The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-23
AMERICA AND CHINA.

The banquet given in honor OF the Chinese En-
bassy the St. James Hotel last evening was Of
the most elegant entertainments ever given in this
city. 1t was worthy OF the occasion and the repre-
sentatives OF the people whom it was intended to
honor and particularly remarkable for the large
number of distinguished people present on the oc-
casion.
The banquet was presided over by Mayor Shurtleff.
On his right were seated Mr.. Arson Burlingame,
principal ambassador; his Excelency Governor Bull.
lock; Mr.. Teh, of the Embassy, speaking English;
Hon. Charles Sumner, Mr.. Caleb Cushing, General
Mcdowell Commodore Rodgers and Charles G.
Nazro, president of the Boston Board OF Trade. on
the left of the Mayor were the principal members of
the Embassy and other distinguished guests.
When the company had taken their assigned
places His Honor Mayor ShurtleG addressed them
Us follows:
OPENING ADDRESS OF MAYOR sHURTLEFF.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY CoUNCIL-At your bidding
most heartily welcome to the pleasures or the pres
ent occasion all who are here to participate IN inc
Inequalities OF the city, in honor OF the distinguished
visitors from the oldest and most popuious empire Oh
the world. In accordance wltl our custom we WIN
now give attention while an invocation Tor the d.
vine blessing is pronounced by the heV. Dr. Putnanl
When due attention had been paid to the sumptu-
Gus repast and the cloth was removed Mayor Shurt
len addressed the Embassy IN words OF welcome.
Alter returning thanks for the compliment paid TO
Boston by the visit and acknowledging the distinc
ton which was accorded to Mr.. Burngame,
Il citizen of the United states, his Honor entered
INTO "a brief history OF the Chinese empire,
and concluded his remarks as folows:-"The dawn
has ar, ady apo ared China and the United States
VIII Hereafter exchange productions without let or
hindlance and the arts of peace civilization Will
flourish in both. Reigion-the most dearly esteemed
boon OF all men-will be literally enoyed in both
nations and by all people. The day will soon come
when we shall be the East and China the West when
all travel between these mighty nations shall be over
the justly named Pacific Ocean Qor distance from our
east TO our west Will soon be annihiated) and the
western passage-the long lost hope desire of the
ancient naVlgdtors-Shall be accomplished. Gentle
men, let us rejoice in the event that has brought
together this evening; and while we give welcome
Ia N XtGIf nc for no Argt tiynar ho
sufficiently grateful for the benefits which must
IN course result from their benevolent and wise mis-
slon.n
1he first and second regular toass-''The President
OF the United States" and ''Ihe Emperor OF China''-
thiid regular toast-'The Chinese Embassy''-Mayor
snurtlen called upon Mr.. Arson Burllngame to re-
spohd. lie was greeted with tumultuOus applause
on rising and spoke as follows:-
RESPONSE OF MR.. BURLINGAME.
In rising to respond TO what you have said and to
this cordial greeting feel how utterly Inadequate
Is language to meet the requirements of this occa-
sion. Events are more eloquent than words The
presence here my associates, with the sunshine Of
the Orient upon their faces and the warmth of its
nfes IN tier hearts, arouses more emotions than the
most eloquent tongue can express. (Applause)
TIE land Washington has greeted the land of Con-
iucius. Applause and cries OF "GOod.') The great
thoughts OF the one have been welded to the great
deeds o the other. Nothing can he more impressive
than the facts themselves. The imperial and the re-
publican seals have been placed side by side upon |
great bond OF friendship forever. (Applause.) In
the presence of tins majestic past the members of
tnls Embassy would be glad to rest and be silent
for moitas save in the grave Breaking the silence
(wni you demand) permit me in the first place to
Sc &c the fought expressed by yourself when you
say tina. the physical condition OF China Is like unto
the physical condition OF the United states. That is
true. China lies ong the Pacific as the United
States along the Atlantic. IL has, as you say, the
sauie area 1t Las the same lsOtnermal lines;
like system. The great river YangtZe Kiang empties
to DcAetul the same amount OF water as the Misss
sipli rlver The ia slant plans OF Mongolia answer
to the great prairles Of the Northwest. But they |
a. c not chi, like each other in their physical |
apec,s, but they have like relations to each other
ia other respects They have like moral relations |
China is divided into provinces as this country is |
divided in o states. They hold to the great doctrine
that ne people are the source Of power. You vote
b. ballot; in emma they vote by competitive eXami-
nation. You shout when your citizen Is elected; |
tneJ shout when their scholar has received his de-
gree hey scornfu of caste, and are you
You tolerate every iaitn and so do they. And you |
proceed 10 make law by petition, and they pro- |
coed 10y memorial. TINS memorial is recorded; Ii is
passed 10y he great council and If Il is approved by
the government 1t rs handed to the great secre
tarlat and IL It shall Ind 1t agreeable TO the laws
that secretarat IS charged with its publication to
the world. 50 that IN emma Is not system OF ca
prce but 4 Is system OF laws. So also, they are
like unto Us somewhat in their school system II is
voluntary. They pay great attention TO their scholars.
