheEastIndiaCompany,gaveanewandpowerfulstimulustotheoperationsoftheEnglishcontrabandists.In1820,thenumberofchestssmuggledintoChinahadincreasedto5,147;in182Ito7,000,andin1824to12,639.Meanwhile,theChineseGovernment,atthesametimethatitaddressedthreateningremonstrancestotheforeignmerchants,punishedtheHongKongmerchants,knownastheirabettors,developedanunwontedactivityinitsprosecutionofthenativeopiumconsumers,and,atitscustom-houses,putintopracticemorestringentmeasures.Thefinalresult,likethatofsimilarexertionsin1794,wastodrivetheopiumdepotsfromaprecarioustoamoreconvenientbasisofoperations.
　　MacaoandWhampoawereabandonedfortheIslandofLin-Tin,attheentranceoftheCantonRiver,theretobecomemanned.Inthesameway,whentheChineseGovernmenttemporarilysucceededinstoppingtheoperationsoftheoldCantonhouses,thetradeonlyshiftedhands,andpassedtoalowerclassofmen,preparedtocarryitonatallhazardsandbywhatevermeans.Thankstothegreaterfacilitiesthusafforded,theopiumtradeincreasedduringthetenyearsfrom1824to1834from12,639to21,785chests.
　　Liketheyears1800,1816and1824,theyear1834marksanepochinthehistoryoftheopiumtrade.TheEastIndiaCompanythenlostnotonlyitsprivilegeoftradinginChinesetea,buthadtodiscontinueandabstainfromallcommercialbusinesswhatever.Itbeingthustransformedfromamercantileintoamerelygovernmentestablishment,thetradetoChinabecamecompletelythrownopentoEnglishprivateenterprisewhichpushedonwithsuchvigourthat,in1837,39,000
　　chestsofopium,valuedat$25,000,000,weresuccessfullysmuggledintoChina,despitethedesperateresistanceoftheCelestialGovernment.
　　Twofactshereclaimourattention:First,thatofeverystepintheprogressoftheexporttradeofChinasince1816,adisproportionatelylargepartprogressivelyfellupontheopium-smugglingbranch;andsecondly,thathandinhandwiththegradualextinctionoftheostensiblemercantileinterestoftheAnglo-IndianGovernmentintheopiumtradegrewtheimportanceofitsfiscalinterestinthatillicittraffic.In1837theChineseGovernmenthadatlastarrivedatapointwheredecisiveactioncouldnolongerbedelayed.Thecontinuousdrainofsilver,causedbytheopiumimportations,hadbeguntoderangetheexchequer,aswellasthemoneyedcirculationoftheCelestialEmpire.
　　HeuNailzi,oneofthemostdistinguishedChinesestatesmen,proposedtolegalizetheopiumtradeandmakemoneyoutofit;butafterafulldeliberation,inwhichallthehighofficersoftheEmpireshared,andwhichextendedoveraperiodofmorethanayear'sduration,theChineseGovernmentdecidedthat,"Onaccountoftheinjuriesitinflictedonthepeople,thenefarioustrafficshouldnotbelegalized."Asearlyas1830,adutyof25percentwouldhaveyieldedarevenueOf$3,850,000.In1837,itwouldhaveyieldeddoublethatsum,butthentheCelestialbarbariandeclined,layingataxsuretoriseinproportiontothedegradationofhispeople.In1853,HienFang,thepresentEmperor,understillmoredistressedcircumstances,andwiththefullknowledgeofthefutilityofalleffortsatstoppingtheincreasingimportofopium,perseveredinthesternpolicyofhisancestors.Letmeremark,enPassant,thatbypersecutingtheopiumconsumptionasaheresytheEmperorgaveitstrafficalltheadvantagesofareligiouspropaganda.TheextraordinarymeasuresoftheChineseGovernmentduringtheyears1837,1838and1839,whichculminatedinCommissionerLin'sarrivalatCanton,andtheconfiscationanddestruction,byhisorders,ofthesmuggledopium,affordedthepretextforthefirstAnglo-Chinesewar,theresultsofwhichdevelopedthemselvesintheChineserebellion,theutterexhaustionoftheImperialexchequer,thesuccessfulencroachmentofRussiafromtheNorth,andthegiganticdimensionsassumedbytheopiumtradeintheSouth.AlthoughproscribedinthetreatywithwhichEnglandterminatedawar,commencedandcarriedoninitsdefence,theopiumtradehaspracticallyenjoyedperfectimpunitysince1843.Theimportationwasestimated,in1856,atabout$35,000,000,whileinthesameyear,theAnglo-IndianGovernmentdrewarevenueOf$25,000,000,justthesixthpartofitstotalStateincome,fromtheopiummonopoly.Thepretextsonwhichthesecondopiumwarhasbeenundertakenareoftoorecentdatetoneedanycommentary.
