New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-11
THE CHINESE MISSION.

accomplished, within the range VI no "i-'' -,
ties. that industry and intelligent endeavor couiu
achieved lie found Prince Kung emDittered against
foreigners because of the wrongs done 10 Emma oy
certain Of the Great Powers and not inclined to show
favor 10 any Of them He has earned the respect ana
esteem of this "poweT behind the throne, and used
the influence thus acquired to the great advantage OF
America first, TO the advantage of Europe next ana
:; tho interest of Chinese advancement always both
morally and commercially. lie found the Embassies
Of the foreign powers located in Out-of-the-Way
seaport and looking more for protection to their own
ships of war than than TO the countenance SHOWN
them by the Chinese Government he found mem
thus remote from the Emperors court, ana ut'eI,'
debarred fIom residing in the capital city, lie Cd
tanned the extraordinary privilege OF removing INC
American Embassy into the very midst OF sacred
Pekin. Afterward with characteristic unseHishness'
he procured the same privilege for the othef foreign
embassies lie did more: ne induced the Chlneso
Government to set apart an ample area OF ground IN
palm wherein TO erect embassy buildings, and thus
secured the ENJOYS from many an annoyance
which they had been familiar with, formerly, wheh
they had existed upon suierance, and In the shade
Of the Prenliers smilo Through his great influence
at the Chinese Court he obtained the enlargement OF
treaty which gayo to America precisely the COM
mercial privileges which the ambassadors from the
European Courts had been striving for years to OBJ
tain for their Govcrnments-and Immediately he
invited them to come in and share these advantages
and took pains TO remove every obstacle that
was in the way of their being allowed TO 90
so. In return the several ambassadors wrote
letters TO him in which they set forth that
they were indebted to him for the procuring Tor
them of these valuable concessions, which they had
sought in vain to procure for themselves and closed
their notes with grateful acknowledgements cOuched
in the warmest language, and with the highest COM
- u. Il, sfr~o a. iYalQ
Again IN prompt Ie,ponse to note addressed by
him to Prince Kung, the do potism Of China became
the very first of all foreign Governments to do us
friendly Justice, and say to the maraudng Aabamas
of the Confederacy, Chira has no favOrs for ReD-
els and no harbOrs for their ships" Prlnce hung
ordered his seaport garrisOns TO impress that seh
ment with cannon and mortar Whenever 1t should
chance to become necessary.
Mr.. Burlingame, having conquered the preJudlces
of the Chinese Court against foreigners has used the
advantage thus gained, for the highest benefit OF
both the Chinese and the foreigners and always
with that thoughtful reference to the far future
which marks the statesman. He has induced the
Chinese Government to furnish lands. and, IN con-
neetion with our Government, to establish college
in Pekn for the education of Chinese and American
youths in the language and commercial customs OF
the respective countries to the end that at an early
day we may have consuls, clerks, commercial
agents and factors who shall conduct busl-
ness with the Chinese honestly and lntelh-
gently and without the aid of characterless IN
terpretcrs and brokers; and to the end also, that
China shall have native clerks, and commercial
agents who shall be entire ely qualified to protect her
merchants from the shrewd practices OF foreign
sbarpers This was a wise thought. 1t looks to the
building ND of cur commercial relations with China
upon the lasting basis of intelligence and mutual
confidence and is a loftier policy and one more be-
coming the dignity of great nation than that pur-
sued by Great Britain in India.
Mr. Bullingame persuaded away another Chinese
prejudice and got the Prince to have geological
survey made, so that some idea might BIO formed OF
the mineral resources of China. talented young
American made the survey. and the results proved
of the highest Importance, especially as they demon
stated the presence Of large coal deposits there an
article very necessary TO satisfactory steam commu
nicatiOn with China.
Mr. Burlingame made short work OF the regen-
Grafton of the American Consulates in China They
are useful auXiharies OF our Government now, IN
stead of shops devoted TO trafcking and bartering
in the behoof OF private and personal consular
profit. ~, n
ngame in China was his constituting and eXpOund,
ing the international law under which China and
the ENJOYS conducted their State business. This
was service done in the broad interest of the com;
merce the civilization. and the peace and goodwin
Chinese Cont had labored long and
hard, and individually and collectively, to
cOnstrue certain tangled clauses In that law III
manner which should be satisfactory to all concerned
But they failed-and continued to fail Threatening
difficulties intruded themselves often, and open ruI
lures came near resulting on several occasions III
verse opinions as to the meaning of the law The
envoy asked Mr. BurlBgame TO make An attempt 70
elucdato the vexed law, and he did so, and with
brilliant success His concise and yet exhaustive
construction Of the document was cordially ana
unanimously accepted by the foreign ENJOYS and
also by the Chinese Gov eminent as just iucld ana
in aver way
fn of praise of the ability he had shown IN the
matter and thanking him heartily for the great ser
vice thus done themselves and their countries Con-
sdering the distinguished ability OF those Embassa-
doris themselves, Mr.. Burngame might well 90
proud of his achievement.
iarly successful career by recently ascending TO
an Embassadoria emnence never before attained by
any man. The foreign ministers at the Chinese
court appauded his promotion with one voice. ana
freely Endorsed its wisdom.
lie found our mission IN China OF no more than
mere ordinary consequence but he leaves 1t far IN
the lead of all the rest lie leaves our Chinese analrs
so situated that with great Drained successor who
shall appreciate the magnitude Of the interests at
stake aud perform the duties Of his post with tact
and sound judgment the vast commerce OF 4OOOOOOOO
of industrious people must soon pass 10 uSand 10 us
There Is an impression in some quarters Tor rather
there was when Mr.. Burlingame was youngerl that
he Ia superficial Nothing could be further from the
trnfh He is quick sagacious, and withal deep and
serious thinker. He is one OF the ablest diplomats
America has produced, and his works prove IL, Inns
will be seen more readily, perhaps, by comparing
them with tie achievements OF our other foreign
ministers He has done bis work on the other side OF
the world in o newSpaperless land-otherwlse TINS
nation would have known all about it long ago, and
would have freely accorded the praise ana the mgn
honor it deserved. r1o,.;,
the above paragraphs good unusually good
You have asked to write down this casual dinner
table talk: have done so. and am not serry Tor inc
excuse 10 show the people that the great distinction
lately conferred upon fellowcitlzen was e0rh@ Dy
hard work, and not s,InDiea Ipp ny ~, con-