New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-31
HOW SHOULD I'VE DEAL WITH CHINA'


assume from the first that the rumOred reJ.o-
ton would be promptly c0ntradlcteu' an
dispatch from Mr.. Ross Browne aireauy oti"9
the contradiction. But there is ooVlouS!
doubt or difficulty of some kind operating JUS.
now 10 delay the conclusion of the treaty anu
this interruption will unquestonaby aileCV iiloi0
or less distinctly the progress OF MI D"ii,n-
games mission. It would, perhaps, DO haruiy
worth while inquiring too mlnutey ihVo 'ho
nossible influence which may have Oeeh
exerted in the creation of this untlmey 9elay
by the singular and,anomalous proceedings Oh
Mr.. Ross Browne. But assuredly there would
be nothing to wonder at if the Chinese UoV-
eminent took fright when the representative
of tho United States began to display an
energy so ill-timed and zeal so astonisltingy
indscrcet. We have lately had occasion 10
learn. by bitter experience, how sharper than
n serpents toth it is to have diplomatic rep
resentotiye who is afflicted with elOquence and
n thirst for the making Of speeches Perhaps
in the case of Mr.. Ross Browne we have owl
depce now that fatal gift Of letter wiring IS
nearly as great calamity when 1t rails
70 the lot of an American Minister. Alr. Ross
Brownies significant intimation to Prince hung,
that if he really had any good liberal reforms
in course of preparation he had better trot
them out quickly lest worse should come OF 1t,
WAS not happy mode of inspiring timid,
Jealous, exclusive, and often deceived nation
with confidence in the objects and the good
faith of tho American Government. Still
moro unfortunate was the reply to the adj
dresses of tho English and American
merchants at Shanghai. If there Is
any class of evil cOunselOrs whom an Amcri-
can or an English Minister in China ought
especially to avoid it is that cluster and colony
of British traders who have sQuatted in the
open ports of China. If there is any policy
which representative of The United States
ought to reject alike from instinct and convic-
ton it is the policy which these men invariably
recommend. 1t would bc impossible to cxag-
gerato the evils which have sprung from the
influence of this class of persons over the
Chinese policy of England. They are essen
TALLY narrow minded, selfish, and Grasplng;
for them the whole rGiSon Getre of China
and its vast p pulatiOn Is limited to
the advancement of the trade they desire to
push. Too often end too long did English
statesmen give way to the audaclOuS importu-
nifty of men of whom it would hardly be too
much to say, as Burke said of class not dis
similar, that their ledger's their Bible their
"desk their altar. their counting house their
"tcmple, and their money their God. Oh Late,
English Ministers have come into power who
will not lend the arms and the money Of En-
gland to force tho principles aud the trade of
this class of persons down the Threats of the
~ lao out at -hgsG
despair of any assistance or couutcnanco
from their own Government that the
British merchants recently sought consolation
and support from an American Minister
Mr.. Ross Browne unlucLily threw himself
quite into the spirit Of the thing. He
laid down a doctrine of which charity compels
us to suppose that he did not clearly under
stand the meaning. He proclaimed the prn-
ciple that Christian States ate not bound to
respect the independence OF Pagan states,
and that civilized people are justified. by viz
tue of their civilization, IN insisting on any
alteration they please to ask IN the domestic
policy of States less civilized. OF course
this is Just the sort Of policy to delight the
British merchants of Shanghai 1t is the policy
which they were able for too long a time to
ment, but which there is very little chance
that any English Government will ever adopt
again. 1t is emphatically the policy which the
United States never did and never will ac-
knowledge in their dealings with foreign
nations. The progress we have made, such ~
it is, in China and Japan-prOgress which has
earned for us the special envy of England-has
been chiefly due to our steady and honorable
recognition Of the common principles OF fair
ness, justice, and respect for tho rights OF
others We have always proclaimed that If
we would deal with the Monaghan and tho
Pagan we must deal with him on the same
principles as those which govern our relations
with the Caucasian and the Christian. 1t
would be surprising indeed if the Chinese
Government were not even still little sus-
pcious of the proAered friendship and COM
mercial intercourse Of what are called civilized
nations. Thus far save i'll the case of America
alone, they have found that however these rela-
tiOnships begin, they invariably end by exhibiting
their application TO Chinese society in the shape
of bOmbarded cities, burning palaces, and hui
initiating treaties Who can wonder if alarm
ing visions of similar results, brought about this
time by American friendliness, began to array
themselves before the mind Of Prince Kung
when he received Mr.. Ross Brownies polite
and peremptory admonitioni We all remem-
Der that most pleasant and popular story of
the arabian Nights-the story Of the poor fell
low on whom the Caliph played so many
pranks TO delude him into the belief
that he. the quiet citizen, was the true
Commander of tho Faithful. The Jest
was merry enough even for the victim, until,
suddenly sent back to his humble home, he per-
severed in declaring himself Caliph, and was
imprisoned and scOurgcd as a mailman. Thence