The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-22
CHINA AND THE EUROPEAN GOVERN.
MENTS.

CHINA AND THE EUROPEAN GOVERN
MENTS.
From the London Saturday ReUteU
courteous exchange of letters between
Count Bismark and Mr.. Burlingame, the Chi
nese Ambassador, possesses the smallest
possible importance. Like all other powers
to which the Chinese Mission was accredited,
and with comparatively little interest in the
subiect-matter of the negotiations the North
German Confederation readily acknowledges
the right of the Chinese Government to be
treated with justice and with reasonable de-
ference. Mr.. Burlingame acknowledges that
there is great diversity of opinion on the
question whether the Chinese treaties ought,
as they were forcibly imposed, to be main
tanned in efficiency by similar pressure; but
his own conclusion that the continuous appli-
cation of force is inadmissible is supported
by the declarations of the American Govern
ment, of Lord Clarendon, and of the Emperor
of the French. The conclusion of treaty
with the United States, while other Govern
| ments confined themselves to diplomatic
correspondence, is explained by the provi-
sions which were thought necessary for the
| protection of Chinese immigrants in Calfor-
MIA. "a treaty." according to Mr.. Bur-
lingame, 'being the supreme law of
the land, overrides the obnoxious local
| legislation" 1t may be hoped
that the people of California who impose a
special tax on the Chinese in spite of the
Federal Constitution, will be impressed with
deeper respect for another and newer supreme
law of the land. The Secretary of State who
assented to the treaty, and the Senate which
ratified it, were perhaps not aware that the
| only object of the arrangement was the pro-
lection of Chinese laborers in California.
Writers in newspapers who enthusiastically
welcomed Mr.. Burlingame and his mission
said little about the immigrants, and much
about the influence which the United States
were to acquire by exhibiting to the Chinese
Government an amicable and liberal disposi-
ton which would contrast favorably with the
exacting policy of England. 1t has since
appeared that the English Government is bent
on restraining the excessive zeal of its local
functionaries, and that it has readily acceded
to the general doctrines which Mr.. Bur-
ingame was instructed to PROFOUND. 1t has
of late been doubted whether the
Chinese Government, Notwithstanding its
ratification of the treaty. reposed serious
confidence in its American emissary,
although there is no question of his per-
feet good faith. 1t happens that the Ame-
rican merchants resident in China
utterly distrust the fine sentiments which Mr..
Burlingame attributes to his employers; and,
| as the entire foreign community is accus-
toned to act in harmony, the benevolent in
tentions of the various governments are not
| uulhely 10 Iue0C Will ueSlecJ OF WlCQ passive
resistance. 1t was not the business of the
Chancellor of the Northern Confederation to
: be less explicit then the English or French
Ministers in repudiating the contingent en-
ployment of force. 1t is we'll known that
Count Bismark regards with insuperable aver.
sion all resort, either III Europe or in Asia, to
any but verbal arguments, and at present the
commerce of North Germany with China is
not of primary importance; yet if Prussian
1,ffi cd
r to withhold protection from a maltreated
Y countryman he would probably find but an
t insufficient defense in an appeal to Coun
T | Bismarks recorded opinions in favor OF
D peaceable methods.
0 In illustration of the readiness of the Chi
t nese Government to appreciate the iberality
s of the Western powers, Mr.. Burlingame re
o fers to Sir Rutherford Alcock's recent treat,
+ as containing large concessions to foreign
y trade. 1t happens, unluclsily for his argu
Y ment, that the committee of London mer
a chants have applied to the English Govern
q ment to abstain from ratifying the treaty. Il
J. their opinion it is better not to modify tn
o arrangements of Lord Elgin, except for tn
It purpose either of obtaining some consider
!. able advantage, or of relieving the Chimes
o Government from any unforeseen iniustic
IS \ which might be caused by the operation @
IL the treaty. Although their general argumeu
IS is not convincing, it is evident that those VIII
d are most interested in the trade attach littl
1t Importance to the concessions which Mr.. Bu,
j. lingame excusably exaggerates. 1t is impo,
sible for those who have neither local know
o ledge nor familiarity with the details of Oh
At nese commerce to form definite Judgment {
n the value of the new stipulations. II is ev
s. dent that the bargain which has been struc
a is not exclusively advantageous to European,
Of and in some instances the Chinese Cover
ic ment seems adroitly to have profited by tb
j. vexatious practices which il has promoted q
ir tolerated. The claim of transit dues betwee
Of one province and another had been a cor
ge stant source of vexation, for the local authe
e. rites habitualy affected TO distrust the doc,
| uuhi 1. -