　　Wecannotleavethispartofthesubjectwithoutsinglingoutoneflagrantself-contradictionoftheChristianity-cantingandcivilization-mongeringBritishGovernment.Initsimperialcapacityitaffectstobeathoroughstrangertothecontrabandopiumtrade,andeventoenterintotreatiesproscribingit.Yet,initsIndiancapacity,itforcestheopiumcultivationuponBengal,tothegreatdamageoftheproductiveresourcesofthatcountry;compelsonepartoftheIndianryotstoengageinthepoppyculture;enticesanotherpartintothesamebydintofmoneyadvances;keepsthewholesalemanufactureofthedeleteriousdrugaclosemonopolyinitshands;
　　watchesbyawholearmyofofficialspiesitsgrowth,itsdeliveryatappointedplaces,itsinspissationandpreparationforthetasteoftheChineseconsumers,itsformationintopackagesespeciallyadaptedtotheconveniencyofsmuggling,andfinallyitsconveyancetoCalcutta,whereitisputupatauctionattheGovernmentsales,andmadeoverbytheStateofficerstothespeculators,thencetopassintothehandsofthecontrabandistswholanditinChina.ThechestcostingtheBritishGovernmentabout250rupeesissoldattheCalcuttaauctionmartatapricerangingfrom1,210to1,600rupees.But,notyetsatisfiedwiththismatter-of-factcomplicity,thesameGovernment,tothishour,entersintoexpressprofitandlossaccountswiththemerchantsandshippers,whoembarkinthehazardousoperationofpoisoninganempire.
　　TheIndianfinancesoftheBritishGovernmenthave,infact,beenmadetodependnotonlyontheopiumtradewithChina,butonthecontrabandcharacterofthattrade.WeretheChineseGovernmenttolegalizetheopiumtradesimultaneouslywithtoleratingthecultivationofthepoppyinChina,theAnglo-Indianexchequerwouldexperienceaseriouscatastrophe.Whileopenlypreachingfreetradeinpoison.itsecretlydefendsthemonopolyofitsmanufacture.WheneverwelookcloselyintothenatureofBritishfreetrade,monopolyisprettygenerallyfoundtolieatthebottomofits"freedom."
　　TRADEANDTHETREATYNewYorkDailyTribuneOctober5,1858
　　byKARLMARX
　　THEUNSUCCESSFULissue,inacommercialpointofview,ofSirHenryPottinger'sChinesetreaty,signedonAugust29,1842,anddictated,likethenewtreatieswithChina,atthecannon'smouth,isafactnowrecollectedevenbythateminentorganofBritishFreeTrade,theLondonEconomist.HavingstoodforwardasoneofthestaunchestapologistsofthelateinvasionofChina,thatjournalnowfeelsitselfobligedto"temper"thesanguinehopeswhichhavebeencultivatedinotherquarters.TheEconomistconsiderstheeffectsontheBritishexporttradeofthetreatyof1842,"aprecedentbywhichtoguardourselvesagainsttheresultofmistakenoperations."Thiscertainlyissoundadvice.Thereasons,however,whichMr.WilsonallegesinexplanationofthefailureofthefirstattemptatforciblyenlargingtheChinesemarketforWesternproduce,appearfarfromconclusive.
