New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-20
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
SECRET REPORT OF A CHINESE OFFICIAL TO THE
IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT.

kiangS 10 the regency at Pekn, I'D loP1 circular
issued last October asking the advice OF the high provn
cal officers respecting the revision OF 'ea'es with for
egn powers After quoting the circular Isang writes:
From this I am led to look up to His asjesty's far
reaching plans by which he thus obtains the views and
conclusions of the experienced and talented among his
officers and have endeavored in the sincerest manner
TO carry the design The first dispatch anu the secret
letter from the Foreign ONCE have both uo1T
tain views without hazardng tne oa9y OF the
present situation connected with the dese ~ps out
parties to suspect our plans scheno IKE TINS
ia really dong what the times require and our resources
allow, and have most painfully labored 70 carry oat the
duties committed to me. .
In respect TO the various points touched upon IN the
decree which have received humbly peg 70 sug-
gest that in all intercourse with foreign nations NE
things 10 beregorded are good olm ara What
is right and perhaps even above these shoua Dedec
sion Those things which we cannot yield should,
from first TO last be firmly declared and not reracted
can literally yield might be made knon them IN direct
aud plain terms. Let our words be maintained when
be exhibited which by its aspect indecison and weak
will only open the door for the willy propositions and
II may be said in general that during many centures
past the Inhabitants in Western lands have been STRIVING
10 encrOach each others kingdoms and In every ase
one has tried to possess itself OF the profits of the oths
trade preliminary TO getting hold OF its terIltRy
China and trscked or become carriers in all Kind, OF
produce simply that they may carry out Their nps
pulous schemes OF injury, which Will end In depllung
our merchants OF their means of livelihood.
EXTENsIOS OF TRADE. -,
Since the time when we raised troops HRdlipl bNU'
our people have long suffered every gievous calamity
III we now open three five more ports TO their tIaie
and the entire length OF the Yangtsze River IL VIII y
add 10 distress aud indulgence of our people, sho
alas! are now nearly quite driven to the wall
II we listen to the proposal OF the foreigners 70 open
the trade in salt trade In and transpOrat OF
the article will presently be brought to naught 1--WE
consent to their scheme OF building warehouses h Le
country the occupation OF those who now keep the ns
and depots will likewise suffer. Their demand to nave
tner snail r steamers sud a bos and the beg
gary OF sailors and supercafgOes 3d. asO ii We alU"
them TO construct railroads and set up telegraph lines,
the livelihood OF our cartmen muleteers innkeepers and
porters will be taken from them -.
Among all the various demands which they MAKE now
ever that Of opening coal mines should DC ereped fOrby
working mines In the foreign way, and employing ma
chinery our country wonld be permanently benz
fted anddt appears 70 me- therefore worthy OF tra
The suggestions OF Ylng Pausm now intendaht ~
Shanghai upon this point in his minutes. seem TO We
feasible and have marked some notes upon II IN a.
prOval. =,
regard to the proposals OF steamers going up d
rivers and of building railroads II foreigners as
allowed TO carry them the profits and advantages
our country will gradually be carried on 70 othe
and get foreigners 10 conduct them tho nch ana te
strong will then engross the labor Of the poor Neither
them, therefore. admissible.
In explanation OF these points have already forwarded
my own observations, IN tne uisPa Sf se. N car
each clearly In the interest OF the thrift and velhoOd
our own people foryns my positions Win me- s9 9Cresps
press for their adoption unceasngy uH De desTdO
let them know hat eren m should DC doLf 10 {orce ~
myself and Others cod still resist their introduction ieiH
STRENGTH and H. by means, TOO sDOulu DC
compelled TO give consent, there would still remain
the myriads OF common people who In the extremity OF
their poverty, would see how they cosd better them
selves, and rise TO oppose the foreigners IN a
manner that all the authorities In China could
not curb or repress. The Princes and magnates
OF the middle Kingdom need have no lack OF argument IN
pleading for the lives OF their people, and even II our
should bring about rupture. and We resort TO
people the struggle would not be owing TO mere empty
discussion things OF no Importance on the one hand
could appeal TO heaven, EARTH and our salned I'm
peroTs. and the other to the Inhabitants dwelling
within every Gor the justice OF our cause We, In
between these parties ought TO fear nothing ~ 70
the result as after II would have nothDgo repent Of
FOREIGN EMBASSIES
Upon the questions OF granting mn audience, sending
Ministers TO foreign Courts and permitting the prOpaga
ton OF religion, did not make any observations IN tue
dlspatch forwarded 10 Pekin. | have humby ascer
tanned however that In the year 1876 canonzed
ereign. the Emperor Humane khpghD admitted the nus
sian Nicholas and others the presence but the Offering
given aud ceremonies then pracced cannot now be full
asceraned. Though IL Ia certain that the Russians wen
then discussing the frontier between countries
and the conditions OF trade between us and them. thF
still treated as an empire OF equal position, anu
toward the Coreans and other outside tribes, Tho
treatment that kanghi extended toward us
HEN FmnT been shown toward tie British French AID
Americans, e., regarding them AL as equsl hAuois.
