New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-30
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nunlty, and In advancing a great cause,
which he championed with memorable elo-
1uence and fidelity. Such are no common
Iiee, Permit me to say that this splendid
Eeieome, now offered BY the municipal 40
Ihorities of Boston, is only a natural ex-
preston of the sentiments which must pre-
vail in this community. Here his lsbors
and triumphs began. Here, in your early
applause and approving voices, he first
tasted OF that honor which is now his in
such ample measure. He is one OF us who,
going forth into a strange country, has
come back with its highest trusts and dig
mites. Once the representative OF single
Congressional District, he now represents
the most populous nation OF the globe.
Once the representative OF little more
than third part of Boston, ne is now the
representative of more than third part Of
the human race. The population Of the
globe is estimated at 100000 600; that of
China at more than 400,000O0O, and some
times even at 500, 100000.
If in this position there be much to ex-
cite wonder, there is still more for graft
tude in the unparalleled opportunity which
it affords. What we all ask is opportunity.
Here is opportunity on surprising scale,
to be employed, am sure, so as to adj
vance the best interests of the human
family; and, if these are advanced, no ma
ton can suffer. With justice and generosi-
ty as the reciprocal ruIe-and nothing else
can be the aim of the present mission
there can be no limits to the Unreasonable
consequences. For myself, | am less So
lieitous with regard to concessions or
privileges than with regard to that spirit OF
friendship and good neighborhood which
embraces alike the distant and the near,
and when once established renders all else
easy.
The necessary result of the present mis-
sion will be TO make the countries which it
visits better known to the Chinese, aud,
also, to make the Chinese better known to
them. Each will know the other better,
and will better comprehend that condition
of mutual dependence, which is the law OF
humanity. In the relations among ma
tions, as in common life, this is of infinite
value.
Thus far, l fear that the Chinese are
poorly informed with regard to us. am
sure that we are poorly informed with re-
gard to them. We know them through the
porcelain on our tables with its lawless
perspective, and the tea-chest, with its I'M
intelligible hieroglyphics. There are two
pictures of them in the literature of our
language, which can not fail to leave an
impression. The first is in Paradise Lost,
where Milton, always learned, even in his
poetry, represents Satan as descending in
his flight
"On the barren plains
OF Serciana, where CHINESE drive
With sails and wind their CAny wagons light.
The other is in that admirable address
on the study of the law of nature and ma
tons, where Sir James Macintosh, in
words of singular felicity, alludes to the
t'tame but ancient and immovable civiliza-
ton of China" 1t will be for us now to
enlarge these pictures, and to fill the can
vas with life.
do not know if it has occurred to our
honored plenipotentiary that he is not the
first stranger who, after adjourning in this
distant, unknown land, has come back with
messages to the Christian powers. He is
not without a predecessor in his mission.
There is another career as marvellous as
his own. / refer to the Venetian Marco
Polo, whose reports, once discredited as
the fables of traveller, are now recog-
nized among the sources of history, and es-
pecially OF geographical knowledge. 1t
was in the latter part of the far-away thir-
teenth century that this enterprising Vene-
tian, in company with his father and uncle
journeyed from Venice, by the way of Con.
stantinople, Trebizond on the Black Sea
and Central Asia, until they reached that
golden country known as Cathay, where
the great ruler, Kublai Khan, treated them
with honor, and employed young Polo as
his ambassador. This was none other than
China, and the great ruler was one of its
Montgolian Emperors. At last the Vene.
tian, with his companions, was dismissed
with honor and riches, charged with letters
for European sovereigns, as our Bostonian
has letters now. There were letters for the
Pope, the King of France, the King OF
Spain, and other Christian Princes. 1t does
not appear that England was expressly
designated. Her name, so great now, was
not at that time on the visiting list of the
distant Emperor. Marco Polo, with his
companions, reached Venice on his return
in 1895, at the very time when Dante, In
Florence, was meditating his divine poem
and, when Roger Bacon, in England, was
astonishing the age with his knowledge
These were two Of his greatest cotempo'
raries.
1.-THE return of the Venetian ambassador
to his native city was attended by incident,
which have not occurred among us. BronzeG
by long residence under the sun of ths
East, wearing the dress of Tartar, ani
aud speaking his native language witt
difficulty, it was some time before he coulG
persuade his friends of his identity. Hap
PLY there Is no question on the identity o
our returned fellow-citizen; and surely |
can not be said that he speaks bis nativ,
language with difficulty. There was din
ner given at Venice as at Boston, an(
the Venitian dinner after the lapse Of near
ly five hundred years still lives In glowing
description. On this occasion Marco Polo
with his companions, appeared first In lon,
robes of crimson satin reaching to the fioo
which, alter the guests had washed theil
bands, were changed for other robes 0
crimson damask, and then again, after th
first course of the dinner, for other robe
Of crimson velvet, and at the con
clusion Of the banquet Tor the ordinary dres
worn by the rest OF the company. Mean
while the other costly garments were dis
| tributed In succession among the walters q
the table. Then was brought forward th
coarse, threadbare clothes In which the
had Travelled when ON ripping the lining an
patches with q knife, costly jewels in sparh
ling showers leaped forth before the eyes 4
the company, who, for time, were motion
less with wonder. When ct last, says tn
Italian chroniclef, every doubt was bar
ished, and all weEe satisfied that these wer
the valiant and honorable gentlemen Of d
house of Polo. | donot relate this hIstcr
in order to suggest any such operation b
the dress Of our returned fellow-citEzen: N
such evidence is needed to assure US of b
identity.
The success Of Marco Polo is attested /