　　ThefirstgreatcausepointedoutofthesignalfailureisthespeculativeoverstockingoftheChinesemarket,duringthefirstthreeyearsfollowingthePottingertreaty,andthecarelessnessoftheEnglishmerchantsastothenatureoftheChinesedemand.TheEnglishexportstoChinawhich,in1836,amountedto?,326,000,hadfallenin1842to?69000
　　Theirrapidandcontinuedriseduringthefollowingsixyearsisshownbythesefigures:
　　1842?69,000
　　1843?,456,000
　　1844?,305,000
　　1845?,295,000
　　Yetin1846theexportsdidnotonlysinkbelowthelevelof1836,butthedisastersovertakingtheChinahousesatLondonduringthecrisisof1847provedthecomputedvalueoftheexportsfrom1843to1846,suchasitappearsintheofficialreturntables,tohavebynomeanscorrespondedtothevalueactuallyrealized.IftheEnglishexportersthuserredinthequantity,theydidnotlesssointhequalityofthearticlesofferedtoChineseconsumption.Inproofofthelatterassertion,theEconomistquotesfromMr.W.Cooke,thelatecorrespondentoftheLondonTimesatShanghaiandCanton,thefollowingpassages:
　　"In1843,1844and1845,whenthenorthernportshadjustbeenopened,thepeopleathomewerewildwithexcitement.AneminentfirmatSheffieldsentoutalargeconsignmentofknivesandforks,anddeclaredthemselvespreparedtosupplyallChinawithcutleryTheyweresoldatpriceswhichscarcelyrealizedtheirfreight.ALondonhouse,offamousname,sentoutatremendousconsignmentofpianofortes,'whichsharedthesamefate.'Whathappenedinthecaseofcutleryandpianosoccurredalso,inalessnoticeablemanner,'inthecaseofworstedandcottonmanufactures.'Manchestermadeagreatblindeffortwhentheportswereopened,andthateffortfailed.Sincethenshehasfallenintoanapathy,andtruststothechapterofaccidents."
　　Lastly,toprovethedependenceofthereduction,maintenanceorimprovementofthetrade,onthestudyofthewantsoftheconsumer,theEconomistreproducesfromthesameauthoritythefollowingreturnfortheyear1856:
　　1845.1846.1856.
　　WorstedStuffipieces13,5693,4157,428
　　Camlets13,3748,0344,470
　　Longells91,53175,78496,642
　　Woollens62,73156,99638,553
　　PrintedCottons100,6158x,150281,784
　　PlainCottons2,998,1261,859,7402,817,624
　　CottonTwistlbs2,640,0985,324,0505,579,600
　　Nowalltheseargumentsandillustrationsexplainnothingbeyondthereactionfollowingtheovertradeof1843-45,ItisaphenomenonbynomeanspeculiartotheChinesetrade,thatasuddenexpansionofcommerceshouldbefollowedbyitsviolentcontractions,orthatanewmarket,atitsopening.shouldbechokedbyBritishoversupplies;thearticlesthrownuponitbeingnotverynicelycalculated,inregardeithertotheactualwantsorthepayingpowersoftheconsumers.Infact,thisisastandingfeatureinthehistoryofthemarketsoftheworld.OnNapoleon'sfall,aftertheopeningoftheEuropeancontinent,Britishexportsprovedsodisproportionatetothecontinentalfacultiesofabsorptionthat"thetransitionfromwartopeace"provedmoredisastrousthanthecontinentalsystemitself.
