The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-31

drawn and in spite of treaty stipulations to the
contrary, that the old policy of exclusvencss was
more vigorously enforced than ever. BY the opium
treaty of 1912, the gates Of Canton were to be
thrown open to Europeans the 9th of April
lS49 and yet, it was not until they were forcibly
torn from their hinges few months ago, that
foreigners found themselves at liberty to traverse
at will the streets of that city. It was in vain
that Governor BoNHAM, of Hong Kong, demanded
that the terms of the treaty should be complied
with; the only reply he received was that the
popuace would not consent to the presence of a
single Fan-qui-loo-Foregn White Devil-within
the walls. In answer to u second remonstrancc
against this fragrant violation of the compact, the
Cantonese Governor ST., transmitted to Hong
Kong what purported to be "a luminous procla
nation from Peliin, " Transcribed on yellow paper,
stating that the Chinese Government 'would not
''oppose the incinations of its people by comply
''ing with the wishes of strangers from affair." and
admonishing the Governor Of Hong Kong, that it
was the duty of foreigners to respect alike the
popular will, and the Imperial cdict. When the
English threatened to lombard the city for the
purpose of enforcing an observance of the treaty,
a Canton merchant coolly replied ''They may
"burn the city if they will; they may kill fifty
thousand men; they may drive the merchants into
''the interior; but they shall not enter the city"
Another merchant taking his long-braidcd hair
in his hands and making saving motion across
ii, said ave would as soon have that cut off, as
''to permit foreigners to 90 inside the city, and
then, drawing his hand across his throat, he
i IL 4,
''hcads taken off as their hair" Yet Canton has
been iorcibly entered within u few months past
and foreigners have trodden its streets without
serious mOlestation; and now we learn, by tele-
gram from Europe that the advance of the Eng
lsh and French fota TO Tien-sin, on the Pei-ho
river, has brought the Tartar Emperor to terms
treaty of peace has been concluded to the salts
faction of the French and English Plenipotcn-
taries, and their American and Russian "moral
supporters" We can readily imagine that Mr.
REED feels thankful that his mission is ended
Cleansed from the mpalpable dust that blows
over the plains of Pe-chee-lee he can now return
home, conscious that something has been accom-
plished by somebody, and that he had the honor
of being present when it was done. Such services
are not brilliant enough to call for much remark:
but what more could we expect from an Ambassa-
dor who was restricted by his instructions to the
part Of "a locker on in Vienna?" Let us then
be thankful for small f;lvors. We are told that
China has been opened up to commercial enter
prise, and that the absurd regulations which have
heretofore embarrassed the operations of trade
are to be abolished, at once, and forever. We
trust it may be so; but we place but little
reliance in concessions hastily made by Chi
nese functonarcs, under the pressure of hos
tile fleet advancing VIGOROUSLY upon the same
capital from which the Embassy of Lord MAcAET-
NEY was so unceremoniousy expelled While an
intense prejudice to the presence of foreigners in
their midst continues to prevail either as native TO
the people Of China, as fostered by the acts of
the government, we fear that we shall not derive
much benefit from that clause of the treaty of
Ten-sin which permits foreigners to trade with
any part of the Chinese Empire. If the Allied
fleet was homcward bound Tomorrow and the
gates Of Canton were flung open by an Imperial
rescrpt SO strong are the preiudices and so de-
moralized the condition of the populace that the
stranger who vcntured among them would do so
at the imminent risk of his life. Six hundred An
glo-Saxons, engaged in commercial pursuits, are
scattered along the coast of China What impress
sion of the power and the popuousness, of the
Western world, can this mcagre handful of for
elgners convey to the myriads of ignorant and en-
citablc Chinese that people the water aud the land
of Eastern Asia? What regard will be paid TO
their complaints; what redress will they be likely
to obtain for their grievances when the ships of
war are withdrawn? A government that enters
upon treaty solely for the purpose of getting rid
of troublesome enemy will show but little respect
for its stipulations, when the fear of that enemy
has subsidized. In the pigcon-English of Canton,
''Cheenaman have got custom Englishman no can
do" and the custom of China iustfes the VIOLA
ton Of an international compact, whenever it con-
fiicts with the established policy of the govern
ment, or with the real or assumed, preiudices of
the people. If Lord ELGIN and Baron eros have
really succeeded, at length, in breaking down the
barriers of Chinese excusiveness and in inspiring
the government at Pekin with due regard for its
pledges, the concessions that have been obtained
may possibly exercise an important influence upon
our future commercial relations with that country
The limited nature of our exports to China, when
with our imports of Teas and Silks
brings us at present in debt, annually, to the Cc-
lestlals, to the amount of twenty millions of dol
lars and any treaty which will produce the effect
of creating greater demand for our commodities
than exists under the present restrictive system.
would undoubtedly tend to equalizc the balance of
trade between the two countries. We fear. how
ever, that the treaty of Tien-sn will be found to
resemble, IN its most important aspects Commo-
dore PERRYs treaty with Japan, and that we shall
discover before long that the government at Pekin
has kept ''the word of promise to the ear, but
broke it to the hope