The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-15
EUROPE.
Later news bv gtenmcr


Later News by steamer.
By arrivals at New-York Yesterday, we have
European adVices TO September 2. r
The London Times. in its issue Of the I'd inst,
thus comments on our treaty with China:
The announcement Of a mission to the Courts
OF Europe from government whose past treat
ment OF its relations with Western nations had
well nigh caused despair in those who had
looked forward with hope, when the treaty of
11entsin was signed, to the undisturbed develop
ment oil friendly intercourse with the Chinese
people was hailed here with satisfaction. TIE
prospect held out by the utterances of the
Americo-Chinese Envoy on his arrival in New
York--thst 'ChIna finds that she must come
into relations with this civilization that is
pressing up around her; feeling that, she does
not wait, but comes out 10 you and extends her
bandn-implying that the Chinese rulers con-
templated step forward in the direction of ful-
6lment OF their obligations, contracted aud un-
contracted, was more than welcome.
We afe interested far beyond any other
country in trade which already amounts to
one hundred millions sterling in the year. We
are alive to the immense benefit which cannot
fail TO accrue TO us from the development of
that commerce to the proportions possible to IL;
those proportions meaning, besides other things,
the not insignificant advantage to US as maui
factuiing people of clothing the teeming mil
lions of that empire, causing China almost to
surpass India in worth to us. We harbor no sim
lister designs on the rights of either Government
or people. Of this we have given practical
proof by the terms to which, in common with
the French Government, we restricted ourselves
when we dictated at Pekln the convention of
1860 OUr sole desire Is that the ChEese Gov
eminent may not be tempted to revert again to
its policy of isolation and hostility, which it
once fairly abandoned, and that so lately as the
year last named, that we may be spared further
conflict, aud our legitimate commerce being
suffered 10 expand in security free from under
hand interference, We may gain the opportunity
of cemeDtiug by the ties OF q common interest q
friendly alliance with the Chinese people.
For reasons of the above Dature, the cordial
reception of mission with a character such as
that announced by it's envoy was guaranteed,
although we might, if so minded, have taken
umbrage at the selection that has been made, to
the exclusion of our own countrymen in favor
of an American gentleman who does not even
count among his qualifications any knowledge
OF the language of the court from which he
comes accredited. Under no obligations to the
United States, the Chinese government is under
obligations positive and weighty to ourselves;
for, oddly enough, ever since the termination of
our last war in 1860, we have been
doing little else in China than rendering
1t service, so acting doubtless under the
impression that we should thus place beyond
question the sincerity of the friendship prof
tered. From the latter half of the year 1861 to
1864 We we're crushing the Tapping Rebellion
which there Is no room for doubt would, but for
our aid, have triumphed. other important
services might be chronicled by which the tot
tering dynasty obtained a new lease of life. In
establishing trustworthy administration,
which was of.our devising, and the assent to
which on the part OF the treaty powers was due
to our instrumentality, Tor the collection of the
revenue upon foreign trade, which has now
reached the high annual of 12,700, 600 sterling,
and which the Chinese Government, left to its
own resources, would be utterly incompetent to
collect, we have contributed 10 no mean degree
to the maintenance OF Government long since
bankrupt IN its exchequer Hence, it would
have exhibited graceful appreciation
of such services had sthe Chinese Gov.
ernment made choice OF an Englishman with q
knowledge of the language in place OF an Ameri-
can without it. But, doubtless, the choice is
justified by the objects which the treaty clauses
concluded by the envoy with the United States
disclose. Its aim would seem to be nothing less
than the reinforcement OF the Chinese rulers in
their old attitude of passive resistance and
untriendliness. 1t is pity that the foreign
counselloIs whom they have at their elbow
should have supplied them with advice so mis-
taken and mischievous. A retrograde policy on
the part of China at this date is simply opt of the
question; it is at variance with the tendencies of
the age, is condemned by all the experience of
the past and can bear but one fruit--chronic
hostility. There is AN irresistible law of progress
which China must like all other countries, obey
or suffer.
The compact which this supplementary treaty
aims in effect at exactiEg from all foreign
powers is to let China remain stationary for all
time. To acquiesce in a condition SO absurd,
and as unaValng as absurd, would be, indeed,
simply 10 court fresh wars and to fling away
the Chief gain, as will be found whenever that
treaty is carried into effect, of the Treaty of
Tientsin, which was to transfer by degrees from
the hands OF the Government TO those of the
people the power to imperil our relations when
ever this might chance to suit the purpose or
convenience of the former.
We rise from the perasal of this treaty, we are
bound TO say, with the conviction that there is
more underneath it than appears on the surface.
1t bears olstinct traces of foreign inspiration,
and it is our belief that this mission did not
originate with the Chinese Government at all
that the idea of snlisting Mr. Burlingame as a
temporary recruit for turlheTing Chinese ends.
30 far from being spontaneous, emanated from Il
foreign brain, and was suggested by the depar
ture of the American Envoy, then on the eve OF
quitting Pekin. The plan was, no doubt, JOY
fully welcomed by the Chinese ministers, who,
having but one object at heart gave but one in
struction, "Stop all progress; as to the rest,
carte blanche; say and do what you like.n The
treaty concocted by the mission on its passage
from China is the result before us.
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