　　Canning'srecognitionoftheindependenceoftheSpanishcoloniesinAmericawasalsoinstrumentalinproducingthecommercialcrisisof1825WarescalculatedforthemeridianofMoscowwerethendispatchedtoMexicoandColombia.Andinourownday,notwithstandingitselasticity,evenAustraliahasnotescapedthefatecommontoallnewmarkets,ofhavingitspowersofconsumptionaswellasitsmeansofpaymentover-stocked.ThephenomenonpeculiartotheChinesemarketisthis:thatsinceitsopeningbythetreatyof1842,theexporttoGreatBritainofteaandsilk,ofChineseproduce,hascontinuallybeenexpanding,whiletheimporttradeintoChinaofBritishmanufactureshas,onthewhole,remainedstationary.ThecontinuousandincreasingbalanceoftradeinfavourofChinamightbesaidtobearananalogytothestateofcommercialbalancebetweenRussiaandGreatBritain;butthen,inthelattercase,everythingisexplainedbytheprotectivepolicyofRussia,whiletheChineseimportdutiesarelowerthanthoseofanyothercountryEnglandtradeswith.TheaggregatevalueofChineseexportstoEngland,whichbefore1842mightberatedataboutIC.7,000,000,amountedin1856tothesumofaboutIC9,500,000.WhilethequantityofteaimportedintoGreatBritainneverreachedmorethan50,000,000lbs.before1842,ithadswollenin1856toabout90,000,000
　　lbs.Ontheotherhand,theimportanceoftheBritishimportofChinesesilksonlydatesfrom1852.Itsprogressmaybecomputedfromthefollowingfigures:
　　1852.1853.1854.1855.1856.
　　Silkimp'dlbs2,418,3432,838,0474,576,7064,436,9623,723,693
　　Value?3,318,II23,013,3963,676,116
　　Nowtake,ontheotherhand,themovementoftheBRITISHEXPORTSTOCHINA
　　VALUEDINPOUNDSSTERLING.
　　1834?42,852
　　18351,074,708
　　18361,326,388
　　18381,204,356
　　Fortheperiodfollowingtheopeningofthemarketin1842andtheacquisitionofHongKongbytheBritish,wefindthefollowingreturns:
　　1845?,359,000
　　18461,200,000
　　18481,445,950
　　18522,508,399
　　18531,749,597
　　18541,000,716
　　18551,122,241
　　1856upwardof2,000,000
　　TheEconomisttriestoaccountforthestationaryandrelativelydecreasingimportsofBritishmanufactureintotheChinesemarketbyforeigncompetition,andMr.Cookeisagainquotedtobearwitnesstothisproposition.Accordingtothisauthority,theEnglisharebeatenbyfaircompetitionintheChinesemarketinmanybranchesoftrade.
　　TheAmericans,hesays,beattheEnglishindrillsandsheetings.AtShanghaiin1856theimportswere221,716piecesofAmericandrills,against8,745English,and14,420ofAmericansheetings,against1,240
　　English.Inwoollengoods,ontheotherhand,GermanyandRussiaaresaidtopresshardlyontheirEnglishrivals.WewantnootherproofthanthisillustrationtoconvinceusthatMr.CookeandtheEconomistarebothmistakenintheappreciationoftheChinesemarket.TheyconsideraslimitedtotheAnglo-ChinesetradefeatureswhichareexactlyreproducedinthetradebetweentheUnitedStatesandtheCelestialEmpire.In1837,theexcessoftheChineseexportstotheUnitedStatesovertheimportsintoChinawasabout?60,000.Duringtheperiodsincethetreatyof1842,theUnitedStateshavereceivedanannualaverageof?,000,000inChineseproduce,forwhichwepaidinAmericanmerchandise?00,000.Ofthe?,602,849towhichtheaggregateimportsintoShanghai,exclusiveofspecieandopium,amountedin1855,Englandsupplied?,122,24I,America?72,708,andothercountries?07,900;whiletheexportsreachedatotalof?2,603,540,ofwhich?,405,040weretoEngland,?,396,406toAmerica,and?02,088toothercountries.CompareonlytheAmericanexportstothevalueof?72,708withtheirimportsfromShanghaiexceeding?,000,000.If,nevertheless,Americancompetitionhas,toanysensibledegree,madeinroadsonBritishtraffic,howlimitedafieldofemploymentfortheaggregatecommerceofforeignnationstheChinesemarketmustoffer.
