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

THE BIRLlNGAME TREATY,
British Assault on the China-Americv n Mis-.
sion Neutrality-suspicious. BULBS Enstern
Trade In Danger.
BY cable telegram, published yester law we in.
formed our readers that the London Times OF the
same morning devoted its leading o'umns TO long
analysis Of the treaty recently concluded by the |
United States government with the Emperor of |
China through the embassy now visiting America |
with Mr.. Burngame at its head. The Times says:- |
England Is more interested in China than any |
other Power; her commerce with that country |
is larger, and since the treaty of Pekin her rea-
tiOns with its government have been more |
friendly; she assisted the imperial authorities |
IN putting down the Tapping rebellion. England is |
the proper Power for China to employ as medium |
for revising her treaties with other nations But |
this treaty with the United States, aiming to restore
the old exclusive policy has been rightly entrusted |
to the manipulation Of foreign counsellOrs who ad
wise what impossible, the restoration of retro
grade system"
The writer then proceeds to dissect, one by one
the articles OF the new treaty He calls attention to
the fact that China obtains no concession from the
United States; on the other hand the latter gain |
monopoly of railway and telegraph improvements
This is OF ITSELF sufficient objection to the treaty.
Yet the question may be asked is wise for England
10 multiply her differences with America on such
grounds as these2
The article concludes as folows:-
I'VE are bound to say, with conviction, that
there is more underneath these negotiations
than appears on their surface They bear dis
tinct traces OF foreign inspiration. It is our
belief that this mission did not originate with
the Chinese government. The ioea Of enlisting Mr..
Buringame as recruit for the furthering Of Chimes
nv<o fort tafv,op
foreign brain, and was suggested by the depar .rp
from China Of the American Minister, which ces
drawing near at the time the plan was formed No
doubt the proposition was joyfuy welcomed b rfrba
ministers Of the Chinese Emperor who havir ~ ono
object at heart gave one instruction to his oassa
doris, vz:"Stop all progress as for the re :. corte
blanche; say and do what you please" Thi troo,v
cOncocted by the embassy on their pass AFRO from
China to San Francisco, is the result now eore ne ,,
The American Treaty Corner s..,, ..rro,,
. Other Points.
From the London Saturday re .,,.u,
The languid regard Of readers IN ~ have, been
drawn for moment to the articles A. a new treaty
between China and the United Stat ss which S 10
as we have Observed the Times ao' ~ has cornmnni
Gated to the world and which nett scr the Times nor
any other daily journal has defgn a to honor ,snh
a COMMEND Indeed 1t would be .eonit :" deare ~
particular value when ougns " affixed to docu-
arrest attention. Did not the snnnvres or
Partes ana the n!entons vi ~ hacal demonstrations
IN tne oni'ed Ssa.es s , ue vi tOrdinary Intelligence
OF Europe we mlgnt JUMP W se conclusion that Mr..
Burlln8ame hau acniexeu Sat diplomatic triumph.
CerIthy ulo uumPyns vi American journals and
the language Oh the iresoe succeeded in inspiring,
he had done something We, = great and useful on he
nal1 OF MS country IN ner relations the FlOwery
Emplre. As Amerlcns 1re not generally accused
enner Oh not unaerss . flg or OF not approaching
ther own INTERESTS, European stupidity may
pc pardoned IL i 6hly infers that much
Tall @k was Hot E<pended for nothing. Adj
aitional curiosity 10 su,, challenged both Tor the
that the latter perso is on his way to England as the
Minister, not Of his own country but OF the court az
which he had repre- sented the interests of the United
subject Of one Pc to represent another Power at
this s st euE fha gare but
delegated dlpio niatic functions to an alien and a
oa IDara,n suCurs either very little for Mr.. Bur
Angame's kno' gteflge OF China very much for his
philosophy IN Ghe has undertaken functions which
the Mandarin .'ciass regard with unaffected and nm
Two huma tious have not cured them OF their belief
that all fore Agrers beyond the pale of reco2ni-
ton. fheI still look upon Europeans as a servile
race, WITH whom communication should be held
only tarpnghthe medium OF cads OF course Chr :
'uese OPINION may be safely disregarded, both by
AMERICANS and by Europeans; or perhaps Mr. Bur,ln.
game may, after some years. residence in China still
oe complesey unacquainted with 1t. Otherwise he
taken an ofilce which Is without honor because IL
may be attended with profit It's his twofold mission
which gives interest TO the treaty between his
try and China. We cannot be lar wrong In surms-
Ing that the concocter OF two treaties has
object both, and American patriotism would spurn
the suggestion that an American would not use his
opportunities for coaxmg or extortng some advan-
A rapid perusal OF the new treaty reveals nothing
new or startling II Is only when one looks narrow
iy into IL that purpose Is discovered. It Is quite
possible that the Chinese nave conceded and meanto
concede nothing to the destinations the demands
of Mr.. Buringane. The shrewdness OF their race
may have satisfied them that busting and ambitious
politician hungry after New York popularity, might
be put OF with diplomatic wares OF the stalest and
ne trpa ara
many OF them. the articles OF the old treaty The
document Is one-half patitudes and the other half
surplusage. The first article gravey enuDciates the
proposition that the Emperor OF China Is OF opinion
that IN concedng TO strangers the privilege OF resi-
own Jurisdiction. II this clause was not In
serted IN spirit Of irony Chinese Emper
their opinion. For the supreme jurisdiction OF the
Emperor over his own people and kingdom has
had relations with China. The only and that a par :
TIA, exception to this uniform conduct occurred in
1 wear ri, ,sea Inc snanghae merchants had been
Of the Chinese authorities to that Of their own NUM-
cipal Officers and therefore they inferred that
after the termination Of the war, the Chinese law
was abrogated. But this was corrected and its
consequences repudiated by the British Minister who
emphatlcay asserted the principle Of Chinese juris
diction over Chinese territory. And in no other in
stance since that time has the principle been ques
sively venture to advance his own opinion upon
matter on which there can be no doubt may be
taken as an example either OF demure pleasantly
what special sense the government OF the United
States attaches either TO the reteraton OF an old
principle or TO the mild claim Of the Emperor II ia
impossible for us TO say The only plausible suQ.
reston IL that In any "dincultyv between English
ana chinese the American treaty may be appealed
TO and American Interpretation OF II may be made
the excuse for American interference The second
tion OF the Chinese government, but mot In a man.
ner or spirit incompatible with the treaty stipua-
tions Of the partiesv How q language which re.
jolces In concrete and repudlates abstract forms OF
expression would convey this meaning is a very
puzzing question. To say In treaty that govern
Inent shall exercise the powers OF government but
not adverse TO the spirit OF treaties which
have already recognized these powers, IL not saying
very much Possibly there Il in the clause latent
reference 10 alaer clause IN this very treaty Of which