Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-09
The Progress of China.

In no country on the glObe mas '"o i""u
ence of the nineteenth century been so per-
ceptiblo as in China. It is scarce thirty years
ago since John Quincy Adams, in mastery
speech in Congress justified the policy of the
English Government in breaking down the
exelusycness Of the Chinese Empire by vio-
lenco. The great wall Of China extended
around her social, political and commercial
life, and no foreigners were permitted except
the most precarious foothold upon her do
main But the refusal to admit English
opium reused the English lion and tho conf
ty which she had always denied to the nations
was then forced upon her by British cannon.
Since that time the old restrictions on trade and
religion have been greatly modified and China
has been open, if not wholly free, both to the
agents Of commerce and the missionaries OF
the Gospel But it was left for an Ameri-
can to accomplish fully the freedom Of China
to the other nations. 1t is very sure that the
profession of diplomacy is startled by the en-
trance Of an enthusiast into its ranks. TAX
ing in at q glance the magnificent resources
of this venerable, oriental empire; seeing
how the violence and interference of Euro
pean nations had thwarted the very ends
they had in view knowing that any interna-
tional treaty would never be kept in good
faith, in which either Of the contracting
powers were in duress and not in equal posi-.
ton the late American Minister, with a hui
manity equal to his wisdom, has outwitted
the policy and practice of England, Russia
and France, with respect to China and made
a treaty with her, that not only permits to
her the enjoyment Of the rights Of the most
favored nations but secures equal internation-
al recognition and rights, He has opened
the riches Of that wonderful Empire to the
trade and competition of the world with tho
key of humanity aud kindness, instead of the
long used key Of force and robbery. The
FIRST four and the last articles of his treaty
recognize and maintain the sovereignty Of
China over her own domain. The fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh grant absolute free
dom to all religions and schools, and allow to
Cinnamon all the privileges and rights Of the
citizeas of other nations whenever they travel
or reside in other countries BY granting to
China its own rights Of sovereignty, which il
has been the policy to deny, Bu-lingame
has gained the largest concession and liberty
to the rights Of other nations that she has
ever made. Thus an eiiectual stop has been
put to the process of Asiatic dissolution
China steps up, as an equal, upon the plat
form Of the nations with the promise Of ere
long becoming power strong enough to
maintain her own position and stay the pro-
gress Of Russia on the one side and England
on the other.
Taking the course of events in China in
connection with the history of affairs on our
Pacific coast, with the opening and develop.
ment Of this Western continent with the
building of railroads between the seas that
wash the coasts both of Europe and America
and China also and it would be difficult for
the boldest imagination TO conceive the mag.
nlfcent results to civilization that are des-
tined to follow the comprehensive work that
has been done in the celestial Empire in the
few years just passed. Cinnamon can now
reside in this country on the same terms with
our own citizens. Americans can also reside
in China on an equality with her subjects.
The four hundred millions of that most pa
tent aud industrious people on earth, skilled
in many Of the highest forms of labor, and
capable Of every kind Of work with a reli-
gion based upon the golden rule and obedi.
ence and love to parents and with Il litera-
ture that extends back to the days before
Christ; have shaken hands, through their
representatives, with the growing republic of
Of the West, and established the broadest and
most intimate relations of comfy and COM
merce with this occidental civilization
China is the richest nation in the world
The resources of the empire, and of individ-
uals in it, are almost fabulous. Those re-
sources will be augmented by commerce and
enter into the circulation of the world. For
thirty centuries she has received and amassed
the treasures of other nations. She has sold
and never bought. The gold aud silver of
the world have flowed into her huge recepta-
el,J and never have been disbursed. She has
accumulated but not distributed The real
ElDorado lies in the East aud il is now for
the first time opened to the rightful spolia-
lions and enrichments Of international COM
mercc. Hereafter the ships that traverse the
Pacific will carry to Canton something be-
side gold and bills Of exchange. We shall
pay for our teas and lacquer and silks, in NUM-
tons of war, machinery, manufactured goods
and even cereals. Animmense commerce will
spring up between the Pacific ports and the
Chinese. Within twenty years the number
of steamships plying between these ports will
be ten folded, and the number of sailing yes.
sells will be twenty folded The Union Pacific
and the Northern Pacific will have double
tracks and even then be unable to do half the
business Of the oriental trade. The boarded
wealth ola hundred generations is soon to be
SET free and is going forth from its hidden
treasures into the arteries of civilization and
commerce.
1t was this view Of the future that fired the
soul of Burliugame with an enthusiasm un.
known to diplomatists. 1t twas this that made
him SO eager to receive the cooperation of the
European nations in the recognition of the
sovereign rights Of China for he well knew
that the immense resources Of that empire
could be unlocked in the behoof of ciyiliza.
ton, only as the sovereignty of that empire
was acknowledged and honorod China and
Japan contain nearly half the population ol