　　ThelastcauseassignedtothetriflingimportancetheChineseimportmarkethasassumedsinceitsopeningin1842,istheChineserevolution,butnotwithstandingthatrevolution,theexportstoChinarelatively[swelled]in1851-52,inthegeneralincreaseoftrade,and,duringthewholeoftherevolutionaryepoch,theopiumtrade,insteadoffallingoff,rapidlyobtainedcolossaldimensions.Howeverthatmaybe,thismuchwillbeadmitted,thatalltheobstaclestoforeignimportsoriginatinginthedisorderedstateoftheempiremustbeincreased,insteadofbeingdiminished,bythelatepiraticalwar,andthefreshhumiliationsheapedontherulingdynasty.
　　Itappearstous,afteracarefulsurveyofthehistoryofChinesecommerce,that,generallyspeaking,theconsumingandpayingpowersoftheCclestialshavebeengreatlyoverestimated.WiththepresenteconomicalframeworkofChinesesociety,whichturnsupondiminutiveagricultureanddomesticmanufacturesasitspivots,anylargeimportofforeignproduceisoutofthequestion.Still,totheamountofL8,000,000,asumwhichmayberoughlycalculatedtoformtheaggregatebalanceinfavourofChina,asagainstEnglandandtheUnitedStates,itmightgraduallyabsorbasurplusquantityofEnglishandAmericangoodsiftheopiumtradeweresuppressed.ThisconclusionisnecessarilyarrivedatontheanalysisofthesimplefactthattheChinesefinancesandmonetarycirculation,inspiteofthefavourablebalanceoftrade,areseriouslyderangedbyanimportofopiumtotheamountofabout?,000,000.
　　JohnBull,however,usedtoplumehimselfonhishighstandardofmorality,preferstobringuphisadversebalanceoftradebyperiodicalwartributesextortedfromChinaonpiraticalpretexts.HeonlyforgetsthattheCarthegenianandRomanmethodsofmakingforeignpeoplepay,are,ifcombinedinthesamehands,suretoclashwithanddestroyeachother.
　　THEBRITISHANDCHINESETREATYNewYorkDailyTribuneOctober15,1858
　　byKARLMARX
　　THEOFFICIALsummaryoftheAnglo-Chinesetreaty,whichtheBritishMinistryhasatlastlaidbeforethepublic,adds,onthewhole,butlittletotheinformationthathadalreadybeenconveyedthroughdifferentotherchannels.Thefirstandthelastarticlescomprise,infact,thepointsinthetreatyofexclusivelyEnglishinterest.Bythefirstarticle,"theSupplementaryTreatyandgeneralregulationsoftrade,"stipulatedaftertheconclusionofthetreatyofNanking,are"abrogated."ThatsupplementarytreatyprovidedthattheEnglishConsulsresidingatHongKong,andthefiveChineseportsopenedtoBritishcommerce,weretocooperatewiththeChineseauthoritiesincaseanyEnglishvesselsshouldarrivewithintherangeoftheirconsularjurisdictionwithopiumonboard.AformalprohibitionwasthuslaiduponEnglishmerchantstoimportthecontrabanddrug,andtheEnglishGovernment,tosomedegree,constituteditselfoneoftheCustom-HouseofficersoftheCelestialEmpire.Thatthesecondopiumwarshouldendinremovingthefettersbywhichthefirstopiumwarstillaffectedtochecktheopiumtraffic,appearsaresultquitelogical,andaconsummationdevoutlycalledforbythatpartoftheBritishmercantilepublicwhichchantedmostlustyapplausetoPalmerston'sCantonfireworks.Weare,however,muchmistakenifthisofficialabandonmentoilthepartofEnglandofherhypocriticaloppositiontotheopiumtradeisnottoleadtoconsequencesquitethereverseofthoseexpected.ByengagingtheBritishGovernmenttocooperateinthesuppressionoftheopiumtraffic,theChineseGovernmenthadrecognizeditsinabilitytodosoonitsownaccount.