orr sacred dyuasty it, love of virtue and kndnessto
those from afsr has desire 20 arrogate TO Itself ue
sway over the lands within the boundess oceans or te
auire that their ministers should render homage anti
viii be suitable H. when your Majesty yourself takes ue
reins OF government. they request an audience 10 s
IL The suitable presents and ceremonies can be SETTLED
AZ the time for the ENJOYS represent nations OF eqh
rank they need not be forced TO 90 what Is uIu,n!
This course on the whole BELTS best the equality ahni
ted and exhibits our courtesy and dignity AT the Aa'
time. 49, -, 81. ...,.-t..,.
intercourse between aud other countries win "h'h
we have amcabls relations VIII constantly cause Il'
lions 10 arise The risk OF our ENJOYS dbgrdcnE "-r
aho sent Them and the fear OF involving ourselves ia
vast expenses, both subjects OF anxiety ~ may DC
found best FOR the high Officers OF pom ou, sag
and when necessary recommend those whom ,ney "1ud
send the ability OF these men Being tnsS ny
ttat imQ
our serviceJ and the period OF sending them are NOT re-
onred 10 DO xed beforehand II suitable mon can Do
found send them bat not II none are ready keeping inc
power OF doing always IN our own hsnos nor snoua
other Powers willing to send ENJOYS regard
have iust received the dispatch from the Foreign
ONCE respecting the appointment py ns tS Ws,,ern
countries HeDceforth there VIII DC perpeIun, inter
change OF civites the affairs OF diplomacy WI. n "a
two OF agents may prove unh FOR their posts VINO
can tell whether such ENJOYS as 81 W. Fan Chau' fu
Feh and Hung Hau may not again arise ,..-.,
Seeing therefore that his RCn, has for It's objects the
honor aud prosperity OF His Majesty ana tne soo.nihe
over difficulties 1t seems best on the "hoe' aeceao
to IL. ...,..,..
Tn resnect 70 afford ne facilities for the propagation OF
religion may be allowed TO observe that the Roman
Catholics began their work by tempting men 10 JON Them
have been poor, and rs they could not hold
out so many advantages their doctrines have NOT oeen
believed from the days Of the Tsn and Han dynascs
the OF Confucius and the sages have been rather
obscured 80 that Buddhism has got gradually the ascend
ant ts original country, by 3d. too
Romanism which arose In the Roman Empire, ana ob
tanned the supremacy but subsequently professionalism
sas yIgorouslv opposed H. From these facts 10 II ev
dsntly plain that all these different religious fuotuste
having their rise and fall while the doctrines OF
nnhe Cham and OF Confucius suffer no attritIon
during the lapse OF ages but stili suffice TO regu
Late RE China correct the manners or IL,
nnIa and erat the dignity and institutions OF the land
therefore the adheres OF these other doctrines take
every method to promulgae them they WI aiteI al ge,
chnrches IN the districts and procedures IN every prov
nce already erected there can be no want ior Allowing
fhem 70 erect any more Should the foreigners thel al
the coming revision OF the treaty persstenty press heI
demands on this head 10 will be enough 10 promise the
he issued In regard this faith IL Will not Do necessary
10 add an additional article and think they VIII not ash
further, or often urge u. - -. ,r,o, - a. !,