Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-17
THE OWL. TRUE POLICr.

"An enlightened diplomacy recognizing |
the universal brotherhood of man and equal |
Justice TO all nations" such was the text Of |
the sixth regular toast at the grand banquet
offered by the merchant princes of New
Yorllto the Chinese embassy and Mr.. Bur-
lingame at Delmonico's recently.
1t was responded to by James p. Putnam
of Buffalo, in language that deserves repe-
tition wherever genuine progress has a
friend.
The banquet itself was brilliant testi-
monial of the respect and interest felt by
the intelligent classes of America, and espe-
cially of this great commercial metropolis,
in the prospective opening of intimate rela-
tons with an empire that boasts the Oldest
civilization on earth and can bestow upon
modern industry the stimulus of demand
from 400,000,0O0 consumers.
The dinner and its appointments were
arranged in style of sumptuous elegance
worthy of the Empire City, and of the cele-
brated caterer in whose establishment ii
was set forth. Gov Fenton of New York
presided, and on either side sat the men,
bers of the Chinese embassy, while the 9TH
er tables were occupied by about 200 of our
most prominent citizens distinguished in
trade, journalism and art. The addresses
were numerous, eloquent, high-toned, and
cast upon the noblest themes of the advance
ing hour. Mr.. Burlingame, the new am
bassador, was peculiarly forcibe i'm argu-
ment and happy in illustration, and the re-
marks of Mr.. Greeley, Mayor Hoffman,
Mr.. Evarts and Mr.. Ruggles, as well as the
opening welcome of Gov. Fenton, honored
the occasion with sentiments and assurances
that must be very gratifying TO the "wise
men of the East, who have come to us first,
in theAcourse of one of the noblest missions
ever conceived and sent forth by any nation.
But the highest topic of all that was taken
up during the evening was, we think, pro-
pounded in the toast which we have quoted
at the opening of this article, and we can do
no better than to reproduce Mr.. Putnam's
remarks thereupon. He said:
"An age of progress is always transitional.
The present age is pre-eminently so. And,
of all the progress which modern time rec
ords, involving the advancement of liberal
ideas and more just international relations,
l recognize nothing so potential, so full of
hope and cheer, rs that diplomacy which,
if our government did not originate, it GER
tainly has commended to the world by the
most illustrious examples and the most
| brilliant success. | trust the time is fast
approaching when the whole Machavelian
school of maxims relating to international
intercourse will be superseded by the prn-
ciples of impartial justice to all men and to
all States. For centuries the diplomacy of
Europe was n system of strategy and vio-
| lence, and international law was practically
the will of the strongest-that will the in
spiration of commercial cupidity and the
lust of territorial aggrandizement During
the progress of our civil war / read in a
foreign journal, which is recognized as the
foremost representative of the press of Eu-
rope, in an article discussing the questions
that grew out of the Trent affair, these sig
nificant words: "It is true we have in past
times, as a nation done many wrong things,
but we were always able to fight them
through" The policy thus shadowed forth
has been the worlds direst curse It has
deluged Europe and Asia with blood; it
has again and again annihiated weak but
Independent States, and erected in the CEN
tire of more than one colossal empire gov
ernment OF force, regardless of every feel
ing, regardless of every sentiment, regard
less of every principle, except its own alb
sorbng, crushing, devilish AMBITION
Thanks be to God, there is another school
of international ethics! And l think it a
Just matter of congratulation that our gov
ernment has given the world some of the
] Dr tIat hot
doctrine The stream will rise no higher
than the fountain. If il takes its rise from
the low level of human passions, we may
expect wrong and violence. II it takes its
rise from the fountain of Eternal Justice,
we may know that /. will bear on its bosom
that central truth of religion, the universal
fatherhood of God, and the vivfyinG prin-
ciples fall just politics, the universal broth
erhood of man. When | consider the more
recent diplomatic action of our own govern
ment upon matters involving the interna
security of IA power with which we are now
happily, at peace and with which devout
ly hope and pray we may never have occa
sion to war-a power which we believe ha
given us grievous cause of Just complaint
when | see that our government has covered
, the head and whole body of that power will
Goals of fire from the furnace of charity anC
good will, | recognize the dawning of thu
millennium of States. And when l see on
representative to a people that constitutes
third of our race-a nation that dates il
history back to a period coeval with thu
earliest nations-a nation distinguished fol
a civilization that has fiowered into grea
domestic and public virtues, and who's,
ethics, associated with names that ranl
among the greatest and noblest of all ages
, command the respect of mankind, yet ;
. civilization that has preserved for centuries
an isolation as absolute as it Is anomalous
when l see that representative not at tn,
head of armies or of navies, not with strat
egy or menace, but by the power of intelli
! gent persuasion by the presentation of thos
} principles of international comfy and jus
tice which reason approves and religion en-
forces, accomplishing incalculable practica
, results for their good and the good of TN
Western nations-I see beyond the dawn,
= recognize, high advanced, the blazing da!
D of international millennium. And m,
friend, your distinguished guest, will ALLOW
me to hail him as the Priest of the New Era
' who, with the golden ring of Peace, ha
' welded the time-hallowod civilization o
, the East TO the fresher and more elastic civ
ilization of the West. He has levolled tn
[ walls of China by one touch of the wand O
, national fraternity; and China is here, con
Q quering us by conquering our prejudices
' enlarging the boundary of our sympathies