　　TheSupplementaryTreatyofNankingwasasupremeandratherdesperateeffortatgettingridoftheopiumtradebyforeignaid.Thisefforthavingfailed,andbeingnowproclaimedafailure,theopiumtraffic,beingnow,sofarasEng.landisconcerned,legalized,littledoubtcanremainthattheChineseGovernmentwilltryamethodalikerecommendedbypoliticalandfinancialconsiderations——viz:legalizethecultiva.tionofthepoppyinChina,andlaydutiesontheforeignopiumimported.WhatevermaybetheintentionsofthepresentChineseGovernment,theverycircumstancesinwhichitfindsitselfplacedbythetreatyofTientsin,showallthatway.
　　Thatchangeonceeffected,theopiummonopolyofIndia,andwithittheIndianExchequer,mustreceiveadeadlyblow,whiletheBritishopiumtrafficwillshrinktothedimensionsofanordinarytrade,andverysoonprovealosingone.Tillnow,ithasbeenagameplayedbyJohnBullwithloadeddice.Tohavebaffleditsownobjectseems,therefore,themostobviousresultoftheopiumwarNo.II.
　　Havingdeclared"ajustwar"onRussia,generousEnglanddesisted,attheconclusionofpeace,fromdemandinganyindemnityforherwarexpenses.Having,ontheotherhand,allalongprofessedtobeatpeacewithChinaitself,she,accordingly,cannotbutmakeitpayforexpensesincurred,intheopinionofherownpresentMinisters,bypiracyonherownpart.However,thefirsttidingsofthefifteenortwentymillionsofpoundssterlingtobepaidbytheCelestialsprovedaquietertothemostscrupulousBritishconscience,andverypleasantcalculationsastothebeneficialeffectsoftheSyceesilveruponthebalanceoftrade,andthemetalreserveoftheBankofEngland,wereenteredintobytheEconomistandthewritersofmoneyarticlesgenerally.Butalas!thefirstimpressionswhichthePalmerstonianpresshadgivenitselfsomuchtroubletoproduceandworkupon,weretootendertobeartheshockofrealinformation.
　　A"separatearticleprovidesthatasumoftwomillionsoftaels"shallbepaid"onaccountofthelossessustainedbyBritishsubjectsthroughthemisconductoftheChineseauthoritiesatCanton;andafurthersumoftwomillionsoftaelsonaccountof"theexpensesofthewar.Now,thesesumstogetheramountto?,334,000only,whilein1842,theEmperorofChinahadtopay?,200,000,ofwhich?,200,000wasindemnityforthecontrabandopiumconfiscated,and?,000,000fortheexpensesofthewar.Tocomedownfrom?,200,000,withHongKongintothebargain,toasimple?,334,000,seemsnothrivingtradeafterall;
　　buttheworstremainsstilltobesaid.Since,saystheChineseEmperor,yourswasnowarwithChina,buta"provincialwar"withCantononly,tryyourselveshowtosqueezeoutoftheprovinceofKwangtungthedamageswhichyouramiablewarsteamershavecompelledmetoadjudgetoyou.Meanwhile,yourillustriousGen.StraubenzeemaykeepCantonasamaterialguaranty,andcontinuetomaketheBritisharmsthelaughing-stockevenofChinesebraves.ThedolefulfeelingsofsanguineJohnBullattheseclauses,whichthesmallbootyof?,334,000isencumberedwith,havealreadyventedthemselvesinaudiblegroans.
　　"Instead,"saysoneLondonpaper,"ofbeingabletowithdrawour53
　　ships-of-war,andseethemreturntriumphantwithmillionsofSyceesilver,wemaylookforwardtothepleasingnecessityofsendinganarmyof5,000mentorecaptureandholdCanton,andtoassistthefleetincarryingonthatprovincialwarwhichtheConsul'sdeputyhasdeclared.ButwillthisprovincialwarhavenoconsequencesbeyonddrivingourCantontradetootherChineseports?Willnotthecontinuationofit[theprovincialwar]giveRussiaalargeportionoftheteatrade?MaynottheContinent,andEnglandherself,becomedependentonRussiaandtheUnitedStatesfortheirtea?"
