Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-10-22

BuriIngame-Browne controversy. IL Is
series Of 90 Notes on Chinese Matters D
Mr.. Robert Hart with comments on the sam
by j. Ross Browne. late United States MIN
lister to China. The whole occupies a pag
in the California papers. and is published b
Mr. Browne as defence Of himself agaIns
the harsh criticism of which be has for SOM
time been the subject We will speak
Mr. Harris notes " today, reserving a con
sideration Of Mr.. Brownies comments there
ON till some future time. Presuming tina
our readers are. as We ourselves were, igno
rant even Of the existance Of Mr.. Roberi
Hart. We will frst explain his connection
with the question. Mr.. Hart is an English
man. was formerly attached to the British
Legation at Picking, but for several years has
been Inspector General Of Maritime Gus
toms for the Chinese government. He en-
iovs the full confidence of the Imperial Gov
eminent, and was very active and influential
in organizing the Burlingame Embassy
Long residence at Picking enables him u
speak Understandings, while the hisn esteem
in which lie is held by the Chinese Govern
ment gives his words almost toe "eisn' VI
official authority. But TO the notes.
Mr.. Hart states that the .aea Gi al En-
bassy to the West was pressed by him upon
A. ,-,.;-.,.. tr,orities Io,. before Mr. Bur-
lingame was finally dispatched Inc O'lg''
Of the Mission, a- We UNDERSTOOD J, AZ lI'
time, was to crl5i'''a ana CONSERVE i,-'''--'
relations by ezIloirng To eac'i Oh 'l9 treaty
Powers tie many difficulties that O"ira can
not fail 10 experience 10 attempting 20 e'a''-e
existing conditions or 10 introduce n''''-
tics go hesIoak i7rAeaance' ana prevent
in 80 far as possible, auy resort To hos''e
pressure % wiring from emma concessions i''
which the Government dbl not as yet ieei IL
self ready, and % prepare the way senerally
Tor the DAY when China should not merely
hear the words Of foreign representatives, IN
PekIng, but should oe aOle 10 'u'''9
Government In us own Calitu llio'7' d
resident Chinese medium Nr' 'il'' en-
forces particularly the point ''a' ''' '--.-
bassy was not expected 70 oh'r a wei
come 20 Christian civilization but
to explain why a welcome e'''d NOT oe Oh
ierei. " 50 lar as newspaper feP-i-' 60 ne
IL. NrHa N.g.gn rr.n
says ''the object oi me MISSION '''' ''ei ms
interpreted, and the pubic nave -'5a'1'i il
As promising. On the part 'i CHINA the ini-
mei'aie performance oi 'h'Se very '''i =
w7i'h CHINA sent tae mission To 'Al''''" ~ =,
tie "esl are 50 dilllul' oi l'-''' '''l'.-''
lhc changes "A'lh '''i'l1'1 l'''''.' - i--',-',
desire to introduce INTO Emma are 'le'l'''
by the people and government Oh 'I'-' ''''i'-
try. They "lsh'' ware '''e-ii Oh ''7 ''''a o. -
si3-e- But they fear ',4' the time VIII soon
come when Europe and America "IIiJ'F''
their civilization upon CHINA. " 'Iu a We"
to pos .pone tins event as -''e as i'.''.''' '--'
Busli1game Embassy was ei-late-'a Oh It's
iii .Jmate tour
This is certainly different we" Oh 'A'
casl from that which prevails 10 tbs country
ana We think from tle European view 'ii.
Buiusalae either miss-a,ea '-e o'.ee.7 'i
hi. mission, a- the le.p.e o., me ''i-s1
States strangely misunderstood DIS -al---7''
He certainly presented very ro''a'e Iie'''e
Of the great results to he expected 'Tain ne
lab5rs of himself and hi- yellow colleagues.
We Thought that be would return To the East
| prepared TO open the gates OF Chinese i5u'-
rance, pride and jealousy to the MISSIONARIES
Of Western civilization. It was even grave
ly urged tAar tie treaty with TIE 1AI'e1
States was TO be more liberal than any 9TH
err. as special mark Of regard, and That
under the new regime We Were o. be the
special friends and allies OF China E'en
the london Tins storued at the superior
advantage which the United STATES bad OBJ
tanned in the East by means OF Mr. bafiln-
games two-sited diplomacy Mr. TART eA-
plains some OF Mr.. b-4llus'iue au-'-s-
tic representations as due TO tie 'Sl'erauce
Of aftcr-iinner speeches. Yet 1t is PLAIN
that Mr.. Hart himself is convinced that II
Mr.. Burlingane is not actually exceeding
his instructions, be Is acting under very
liberal Interpretation Of them.
Mr.. Harris own views upon the prospects
Of improvement in China are encouraging,
but les So than those Of Mr.. Buriingame.
He says that every concession made to civil
zation by China ir made under the impulse
Of fear. The knowledge winch she has %.
her own material weakness, leatsher TO vel
come those modern Improvements which viii
render her stronger. Sic wishes ar-enais'
artillery and war vessels She will admit
civilization to ibis extent, IN order that she
may provide herself with the means to pre-