The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1869

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LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 28, 185'9.

Out. readers will not fail to perceive the great
value of the new treaty which, as announced by
Central Press Telegram, Sir RUTHERFORD ALeocx
has concluded with the Chinese Government. The
new arrangement will give British traders several
of the important privileges for which they
have so long contended in vain. For many
years, British commerce with China has struggled
and prospered in spite of great disadvantages. From
small beginnings a great trade, with which no other
nation in the world can compete, has been built up.
Previously to 1842 commerce with China was
restricted to one port, Canton ; and notwithstanding
numerous quarrels and wars, the business done through
this single medium was considerable. In 1842 four
more ports were thrown open, and the British
trade then assumed very great proportions. In
1849 the imports from the Empire had risen to nearly
£6,200,000, whilst our exports were worth a million
and a half. Things thus went on steadily, our
imports nearly doubled, and a million was
added to our exports, until in 1858 the
customary war led to the conclusion of
the famous treaty of Tien-tsin. This bargain
secured us some very important privileges.
The English Government thereby acquired the right
to keep an ambassador in China ; protection was
promised to the Christian religion ; five more ports
were opened ; the navigation of the great river Yang-
tze-Kiang was made free to merchant ships ; and
British subjects were allowed to travel for business or
pleasure to all parts of the interior. The vexed
question of transit dues was settled by concessions
on the part of the Pekin authorities. These measures,
though, like all those of other Chinese treaties, they
were frequently violated—as the treatment of mis-
sionaries sufficiently testifies— have, nevertheless,
proved of very beneficial effect. We still
retain almost a monopoly of the Chinese

trade, and the total value of English dealings
has constantly increased. In 1864 the imports from
China were worth 15 millions sterling. This part
of the trade has diminished of late years; but our
exports have increased from £2,800,000 in 1858 to
5 millions in 1867. _ _

So far as trade was concerned, however, the Tien-Tsin

treaty- was obviously imperfect. Though it ;are England
diplomatic representation, and made promises of pro-
tection to Christians which have been partially
redeemed, it left many questions wholly un-
touched. Foremost amongst these was the right of
foreigners to employ capital in the Celestial Empire.
Railways and telegraphs were needed to de-
velope the resources of that vast country, and it
was hopeless to expect its mineral products to bo
realised without the help of " barbarian" enter-
prise. But the Chinese have constantly sustained an
invincible hostility to such novelties. Nor was this
repugnance altogether so blind as it might appear.
The mandarins, literati, and the ruling classes
generally are well aware that as civilisation advances
their power must recede. It was only after the
manner of men, therefore, that these magnates
resisted advances which, whilst promoting
the wealth of their country, would lessen
their own importance. The synopsis of the
new treaty says nothing about telegraphs
or railways; but under its provisions English
appliances will be employed in working coal mines,
which is obviously a step in the right direction.
Once let the Chinese draw English wages, and the
extension of enterprise amongst a thrifty and money-
loving people will be a question of a very
short time. The privilege of free naviga-
tion upon inland waters is also valuable,
for hitherto only one river has been thus open. The
right of foreigners to temporary residence in any part
of the country is a great improvement on the old
system, which allowed merely the facility of travel-
ling from one place to another. Beyond these
concessions, two new ports will be opened,
the transit dues are to be revised, and the duties
lessened. Of the two latter changes it would be pre-
mature to speak until their extent is make known in
detail ; but as a whole it is evident that the treaty
will be one of the most important steps yet taken
towards the utilisation of those great resources
which have been so jealously closed against
us. Nor is it merely in a commercial
sense that this change will be beneficial.
Experience has shewn that the spread of
enlightenment, freedom, and Christianity must, in
China at least, follow in the path of trade. The
track may be slow, but it is the only sure one. All
attempts to hastily force either Western ideas or
Western religion upon the Chinese have proved vain ;
and it is clear that only by first proving to the natives
of the strange land the tangible advantages of in-
tercourse with Europe can we prepare them for those
other and greater benefits which we may have to
confer.

THE unfortunate in trade, whether from real or
fictitious causes, are hastening to take their last
chance. Never had the bankruptcy courts so much
business on hand before ; indeed, it is estimated
that the surplus cases which will remain after
the end of the year will create some trouble
in devising special arrangements to get rid of them.
On Saturday the new bankruptcy law comes into
operation. What will be its effect experience can
best decide ; but that it is looked upon with ill-
favour by debtors, the haste to "get through " before
the obnoxious statute takes the place of the old one is
clear testimony. The new measure is based upon what in
practice is an entirely new principle. Henceforth th 3
property of the debtor will be handed over to the
creditors, who will have almost carte blanche in
making the most of it. The official assignees will dis-
appear, and in their place a " trustee" appointed
solely by the creditors will reign. His duties are to be
important, and his power, subject to the revision of a
committee of the creditors, will be considerable. He
will manage the bankrupt's estate, receive and
decide upon proofs of debts, administer oaths,
and distribute the estate amongst the creditors.
It is obvious that the latter will be almost entirely
dependent for justice upon such an important
functionary. If the interests of the person chosen be
identical with those of the creditors, all will be well ;
but if, by any chance, a friend of the debtor
manages to get the control in his hands,
the result may be far from satisfactory.
Moreover, though a respectable tradesman may be
fully competent to manage and distribute property, it
is doubtful how far the trustee will succeed in the
judicial functions of deciding proofs of debt and ad-
ministering oaths. The committee of inspection
will, however, act as some check upon a trustee
who may not be inclined to see what is best
for the creditors ; and in the case of disputed debts
there is an appeal to the Bankruptcy Court. In
general the substitution of the trustee for the trade
and official assignees will have a beneficial effect.
Appointed by the creditors themselves, he
is likely to have more interest in adopting a
course calculated to be favourable to them. Cases of
fraud may occur, but they cannot be more numerous
than under the old system. Above all, the new law
cannot fail to prove advantageous in saving the
lawyers' bills which now often eat up the
little property the debtor possesses. The choice of
becoming a bankrupt is now withheld from the
defaulter; his creditors decide that question, and,
moreover, if they determine to appeal to the Court,
the method of procedure is more direct
and efficacious. The clause which forbids
the release of the bankrupt until he has
paid ten shillings in the pound, and the
numerous offences which are punished by imprison-
ment, are further safeguards against fraud. Indeed,
the Act would probably be too stringent were it not
that imprisonment for debt pure and simple is now
abolished, and the defaulter made liable for frauds
only,

CHRISTMAS AM USEMENTS.

many palpable bits at current events, and the
harlequinade is an unremitting current of fun,
which keeps the sides of those who look on in a con-
stant shake, so intense is their laughter. The jigs
danced by Miss Simmers are in themselves attrac-
tions sufficiently powerful to draw a large body of
visitors to this theatre.