　　JohnBull'sanxietyastotheeffectsofthe"provincialwar"upontheteatradeisnotquitegratuitous.FromMacgregor'sCommercialTariffiitmaybeseenthatinthelastyearoftheformerChinesewar,Russiareceived120,000chestsofteaatKiachta.
　　TheyearaftertheconclusionofpeacewithChinatheRussiandemandfelloff75percent,amountingto30,000only.Atallevents,thecostsstilltobeincurredbytheBritishindistrainingKwangtungaresuresotoswellthewrongsideofthebalancethatthissecondChinawarwillhardlybeself-paying,thegreatestfaultwhich,asMr.
　　Emersonjustlyremarks,anythingcanbeguiltyofinBritishestimation.
　　AnothergreatsuccessoftheEnglishinvasioniscontainedinArt-51,accordingtowhichtheterm"barbarian""shallnotbeapplied"totheBritishGovernmentortoBritishsubjects"inanyChineseofficialdocumentissuedbytheChineseauthorities."TheChineseauthoritiesstylingthemselvesCelestials,howhumbletotheirunderstandingmustnotappearJohnBull,who,insteadofinsistingonbeingcalleddivineorOlympian,contentshimselfwithweedingthecharacterrepresentingthewordbarbarianoutoftheofficialdocuments.
　　ThecommercialarticlesoftheTreatygiveEnglandnoadvantagenottobeenjoyedbyherrivals,and,forthepresent,dissolveintoshadowypromises,forthegreaterpartnotworththeparchmenttheyarewrittenon.Art.10stipulates:
　　"BritishmerchantshipsshallhaveauthoritytotradeupontheGreatRiverYang-tse,butinthepresentdisturbedstateoftheUpperandLowerValley,noportistobeopenedfortradewiththeexceptionofChin-kiang,whichistobeopenedinayearfromthesignatureoftheTreaty.Whenpeaceisrestored,Britishvesselsaretobe"admittedtotradeatsuchportsasfarasHankow,notexceedingthreeinnumber,astheBritishMinister,afterconsultationwiththeChineseSecretaryofState,maydetermine."
　　Bythisarticle,theBritishareinfactexcludedfromthegreatcommercialarteryofthewholeempire,from"theonlyline,"asTheMorningStarjustlyremarks,"bywhichtheycanpushtheirmanufacturesintotheinterior."Iftheywillbegoodboys,andhelptheImperialGovernmentindislodgingtherebelsfromtheregionsnowoccupiedbythem,thentheymayeventuallynavigatethegreatriver,butonlytoparticularharbours.Astothenewseaportsopened,from"all"theportsasatfirstadvertised,theyhavedwindleddowntofiveports,addedtothefiveportsoftheTreatyofNanking,and,asaLondonpaperremarks,"theyaregenerallyremoteorinsular."Besides,atthistimeoftheday,thedelusivenotionofthegrowthoftradebeingproportionatetothenumberofportsopened,shouldhavebeenexploded.
　　ConsidertheharboursonthecoastsofGreatBritain,orFrance,ortheUnitedStates;howfewofthemhavedevelopedthemselvesintorealemporiumsofcommerce?BeforethefirstChinesewar,theEnglishtradedexclusivelytoCanton.Theconcessionoffivenewports,insteadofcreatingfivenewemporiumsofcommerce,hasgraduallytransferredtradefromCantontoShanghai,asmaybeseenfromthefollowingfigures,extractedfromtheParliamentaryBlueBookonthetradeofvariousplacesfor1856-57.Atthesametime,itshouldberecollectedthattheCantonimportsincludetheimportstoAmoyandPochow,whicharetranshipedatCanton.
　　BritishimporttradetoBritishexporttradetoCanton.Shanghai.Canton.Shanghai.
