The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-01
SPIRIT OF THE RREss.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
I'pou Current TOpics-COmpiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
L ROSS BRoWNE on OHM.

D..
From the n. y Herald
Il appears by telegram from San Fran
risco. that Mr. j. Ross Browne contradicts
The statement that came by the way of Lon
don. to the effect that the Chinese Govern
,nent had rejected the treaty made by Mr..
Burlineame with the United States. We ex-
messed our doubt at the first of the truth of
the report He now says the ratification of
the treaty is deferred until the return Of the
Embassy SO far, then, our ex-AIinister to
China has been msrepresented. But there
CON he no question as TO what he has written
and published over his own signature on China
and the Chinese. He thought proper to
veutilate his ideas, and we fear his preiudices
as we'll in letter addressed to certain
British merchants at Shanghae. He has
committed a grave mistake in thus assuming
an attitude of hostility to the policy of his
own Countrywide country that he was sent to
represent in China His conduct is more
reprehensible. too, for having made these
foreigners. the British opium traders who
are the btterest enemies of China, the
medium for his publication Whatever views
he MIGHT have entertained or wished to eX-
,,ress should have been expressed to his own
Government alone, especially rs the policy ne
discusses and condemns was 1naugurated at
WASHINGTON aud followed by treaty made
with the United States that formed the basis
of similar treaties with the powers OF Europe.
Such conduct may seem bold and lnde-
pendent but it is unwise, lndlscreet, and un-
patriotic IN
written. lacks grasp of thought. Admitting
even what he saws to be true, that the Chinese
Government does not desire progress or
more free intercourse with the people and
nations of America and Europe, and that the
object of the Burlingame mission Is to pre-
vent such progress rather than to promote 1t,
the cordial reception of the Embassy and the
broad and liberal treaties made with 1t cannot
result unfavorably This was the true policy
for the great civilized nations Of Europe and
America to pursue. 1t remains to be seen II
China will reject the treaties lately made
with this and other countries, We have
vet to see whether the Chinese Government
has resolved. as Mr.. Browne intimates, on
falling back to its old policy of exclusion and
retroGression We are inclined to think 1t IS
not so, and hope it is not 1t appears to us
that the present government OF emma mas
shown too much good sense and lberallty to
Justify the opinion that it would venture to
tlihe in such a manner with all the great
powers of the world. 1t would be the height
of temerity and folly. Prince kung and the
high mandarns that surround him must know
such course would raise a storm of indigna-
to be allayed, and that must in the end be
very damaging to China The Christian
nations of the civilized world would do well
to try the peace policy with the Chinese. II
is magnanimous, broad, liberal, and in accord
ance with the spirit of the age IT, as Mr..
Browne thinks, the Chinese fail to appreciate
this, and should resolve to evade or reject the
policy of peace and progress, the alternative
of war can then be evoked. All Mr.. Brownies
talk about paganism, pagans, and Christian
ity smacks very much of the old missionary
and opium traders prejudices, and is outside
of the real question at issue. The civilized
world of Europe and America will not be tri
fled with, nor do we think the Chinese Gov
ernment so stupid as to imagine such thing
Surely it has seen and felt the power of the
great Christian nations too sensibly to make
such mistake. The liberal peace policy in
augurated on the arrival of the Burlingamt
mission is the true one, if that be practicable
Let it be tried fairly, and then, if it SHOULD
fail the great powers can at last resort t.
force. We must wait the result of presen
efforts for peace and progress, and are no
without hope, notwithstanding Mr.. Browne
opinions, that they may prove successful.