Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19
THE FUTURE OF CHINA.


FROM YORK COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER
Under the head of Morals and Religion" recent
ly published letter from the Rev. Mr.. Golden, one of
the several missionaries sent China by the Methodist
Episcopal Church. which could scarcely fail awaken
reflection in the readers mind We speak not of its
gous bearing, though that is highly gratifying in view
of the event which it chroncled but of the Indications
it afforded cf the activity Of the Chinese mind
Both Americans and Europeans had acquired the habit
considerable extent Of coupling mental inactivity,
dullness and sluggishness of intellect indifference
incapacity for investigation and analysis with the Chi
nese character The long unchanged routine Of events
IN that empire has doubt had its Influence creating
this very sentiment. 1t has seemed impossible
that people upon whom many centuries have pro-
duced mutations could possess active or nquirng
minds any intellectual appetite. The little effect
hitherto known to be produced by the opening of certain
ports foreigners has served increase this impression
and almost universally the Chinese have 10 be
garded until very recently least mentally dwarfed
and dull, and almost incapable of intellectual emotion
LII is worthy of remark that while England made the
first breach in that wall of exclusiveness within which
China had entrenched herself the United States has
accrued the greater honor of awakening the Chinese peo
pie from that ethargy which those long years of sec-
had superinduced and bringing them into beneficial
conflict with the world Notwithstanding the precedence
which Engands conquest gave her, she has been able to
accomplish nothing than obtain grudging COM
pance with the letter Of compulsory treaty That she
abored under the disadvantage resulting from that
which the conquered naturally feel towards the con-
querors is very true and may partially account for her
failure to accomplish But must look further
for the that have given the United States the adj
vantage England in arousng the Chinese from their
contempuous indifference towards all other nations. In
the acquisition of California lay the secret of that advan
tage The fame Of that golden region, and its compare
tive accessibility the Chinese broke the spell of excu
siveness aud Of the ethargy which had followed. The
universal motor selinterest brought into play and
what could not achieve treaties accomplish,
readily effected by this newly awakened power and pro-
misses most gratifying results Mr. Golden letter shows
TO minds at least that the Chinese who remain at
home beginning the effect Of their counrymcn's
intercourse with the outside world
The mode in which that intercourse operates is readily
comprehended. The Chinese who emigrate California
hold more less communication with their families and
friends during their absence On their home they
narrate what they have and heard An interest
speetng foreign nations is thus awakened contempt for
foreigners gives way before the testimony which therown
counrymeE give of the and progress of the
outside barbarians" Thus barrier is broken down
which both missionaries and merchants have long
to be nsurmountabeyiz. the superciious Indifference
the blended enty and PRIDE receive nstruc
ton from the lips Of foreigners Now they learn from those
who have no interest in deceiyng them that there
other great people besides themselves other
MERGE than that transacted IN their ports other forms Of
government and Institutions, working tremendously and
happily for the governed; and now Mr. Colden letter
shows the greatest triumph is achievedfrom being
deseut to the couases OF foreigners they have become
attentive to them and from being attentive they have
become inquiring. The Chinese mind is awakened, and
progress has already commenced her march in the
Celestial Empire.
Ten years ago who would have dreamed Of natives Of
that fowery land" working side by side with Americans
in the rugged toll of gold digging veing with hemia in
dusty and power Of endurance and scarcely if all,
surpassed BY them in enterprise and mpulsiyeness Or
who would have thought possible that troupe Of Chi
nese conjurers and posture makers would be making
professional tour through the principal cities of the
United States, and settling family quarrel before po-
lice magistrate in the city Of New York And who does
that this is but the commencement of new era
in the history Of that vast and teemng Empire tits
tery impossible that upon whose vision world
has thus been opened remain unchanged in opinion
in habits, or in knowledge When the Chinese returns
from profitable business in Calfornia-for il is scarcely
probable that the present generation of people crcum
saneed they have been viii permanently abandon their
native land-but when those who have sojourned among
us either in Pacific Atlantic cities 10 their
homes, is impossible that they be respecting
what they have seen and heard.
They will be, in fact any missionaries in the cause
Of progress and improvement. New ideas will be infused
into the public mind habits desires, hopes
will supplant those which have long prevailed Amb
ton and emulation will be awakened and when they
begin to work the change for China is virtually accom-
pshed Already the wall Of exclusiveness is partially
broken down. The breach, however has been made from
eiiia. not BY the batterng OF n besicging party
against whom the inhabitants determinedly
hostile, and therefore to be repaired the very first
respite in the assault but by the inhabitants themselves
for their own exodus from confinement that became
rksome and improbable from the moment that Ameri
energy revealed the Of the III Dorado on eur
tactic coast The Chinese themselves will that
that wall shall be repaired; and the very breach
necessary for their egress also for the ngress
Of other people The days of Chinese excuseness are
practically ended
And what future opens before the mind. China with
her teeming millions, commencing cxistence--in-
tellectua, moral social political and commercial China
painting for instruction. ycarning for the light Of TRUTH
breathing desires and stimulated by necessities
which oniy intercourse and worlds commerce sup
| ply. What field for christian philanthropy. What
temple for exchange. What market for commerce
And such China must become and in the gradually but
certainly approaching change the United States above
all other nations deeply interested What England
could Del China do the United States have al
ured her 10 MISUNDERSTANDING her people with those OF
foreign nations Thousands Of Chpa subjects tread
Pacific shores and mingle with our own citizens IL has
been ours prac cay to open China. California has be-
come the kew to that Empire. It's may be
mainly and scarcely fail to be- hsinteectua social,
and ,elcal elevation may be also. Should the
nedon 10 japan in any degree successful, il is i'm
nossle 10 define the limits of that field OF
cs ind other enterprises that events throwing open
to the United States.
4 VERDICT AGAINST 4 SrgAnGoAr CoNpASY-Superior
Court In the case of Henry G. Spcrry against the
PEOPLES Line Association Owners of steamboat South
Aerca) damages arising from plaintiff being
thrown nv the concusson the deck ef the steamboat
Joseph Bclknap in which he passenger and injured
daring collision between the two vessels already referred
| to the jury yesterday gave verdict for plaintiff Of
i 81 505.--Ncte York EJpreSs.
The folly Of ccunubial quarrelng strkingy illus
trated in lowell the other day. The better half of Mr.
Evans got angry with him aud sought satisfaction by
ting off the head Of his portrait The indignant husband
few the law for satisfaction his part and protection
for future and the result was that Mrs Evans
fired, and--M. ErdJss had 70 pcy The tHe.