The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-04

stand on coHn Of vantage az compared with
otaer hatlonss which often enables them 10 take
wnat they want without the Formally OF consulting
the Chinese. What may he the policy OF our oon gor-
ernTaent Mf. BurlingdMe perhaps alone klaOlos for
WIN an his ndlre Willingness TO expOund his IDEAS
we nave yet TO learn that ne dtruged his pan
or acton. on this or any other occasion. But IL IS
per,mitted US 70 hope that zeal for his new chiefs
ton in way that VIII belle his record us a liberal
and progressive statesman
There can be no doubt that the present treaties, If
tney were hol allowed to remain IN many respects
dead letter. would assure to foreigners many OF the
prNEeges which they now hope 10 gain by
oede with due regard for her own internal
administration; but IL so happens that the
Chinese nave dexterously insisted on literal
Interpretation OF these documents, by wnch every
dououui clause Is construed in their favor and some
uines III sense contrary TO the trainers intehuon
For instance, article nine Of the British treaty
authorizes British subjects to travel for their pleas
nre or for purposes OF trade TO all parts OF the
iheror under passports;' article twelve stipuiaees
that 'Bricsh subjects, whether at the ports or al
Otner PAGES desiring TO build or open hoUses ware
houses, churches hospitals or burial grounds sha
make their agreement for the land or budngs tliey
require .. .he rates prevailing among me peophs,
ana by article fourteen British subjects may hre
VIVA. poas they Please for the TRANSPORT re oa
artcies together, u would appear that brl.lsn
SUBJECTS tald Americans Also by the favored
NATION clause IN our treaty. are entitled to 1--we IN tne
inferior Tor purposes OF trade and TO transport thelr
goods from the coast In such boats as they may
choose 10 employ, whether impe!ied by steam, sails
treaty mas reduced these privileges to nudity, ara
IN Iact the only trading establishments are at the
open ports, while the navigation Of inland waters by
steamers prohibited save on the Canton, Yangtze
and reno rivers II is strange In the face OF this that
the Russians have their trading posts at various
points III the empire, and as matter OF treaty right
there seems no reason why Americans and English
men might not claim alike privilege.
10 conclude, we may summarize the CHIEF p0infS
on which the English memoralists urge revision
OF their treaty. l. Certain changes in the tariff
Of minor Importance, however, as It is not claimed
that the duties generally press unfairly on trade.
Penalties for alleged breaches OF revenue laws
not To be inflicted by the Chinese without the
assent OF the Consul. 2 The better regulation OF
inland transit dues, which are intended to protect
foreign property purchased in sent to the interior
from the Illegal eXactions OF local authorities. B.
more er''ent system OF legal procedure, TO enable
foreign - TO recover debts from Chinese. These
two points are among the most difficult, as they In
volve the discussion OF the whole system OF Chinese
interna! revenue-Of the independence OF the provin
cla governments and the integrity Of their official
body. T. The right OF residence in the Interior and
OF navigating the inland waters in steamers. g. The
privilege OF opening mines-a question complicated
ny the ingrained superstition Of the whole Chinese
nation, which the government owns itself powerless
to resist g. The establishment OF railroads and tee-
graphs-prevented now IN China as 1t was impeded
few years ago in Europe, by prejudice and igno-