The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-01
"How STALL We DEAL WITH CHINA"
Greeley the Right Man for the Chinese
Mission.

Mission.
From the New YORK Tribune, August 3l.l
Inc Chinese governments have not rejected the
Burlingsme treaty. We ventured to assume from
the first that the rumored rejection would be
promptly contradicted; and despatch from Mr..
hoss Browne already brings the contradiction. But
mere is OBVIOUSLY doubt or difficulty OF some kind
opeIaun9 !uss now 10 delay the conclusion of the
treaty and thi, Interruption win unquestionably
buriingames mission. 1t would, perhaps bA
hardly worth while inquirlng too infinitely into the
erss1 influence anu which may have been ex-
Dy the singular and anomalous proceedings of Mr..
Ross Browne But assuredly there would be nothing
when the representative Of the United States began
to display an energy 30 Ill tuned and zeal SO
sion to learn, by bitter experience, how sharper
than serpents tooth 1t Is to have diplomatic rep
resentative who is afflicted with eloquence and
thirst Tor the making OF speeches. Perhaps in the
case OF Mr. Ross Browne we have evidence now
that fatal GIFT Of letter-wrlting is nearly as
an American Minister. Mr.. Ross Brownies sig ;.
he really, had any good liberal reforms in
them out quickly lest worse should come OF it, was
not . happy mode of inspiring q timld, jealous ex-
the objects and the good faith OF the American gov
eminent. Still more unfortunate was the reply to
the addresses OF the English and American mer.
chants at Shanghai. II there is any class of evil
c0unsellOrs whom an American or an English Minis.
ter IN China ought especially TO avoid IL is that
ted In the open ports OF China. II there is
any poMcy which representative OF the
United States ought to reject alike from instinct
and conviction 1t is the policy which these men
invariably recommend 1t would be Impossible to
exaggerate the evils which have sprung from the
influence Of this class OF persons over the Chinese
policy OF England. They are essentially narrow
minded, selfish and grasping; for them the whole
sns Of onna and IT, vast .
10 push Too often ana too long did English states
men give way to the audaclOus importantly OF men
OF whom 1t would hardly be TOO mach to say, as
Burke said OF class not dissimar, that "their
ledger's their Bible their desk their altar, their
counting house their temple and their money their
GOd." Of late English ministers have come into
power who Will not lend their arms and the money
OF England to force the principles and tho trade OF
this class OF persons down the thrOats of the Chinese
people; and 1t may be out OF sheer despair OF any
assistance or cOuntenance from their own govern.
ment that the British merchants recently sought
consolation and support from an American Minister.
Mr. Ross Browne unlucklly threw himself quite
into the spirit OF the thing. He laid down o doc
he did not clearly understand the meaning. He
proclaimed the principle that Christian States are
bound to respect the independence OF pagan States
and that civilized people are justified by virtue Of
their civilization in insisting any alteration they
please 10 ask In the domestic p0kcy Of States less
civilized OF course this is just the sort of policy to
delight the British merchants Of Shanghae. II Is the
policy which they were able for too long time to
TSSs on IN, the SSopsn o. their
that any English government will ever adopt
again. 1t Is emphatcaly the policy which the
in their dealings with foreign nations. The pro-
gress we have made, such a. IL Is, In China and
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 fairness, Justice and respect for the rights OF
would deal with the Monaghan and the Pagan we
must deal with him on the same principle as those
which govern our relations with the Caucasian and
the Chinese government were not even still little
suspicious OF the prOnered friendship and com.
nations. Thus far, save in the case Of America
alone they have found that however these relation
ships begin they Invariably end BY exhibiting their
barded cities, burning palaces, and humiatng trea.
ties. Who can wonder II alarming visions OF simi-
lar results, brought about this time by American
began to array themselves before the
nina OF Prince Kung when he received Mr.. Ross
Brownies polite and peremptory admonition' We ).
all remember the most pleasant and popular story
OF the arabian Nghts'-the story OF the poor fellow
on whom the CaliPh played SO many pranks to de-
was the true Commander Of the Faithful. Tue
Jest was merry enough even for the victim,
suddenly back to his humble home he
imprisoned and scourged as q mailman. Thence
forward, whenever, on repetition OF the Calipn's
and found himself In the Imperial palace again, he
knew too well lhat no matter how delightfully."- :he
whip and the dungeon. Pince Kuns may )" wei re- re-
gard the pronered alliances Of "civllizedn people
with the same forebodlng. lie has seen what they
CoAAAS
an uneasy conviction that, no matter how
agreeable they begin Just now they will END in the
DID, familiar, 0diOus fashion again. Certainly,
II Prince Kung did not feel such o foreboding
when he read Mr.. Ross Brownies misslve, 1t must
have been because he was shrewd enough to know
that the bustling diplOmatist had no particular
in his words, and no power whatever to
give effect to any meaning If he had it.
Now that Mr.. Ross Browne u recalled the duty OF
our government Is clear. Let q Minister be sent to
China whose name will carry influence with 1t, and
whose force OF character will secure him against be-
ing made the instrument OF greedy, reckless knot
Of European and American traders. Let him be q
man OF principle; one, moreover, who has brains
and soul enough to understand that the
only possible basis Of profitable relationship
with China is foundation Of integrity good faith
and justice Let US have no hint Of any Inclination
to initiate the stupid and criminal policy Of AFRO
giant interference, which England tried to uphold
long In China and which at last she has had the wis
dom to abandon. more insane idea never entered
into the mind even of professional dplomatest
than the notion that you can foreign coun-
try into profitable trading relationship. Trade got
In that way has to be bought at tenfOd It's cOst-as
England knows too well from her past experience
In China Let us send q man OF sense and influence
to represent US in China; let HIM act in the true
spirit OF our national policy and all we desire to
have will come IN good time, without cost shame
to us.