The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-23

NJ Berthemy, and the Russian Minister Thus
was laid the cooperative policy" which is now
generally recognized by the representatives OF
foreign governments In China This was one Of
the steps which unduestionably induced the
Chinese Government itself to make move in
response. Mr.. Burlingame prepared the draft
of the cooperative policy and explained it.
both of which documents were endorsed by his
colleagues. He also prepared an exposition of
the different treaties onalyzing and clearing up
many doubtful points. lie zealously opposed
the concessions doctrine, because 1t proposed
to take concessions of land at the different
treaty ports.
In 1867 the rumor reached Prince Kuug, tho
head of the Chinese Government, that Mr. Bur-
lingame contemplated terminating his residence
in China. As soon as he learned this fact,
Prince Kung invited Mr.. Burlingame to a fare
well banquet at the Tsung-le-yamen, or Foreign
Office. During the banquet Wen-tsiang, an in
fuential man in the empire, speaking to Mr..
Burlngame, asked whether he would represent
the Chinese Government officially at the courts
OF the treaty powers. The question was so uncX-
pected that MIR. Burlingame took 1t to be pass
ing compliment, and replied that he would do
so as friend never dreaming that more was
designed. This was, however. accepted by the
Imperial Government in more serious spirit and
a few days after, Mr.. j. McLeavy Brown, who
was then an attache of the English Legation at
Pekin and was subsequently appointed first
secretary OF the Burlingame Embassy, visited
MIR. Burlingamc, at the request of Prince Kung,
and formally rendered the mission. After con-
siderable deliberation and persuasion Mr.. Bur-
lingame agreed to accept, and the fact was 80
reported to the Imperial Government. November
2l, 1867 an imperial decree promulgated to the
tha nft
Chinese Government conferred upon Mr.
Burlingame the title of Ambassador, with all the
great powers connected with the office, which
was to last for life He however, preferred the
title of Envoy, and was accordingly commits
stoned Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleui-
potentiary, or in Chinese, Poo-an-chew (Burlin-
game Anson) Chin-chi-choong-jen jen-tachen (min-
lister of heavy responsibilities.
Mr. Burlingame left Pekin on the 25th of No
yember, 1867, escorted by all the feregn resi-
dents, including the members of the diplomatic
corps, who accompanied him to the gates. In
the suite of Mr.. Burlingame were two manda-
rims Ching-Tajen and Sun-Tajen and six
others from the new college at Pekin, together
with about twenty Others in different capacities.
j. McLeavy Brown, late of the English legation,
and Emile De Champs, late of the French
legation. were attached to the embassy
as secretaries. About forty-fve miles from
Peliin the party were compelled to stop at "
village and send back to the capital for an escort
to protect them from formidable band of rob-
bers. They were not attacked, however, and
arrived safely at Shanghai on the 10th of De-
ccmbcr, 1867, and sailed from thence for Ame-
rica on the 25th of the following February
where they arrived on the 31st of March, and
were received with great honors. After brief
stay in San Francisco, the embassy proceeded
to Washington, and at once entered into nego-
tiations for treaty, containing additional arti-
cles to the treaty of June 18, 1858. On the
4th of July the treaty was signed in Washing
ton; on the 18th it was transmitted to the Senate
which ratified it on the 10th.
This is not the place to enter into the details
of this document which was, in substance, a re-
cognition on the part of the United States of the
rights of the Chinese Government and people to
the same international amenities and privileges
that are enjoyed by all civilized nations, and a
reputation on our part Of the idea that the
| Chinese are barbarians who have no rights that
| ought to be respected. The treaty gave much
| satisfaction In the United States, but it was
generally condemned in England, for the double
| reason that the Chief of the Embassy was an
American citizen, and that it was thought it
| would interfere with some of the privileges
claimed by the English traders.
When Mr.. Burlingame arrived in England, he,
| however, soon brought about a better under
standing, and succeeded in negotiating treaty
! similar to that entered into with the United
| States. He afterwards negotiated treaties with
| France and other of the European powers, aud
| had but recently presented himself at the Court
of Russia, where he was received with extreme
cordialty, and with every disposition on the
part of the Car to promote the objects of his
mission. His sudden death will cause universal
| regret, for he was engaged in great and noble
| work that will cause his name to be remembered
with equal gratitude in China and in
| America and Europe. The embassy
| of which Mr.. Burlingame was the head has
been from its incipiency an object of jealousy
| to a ring Of traders who feared that cheek
would be put upon their gains if the old bar
barous policy of dealing with the Chinese was
abandoned and they have not hesitated to
oppose it in every way. These men succeeded
in enlisting on their side j. Ross Browne, the
successor of Mr.. Burlingame. at the Court
of Pekin, and they On several occasions
attempted to discredt the transactions of
the embassy by spreading reports
that the treaties had been rejected by the Chi
nese Government. The falsity of these reports
has been fully proved, and there is every reason
| to believe that the Chinese appreciate the ser
vices of Mr.. Burlingame fully. 1t is greatly to
be regretted that Mr.. Burlingame did not live to
finish his work, but he has at least succeeded in
inaugurating new policy with regard to China
that cannot fail to be of benefit to that country
and mucb more to the credit of the Western