the world. a great man OF the Tsung-Y amen, to-day
one Oh Tie greatest, perhaps the greatest scholar
u dnhS =, iaJen, VINO made translation OF
Wade, the britlsh secretary Of the legation, a trans
lation which he made OF Longfelow's psalm OF
Le the first secular poem ever translated into the
Chinese, and placed II on a fan and sent II 10y my
o"u hand to he great poet, that fact leading to
correspondence between these INDUSTRIOUS men-l say
Tun- aen makes 1t ever his boast in the Tsungu |
iamen tina he was poor school teacher: But, how
ever great may be the physical resemblance how |
ever many re-emblances may be found In other |
respects between them and the nations OF
tie vest, II Is yet certain that we have
much To learn from them and they have
much to learn from We have 10 learn
from them 10 respect old age; we have to learn
from them sobrleiy; we have to learn from them
good manners We have to learn from them habits |
scholarships; we have to learn from them how to
cultivate iIsl: have to learn from them much I'm
relation 10 agriculture; we have much TO learn from
them OF the effect OF heat and cold and light and
sAdde upon pants; we have much TO learn from |
them how 20 rrlgate and how TO manure the land.
lnueed IL would be most profitable employment |
II some man OF observing powers should go TO |
Chna-some scientific man-if he should record |
there the facts which he found. The Chinese might
MOI be able TO give him the reasons why they did |
TINS thing or why they did that thing but he would
have found that through long ages of experience |
they had at last asceraned the right way. do not
know ol a leld Oh so wide and unreaped field, for
a scienncman, and trust that the greatest living
make an expedition to this country. But |
might fohow Your suggestion too far. say we have
mach To earn from them. We have many wise
ma M TO learn IRON them: they have much 10
learn from u.s. They have AL Of modern science; they
have all those things To learn from US which are the
result Oh our necessities We have lived iar apart
and We have Invented the steamboat and locOmo-
tive and telegraph to bring Us nearer and nearer and
arer tugctAer. And IN pursuing this line OF
Thought beyond the present, permit me to come
tearer or to do something more nearly related TO
me cent; ieaNe all speech. or everything that
may he SAID about the ancient sdges OF China who
Nei before socrates TO the distinguished gentle
man on my left (ts Honor the MayOrl who knows |
much more OF them than do. come now TO con- |
slder Tor moment the treaty which has now just |
been concluded between the United states ana 1
CHINA tAppausc.) And shall not, assure you. |
trcspas upon your time and enter into an elaborate
exposition OF that treaty. No; leave the treaty, |
the exposition OF IT, TO the distinguished senator !
tMr. sumner on my right, who was It's champion In |
the senate, ana procured for II "a unanimous vote
lJheers Permit me 10 say hrieny that that
treaty had its origin In desire to give the con-
troll OF China 10 herself, IN opposition TO that aggres.
sye spirit which would take II from her aud give IL
10 The caprice Of interest and the rude energy OF |
force. IL had It's origin IN the belief that instu- |
tons which have wlthstOod all the mutations OF
time have something IN them worthy of cOnsidera-
ton IN the belief That institutions cherished unani
mOusy by one-thir OF the human may possibly
be the best institutions for the people OF China AT
least that they are entitled TO hold on TO them
until they are changed 10y argument That treaty
had Its OrIgn. IN faCl u Is OntRroMth OF that