430 



THE POLICY WHICH OUGHT Chap. XXIL 



we were afraid to attack it. Again, according to 

 them, it was fear which prevented us from insist- 

 ing upon our treaty-rights as regards free admis- 

 sion within their city walls. 



It would appear, therefore, that we have our- 

 selves to blame for much of the barbarous treat- 

 ment we have received at the hands of the Canton 

 Chinese. 



But putting on one side the case of the unfor- 

 tunate lorcha " Arrow," about which our " doctors 

 - differ," there seems to be little doubt that our 

 relations with the Cantonese were upon a most 

 unsatisfactory footing, and that sooner or later 

 the "good understanding" existing between us 

 would have been disturbed. It was only a ques- 

 tion of time, and it has been decided somewhat 

 prematurely, perhaps, by this supposed insult to 

 the English flag and infraction of treaty-rights. 

 Our relations with the people and government of 

 Canton can never be considered on a satisfactory 

 footing until we have a full and complete under- 

 standing with each other. They must be taught 

 to look upon as as a nation as highly civilised and 

 as powerful as themselves. Until this is accom- 

 plished we may have a disturbance at any time ; 

 our commerce may be stopped, and what is of far 

 more importance, the lives of our countrymen 

 living in this remote region may be placed in 

 imminent danger. 



Whether we were right or wrong, therefore, at 

 the commencement of this unfortunate dispute, it 



