Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-02-18
THR cHINHsA TARAEx.w

~ hho WIN ANSS Sh 4A61V 49,
since Earl GeorgS Mace artney'smi
sion to China first essayed the difficult
task of opening diplomatic relations
with the proud and prejudiced people
Of the Celestial Empire. The history
of that imperfect attempt at diplo-
macy, as written by Sir George STAN
ton, is a record of many difficulties
and an account of humlliations to
which the English were subjected by
the stupidity and pride of the Chinese,
which Is positively amazing. The high
dignitaries of the Empire determined
to assert to the extreme the doctrines
of superiority, which originated as
much from Ignorance as from pride.
d'he European Ambassadors were re
quired to degrade themselves by the
utmost humiliation. To some of these
demands they acceded, but others
were too notifying to their self
respect to DO obeyed. The history Of,
the first endeavos Of Europeans and
Americans to establish relations of
amity with the Chinese is . chronicle
Of repeated failures. Beyond the mere
fact that the Chinese permitted certain
foreigners to trade with particular
ports, there was nothing to show any
agreement on the part Of the Mongo-
lians consistent with the demands Of
modern civilization, and yet these
eighty years, so short in the history Of
empires-less even than the limits Of
human life under favorable circnm-
stances-have been sufficient to work
an immense change in the Chinese
character. The changes of time have,
as a mere consequence Of experience
and intercourse with Western nations,
driven the Chinese Government to the
necessity of beseeching for those privi-
leges which a century ago 1t regarded
with supreme indifference, and which
1t considered of no Importance. to itself
or to its subjects. The great idea Of
the treaty between the United States
and China Is reciprocity-a reciprocity
which not only extends to commercial
matters, but to the equal rights Of
Americans in China and of Cinnamon
In the United States. We have under
taken that the Chinese who come to
the United States shall be treated with
the equal fairness and consideration
which is due to our own citizens. We
agree that the Chinese may come here
and live here under our protection,
and the Chinese Government agrees
that Americans In the Flowery King
dom shall be entitled to protection and
assistance either in visiting, travelling
or residence, with the maintenance
of schools and colleges for the
education alike of Americans and
Chinese. The fourth article of this
treaty is likely to create most dis
content in this country and in China.
The Chinese agree that full liberty
of conscience and freedom to religion
shall be allowed to Americans IN Chi
M. and we agree that the Chinese may
have equal rights in their worship and
religious opinions in this country.
China agrees to tolerate Christianity;
We agree to tolerate Paganism. There
are many of our citizens who will dis
like this portion of the treaty ; they
would be willing, nay, they would
even demand, that American Chris
tians should have a right to worship in
China, with privileges Of sepalture and
the decent observance of religious Ger
emonies in the burial Of the dead; but
| they will not consent that the Chinese
in the United States should have equal
privileges, and yet 1t is evident that
the consideration for concession must
be a like concession. we cannot fairly
ask that there should be allowed to lis
privileges in China which we will not
allow to subjects of China in this coun-
try. The treaty Is most undoubtedly
a remarkable abandonment Of preju-
dice on the part of the Chinese. May
We not say that it is an equal abandon
ment of prejudice Oh the part Of our
people?