The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-03
THE CHINESE EMBASSY.

THE CHINESE EMBASSY.
7Ao Missio. and Its Obiect-when Conserved
and How the Preliminaries were Arranged
Tho Appointneut Of Mr.. Burliugame as
Ambassador-The Personnel Of Those Com.
posing the Embassy. -"'- p
whatever may be said Of the Chinese IN their rela-
tons to the other races by those VINO arc super
ncally acquainted with or entirely and In most cases
ignorant Of them as people, It is certain, from
every instance of communication with them, either
high or low in the line OF government or trade, they
have shown themselves quick, Intellectual honest
and industrious. This can be said Of no other race
save the Caucasian. -~s' - Ses~ =
Centuries ago China passed through the ordeal Of
Are and blood, usurpation and invasion; necessary
experience which 1t seems all systems OF human
constitutions and laws must undergo. Until re.
Gently profound peace has been the good lot OF
Ohna, which speaks volumes Of commentator Of
the advanced stage Of her civilization. China is the
great Power in the East. The divided interests of
The European nations and the exclusive dominion Of
the United States In the New World represent the
civilized element Of the West. - '~a8
. With farseeing wisdom the statesmen Of China
restrained the aggressive policy OF the Portuguese,
Dutch French and English in the Orient during the
past three centuries, and by excluding them nom
ready access, and. indeed, allowing them but
She most limited facilities OF trade saved
her nationality and her CIVILIZATION rom
the melancholy fate Of the sembarbarous nations Of
India This was the inevitable result OF the oppo-
site characters of the two civilizations India, under
the dominion of ambitious and blood thirsty tyrans
and torn into fragments by the rivalries Of unprinc
pied and aspiring raahs soon fell prey to her own
defects OF government and society Indian civilza-
ton entirely physical debilitated by the natural
tendency OF her climate and trammeed by her In
famous system of caste-a despotism OF the most
debased character. The civilization Of China is in
tellectual a limited democracy, II we can use the
term, where the people are the source OF power 81
The chief executive olilce held by an emperor,
through hereditary succession, is still not out Of
reach OF the people. The Emperor for his mistakes
Is open to the same censure as any one Of his subor
dnate officers and apologies for any violation OF
the proper performance OF his duties. BY her sys-
tenn OF government, different from all other models
In existence, China has reached degree Of develop
ment entirely her own which will certainly benefit
the world by opening to those nations capable Of
enjoying the privilege the benefit OF her immense
trade and the great intellectual wealth which she
possesses the garnerea wisdom Of more than forty
centuries.
China now sends her ambassadors for the first
time into the world. citizen Of the youngest gov
eminent OF the West leads this remarkable event,
and associated with him two distinguished
scholars aud statesmen, native born citizens of the
ancient empire ITSELF Already the open hand Of the
republic OF the West has clasped that Of the old
empire Of the East. The warm heart which beats in
she American bosom in general act OF recognition
now responds In hosptable greeting to the generous
Impulses which actuate this new mission. The
American people have not forgotten when all the
rest of the world rejoced In her misfortune China
was foremost OF the two Powers which sympa.
thized with her and anxiousy hoped for
her deliverance. 1t s therefore, douby interesting
una important In the face Of these facts and In
The face OF the solemn obligations which this govern
ment has entered into with China that we know
something more Of this mission, and particularly OF
those upon whom rests the responsibility Of carry
ing into execution great event In the history OF
She world by bringing into the bond Of international
union, which the United States has been first to
enter, all other nations.
ANsoN BURLINGAME, AMBASSADOR.
Arson Burlngame, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentary from China, or, in Chinese
Pooan-chen (Burlingame Anson), Chin-chchoong
en-tachen Qiteray minister ofheavy responsibility,
born November IA, 1922, at New Berlin, State OF
New York. His ancestors early came to this country
ana originally settled in Rhode Island, and thence
emigrated to the interior Of New York. The Burlin-
continent about the middle Of the eighteenth GEN.
fury and, subsequently, in the American Revolution
Of l77e They were conspicuous for their patriotism
aud devotion the Of independence, partic l.
pating In the service OF the American navy and
sharing In many Of its gallant exploits. Mr.. Bur-
Nngame's father was born in New Berlin, and his
mother, now deceased, in Providence, K I. His
mother was a Miss Angel, descendant OF Colonel
Israel Angel the famous fighter Of General Greene's
revolutionary army When but an infant Mr.. Bur.
Nngame was taken to the West by his parents, who
emigrated to the wyandotte Indian country now
known az Seneca county, In Northern Ohio. For
several years the father was engaged in supplying
She army and the people OF the Territory OF Michigan
with cattle and horses While the father was thus
occupied young Burlingame assisted IN driving
she CATTLE and necessarily led life Of adventure,
being oftentmes exposed to the hostility Of the In
dams. The family next settled at Detroit. Young
Burngame here started out in life. AS boy he ac-
companed surveying parties as chain carrier and in
other useful capacities He sat as boy In the In
dian councils at Mackinac and elsewhere. He wit
IN the primitive fields OF diplomacy the present Poo
Taen Of the nation having the Oldest civilization In
the world took his first lessons in diplomacy
While in the academy at Detroit he was hard
student On leaving the academy he attended the
branch institution OF the University OF Michigan
Here he went through O regular course and took sew
eral prizes for proficiency in his studies He closed
his career at the University by graduating before he
was twenty-one years OF age.
Having selected the law az his profession In lire
Mr.. Buringame Immediately set TO work In its study.
His friends, however, recommended him to attend
the law school OF Harvard In 1s43 he entered that
Institution. Here Mr.. Burlingame became an LID.
short time after Mr. Buringame took up his res
1dence In Boston he commenced the practice OF law
IN which he successful. tie shortly after en-
gagged In politics and distinguished himself so that
npon the Inauguration OF Mr.. Lincoln as President
Of the United States, In 1891, Mr.. Burlingame was
pamed Minister TO Austria. Having started FOR
on the way that the Austrian government
would not receive him for the reason
that ne had taken too prominent a part In raising
Sardinia from second to u first class mission. As
the United States at the time about entering
hp0n the great duty OF suppressng treason at home
fhis indignity was quietly passed over by appointing
Mr.. Burlingame "a United States Minister near the
court of the Emperor OF China. Towards the end of
tS6l he arrived In Pekin and opened relations with
The Chinese government. After thoroughly study