The New York herald., 1869-09-07
mr.. J. ROSS BROWNE AVID TEE BRIT;s '
MERCHANTS In CHINA.
FREDERICK, No., Sept. 4, 1869.

III mas aHOrded me great gratlncatl0n to READ III
your paper Of the s1st ur. the reply Of James L.
Herman late United States Consul at Hong Kong,
to the recent letter Of Mr. Ross Browne in reply to
the address OF the British merchants in China. Un-
like Mr.. Kernan, was surprised at this address.
In relation to the feelings ana prejudices OF the
British merchants IN China and their determination,
by force or fraud, to continue to carry their ne
farlous traffic in opium and coolies, and the
perpetration Of commercial frauds and out
RACES Of every kind, as against the Chinese
government ana people, ! fully agree with ex-
Consul Herman; but I was surprised that they,
whose policy has heretofore been hidden and secret
should so boldly proclaim their sentiments to
minister Of the United States without the fear before
them of having their communication thrown back
with Indignation.
No man OF intelligence who has lived in China for
any length OF time and sought to inform himself in
relation to public and commercial AFFAIRS but knows
OF the daily Ourages perpetrated by the merchants
upon the Chinese officais and the unofendin2 peo-
pie. II lie has stood upon the banks Of the Yangtse,
or the Min, or at Canton, Ningpo or Annoy, he
must have asked what pursuit Followed by those
heavily armed lorchas and house boats, the crew
armed to the teeh flying foreign lags or the colors
OF the various compradora that ts Chinese managers
OF foreign warehouses) sailing swiftly towards the
huge foreign warehouses on the water, In o land
where all is peace the ope OF which, unless con-
taminated by foreign influence or reused TO anger
are as tmid as sheep II he has wandered from the
cities into The open country he must again have
wondered why men, women and children with the
cry Of EVAN kang" foregn devip on their lips fled
m oeoe ore a & ana ne e s os eapugn
stump-taied ponies followed by packs OF huge dogs
galloping reckessly through the wen titled rice
plantations and vegetable gardens, devastating the
must must have occurred to him that it Was not to be
wondered the people desired as little intercourse as
possible with these "0utside barbarians"
When the Taeping rebellion was gathering strength
and force against the government the rebels met the
imperial troops armed with the most approved wea-
pOns OF modern warfare, which had been transported
from the ports 10 the rebel camp under the very eyes
OF the Chinese authorities, who again and again pro-
tested against the violation of treaty stlpuatOns
Was this calculated to induce friendship for the
nations of the West, whose gunbOats and vessels Of
lay In their waters, ready to belch forth shot
and shell In defence OF drunken sailor or desperate
captain II captured in the attempt to sell ries at
$500, powder at 800 the canister and percussion
caps at SIS the box, to the rebels up the riverf
the action the the az Unna
to those who have believed the Chinese government
to be monarchal oligarchy 1t is the most demo-
cratic on the face OF the earth; for promotion to
Olce and high position below the EmperOr intellect
being the only requisite. There stump orat0ry aud
mightier than the swordn the tongue or "the rng.o
Their officials are selected by board OF examlna-
mna under th 20 any ons ben@
eligible for examination who presents himself before
the board; and the thesis-which shut up alone in
cei-he has prepared being always open to eXamna-
ton and criticism, precudes partlality for tC is said
''to bear his merits on It's face;' IN fact tue Whole
scale, without the partiaty OF appointment; the
people are cadets.
or the Chinese must have been with English glasses
from the windows OF the Britsh n0ngs, and all he
has gathered of their habits and customs from the
after-dnner table talk Of the merchants and their
retinue OF CLERKS tea-tasters &C. II he had nego-
have no pretext to assert that inteileUIuay they are
inferior to himself or the race from which he sprung.
On the contrary as has been the case with every me-
longer that he lives that their diplomacy al least ID
because they are nation not Christian that they are
q race OF fools? Does he suppose that they are not
aware that force against weakness must be met
with guileS Mr.. Browne says himself that 1t has
been.
on the day that assumed the duties Of Consul OF
the United States was told exultingiy by an Eng
lish gentleman that "tnere was my only protection
In CHINA" and he pointed to British gunDoat in
countrymen and myself, distinctly disclamed any
such protection, and stated that relied alone for
protection upon the Sn treaty my had
''much to learn Of China" A few days alter wards
had interviews with tho viceroy, the Project and
adding my determination to adhere in my Official
business strictly to the spirit and letter OF
Sey wOSd ao the They exprsssea
their qualification, and said that the foreign
oclas had always ssSpea expeStea t1em 70 carry
OF their failure to do So while, on the contrary, they
themselves appeared TO consider treaty stipulations
the port Of Foo Chow for three years, and al
though during that time many matters OF import
ance and difficult negotiation ranspIred requiring
long correspondence with these officers, l always
found them ready to conform to any provision of our
treaty to which their attention was Called for the
reason as they said that had pledged myself to do
so likewise. AS general rule the officials OF the
United States In China, believe have been guided
by this rule OF action, and from this in o great
measure has grown our popularity as contradstin-
gulshd from the hatred toward the Britlsh and
that this preference for Americans does exist |
assert, Notwithstanding the assertions Of Mr.. Ross
Browne to the contrary.
believe that II it could be impressed upon the
Chinese mind that force hereafter should not be
used except in such case as where IL would be the
resort of the Western Powers in cases Of disagree
ment among themselves, that treaty s.pulations
would be strictly carried out and their government
and people would be treated with that respect those
foreign Ministers no complaints Of 'this guile
which they Say they have been compelled So often
TO meet with force and violence.
Mr.. Kernan says:-''rhe Chinese, summing up all
their virtues and defects, are not whit inferior TO
hood. have seen something OF men and man
% ners IN thIs country ,s,1; and abroad and
and courteous men | have met have been Chinese
gentlemen. The most faithful, competent and in:
dustrlous servants have ever had were Chinese.
have n girl now III my family whose devotion to my
children Is only eqnalled by their affection to her.
officials in China towards whom, on the part Of tue
merchants, there Is great antpathy. Generally men
born n China 9i Gngsn ,hp parents or who have gone
tellcctual cultivation and tone. They hold their
positions for life and are entirely independent OF
trade Your real John Bull IN China after an ad-
verse decision before his CONSUL often wishes their
consular system was like that Of the United States.
"Then,u as he says, "by Jove ia write to London
ana have him removed, II money could do Il, as
these barsled Yankees do, and get friend ap-
pointed who would know on which side his bread
was puttered.u sAMI. L. GOUVERNEUR,
Ex-Unted states Consul at Foo Chow.
MURDER AT PIpeE's GROUND RHODE bland
a iaet