New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-02
TIE CHINESE TREATY WIN AMERICA.

lFfsu he SATURDAY Re'iss:l
The languid regard OF readers may have
h.eu drawn for moment the articles ol new treaty
hc cen China Tho United states which ~ far a. We
have observed. The ses alone has "a W.
journal has dcigucd to honor with comment Indeed
"gbt ~ he mi Xcd 10 document which the fret blush
disC nothing arrest attention Dlu not tht MA
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ma the United states bae the ordinary
Intelligence Of Europe, might jump 20 the conclusion
that SIR Burlingame had achieved a great diplomatic
triumph Certainly the tTumpeng OF american Journals
and the language On ne l5esdGm ~ ~, pg
IL they were not attended To inspire x 1ehet that ne
haa lone something very great ana artiu on bcha OF
| Ern,ire A. Americans are not gu orally accused
eitlrC- Of not understanding or OF not approaching
II il easily infers that much tail talk vas not expended
for nothing Additional curiosity Is chali nged both for
treaty and It's author when II ~ ubcred mat t
latter person his way 10 England ~ the Minister
not ~ iis own county but Of the Court a which he had
an thing for the subject Of one power to
represent another Power at friendly Couf' though II
OricnH Power has delegated diplomatic uncons TO an
allen and barbarian 10 augtrs either very htte Tor
Mr. Bit ingamcs knsHlcdgc VI China, much for
his philosophy, that be- has undertaken fun lions which
the Mandarin class REGARD WIZ uhaHecleo ana uhcOn
/ ccaled contempt The results Of two waf3 aud two
humiatO have not cnTed them OF Their belcf that
ali FOREIGNERS are beyond the pale of recognition They
stin look upon Europeans sorvie race with whom
communication should bc held only through tba medium
OF cads ~ course Chno-e opinion maybe safely dsre
garded, befh by Americans aud by Europeans per
hlps Mr. Eulin game may after soGe years rc@lencc In
China, stilibe completely nnac1udnted with a. Other
wise he ma, not uurcas0naby be suspected Of having
undertakes office which IS without honor, because II
may be attended with prot II IS ms tWoi0ldissslOn
which gives interest the LTcaty between his country
and China. We cannot be f%r wrong IN surmlsng tlnt
fho cOncocteT OF two treaties has common olgectin
loth; and American patriotism would Gpurn the sugges
ton that American would not use bis opportunities
r coaxing or cxtOrtiug advantage for his cOnEty
rapid perusa OF the new treaty reveals nothing new
or startling 10 only when o2e looks narrowly into
thu. purpose discovered 1t - quite possible hat the
Chinese have conceded, and meant to eOLcede, nothing
10 the nsnuaOns or the demands OF Mr.. Burllgame.
The shrewducss " their may have satisfied them
flat bustling and ambitious politician, hungry after
oTc Of the sest aud trashiest kind The articles OF
the new treaty are many Of Them te articles Of the old
other half surplusagc The first article grayty enunci
atcs the proposition that the Emperor Of China is Of
oninOn that in cOnccdgg strangers the privilege
residence In his dolninlos he has not parted with ms
avn iurisJictOn II this clause not inserted In
sprf OF icony Chinese Empcrors must take very long
time TO their opinion For the supreme jurisdiction
Ice eI recognized by The Governments which had
relations with China. The Only, ana that partial, cN
cnton TO ts uniform conduet occurred In the year 1892
The Shanghai merchants had been, during the civil war
transferred from the jurisdiction OF the Chinese author
MES 10 that Of their own municipal officers; and there
rc they Inferred that after the termination OF the
war the authority OF the Chinese law was abrogated.
Rn s error was corrected and It's consequences Tepu
dated by the British Minister. who cnphalicaly asserted
the principle OF Chinese jurisdiction over Chinese terri
tory And IN other instance since that time has the
principle been questioned. That the Emperor, then,
should SO submssiyey venture TO advance ms own opn-
ION upon matter which there can be no doubt. may
be taken example either OF demure pleasantly or
OF cOntemptuous irony. 80
What special sense the Government OF the United States
attaches either 10 the reeraton OF an old principle TO
the mild clam OF the Emperor lsnpcssibe for MS 10
saw The only plausible suggestion IN that In any diff
Guilty between English and Chinese the American treaty
may he appealed TO- and an American Interpretation OF
N NAV be made the excuse for American interference.
The second article provides that all privileges shall be Ut
the discretion of the Chinese Government but not in
manner or spirit incompatible with the treaty stipua
tiOns Of the parties How language which rcjOCes In
concrete and Tepudates abstract forms OF expression
would convey this meaning II very puLzng question.
To say a treaty that Government shall exercise the
nowers OF Government but not IN manner adverse To
The spirit OF treaties which have already recognized these
powers is not saying very much Possibly there Is in the
treaty OF which We shall have 10 speak II this So Mr.
Durlingame is entitled 20 small, but very small
ehucIle over piece Of 'cuteness which would do credit
ta the most promising Of village lawyers in Con
nectcut Tho third, fourth, nth, SIXTH and seventh
articles are really meaningless They are mere padding
stifed in between the second ana the eighth article
pary TO smother and partly 20 support the last Article
three only repeats provision OF the previously sub
sgting treaty; article four repeats smother and article
I've h. useless for the right OF the Chinese 10 emgrate
was formally declared by the Emperor, Ia Convention
signed with Lord Elgin IN 1880 Ihe mode and snperyl
~ chinese ion subjects which demanded
attention, and DIght wen Dave been embodied 10 J