　　1844$15,500,000$2,500,000$17,900,000$2,300,000
　　184510,700,0005,100,00027,700,0006,000,000
　　18469,900,0003,800,00015,300,0006,400,000
　　18479,600,0004,300,00015,700,0006,700,000
　　18486,500,0002,500,0008,600,0005,000,000
　　18497,900,0004,400,00011,400,0006,600,000
　　18506,800,0003,900,0009,900,0008,000,000
　　185110,000,0005,400,00013,200,00011,600,000
　　1852M00,0004,600,0006,500,00011,400,000
　　18534,000,0003,900,0006,500,00013,300,000
　　18543,300,0001,100,1006,000,00011,700,000
　　18553,600,0003,400,0002,900,00019,900,000
　　18569,100,0006,200,0008,200,00023,800,000
　　The"commercialclauses"ofthetreaty"areunsatisfactory,"isaconclusionarrivedatbytheDailyTelegraph,Palmerston'smostabjectsycophant;butitchucklesat"thebrightestpointintheprogramme,"
　　viz:"thataBritishMinistermayestablishhimselfatPeking,whileaMandarinwillinstallhimselfinLondon,andpossiblyinvitetheQueentoaballatAlbertGate."HoweverJohnBullmayindulgethisfun,therecanbenodoubtthatwhateverpoliticalinfluencemaybeexercisedatPekingwillfalltothepartofRussia,which,bydintofthelasttreaty,holdsanewterritory,beingaslargeasFrance,and,ingreatpart,onitsfrontier,8oomilesonlydistantfromPeking.ItisbynomeansacomfortablereflectionforJohnBullthathehimself,byhisfirstopiumwar,procuredRussiaatreatyyieldingherthenavigationoftheAmurandfreetradeonthelandfrontier,whilebyhissecondopiumwarhehashelpedhertotheinvaluabletractlyingbetweentheGulfofTartaryandLakeBaikal,aregionsomuchcovetedbyRussiathatfromCzarAlexeyMichaelovitchdowntoNicholas,shehasalwaysattemptedtogetit.SodeeplydidtheLondonTimesfeelthatstingthat,initspublicationoftheSt.Petersburgnews,whichgreatlyexaggeratedtheadvantageswonbyGreatBritain,goodcarewastakentosuppressthatpartofthetelegramwhichmentionedRussia'sacquisitionbytreatyofthevalleyoftheAmur.
　　THENEWCHINESEWARNewYorkDailyTribuneOctober1,1859
　　byKARLMARX
　　ACabinetCouncilisannouncedforto-morrowinordertodecideuponthecoursetobetakeninregardtotheChinesecatastrophe.ThelucubrationsoftheFrenchMoniteurandtheLondonTimesleavenodoubtastotheresolutionsarrivedatbyPalmerstonandBonaparte.TheywantanotherChinesewar.IaminformedfromanauthenticsourcethatattheimpendingCabinetCouncilMr.MilnerGibson,inthefirstinstance,willcontestthevalidityofthepleaforwar;inthesecondinstance,willprotestagainstanydeclarationofwarnotpreviouslysanctionedbybothHousesofParliament;andifhisopinionbeoverwhelmedbyamajorityofvotes,willsecedefromtheCabinet,thusagaingivingthesignalforanewonslaughtonPalmerston'sadministrationandthebreakupoftheLiberalcoalitionthatledtotheoustingoftheDerbyCabinet.PalmerstonissaidtofeelsomewhatnervousastotheintendedproceedingsofMr.MilnerGibson,theonlyoneofhiscolleagueswhomheisafraidof,andwhomhehascharacterizedmorethanonceasamanpeculiarlyable"inpickingholes."ItispossiblethatsimultaneouslywiththisletteryoumayreceivefromLiverpoolthenewsoftheresultsoftheMinisterialCouncil.Meanwhiletherealbearingofthecaseinquestionmaybebestjudged,notfromwhathasbeenprinted,butfromwhathasbeenwilfullysuppressedbythePalmerstonorgansintheirfirstpublicationsofthenewsconveyedbythelastoverlandmail.