The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-24


terday by the publication of kilograms from
Europe announcing that Hon. Arson Burlin-
game, the Chinese Ambassador to all the Wes-
tern Treaty Powers, had died in st. Peters,
burg early on Tuesday, after an illness of but
four days.
MIR. Burlingame was born in Chenango
County, N. Y, in November, 1922, and spent
his early years on the Western Reserve, in
Ohio, from whence he removed to the Terri
tory of Michigan at the breaking out of the
Black Hawk war, and participated in the la
Dor OF frontier surveyor. After course of
study at the Branch University at Detroit. he
removed to Massachusetts, and entered the
Law School at Cambridge, and from that time
was citizen of that State. His ability as an
orator was shown at very early age, and
when scarcely out of his minority, attracted
attention by the ability with which he defend
ed the State of Michigan from the attack Of
an orator at public meeting at Faneuil Hall
Mr.. Buringame was originally Wing in
politics, and took the field in behalf of Mr..
Clay in 1874. In 1S4S he broke from his party
and joined the Free Soil party. At the ace of
30 he was chosen to the State Senate, and one
of his principal acts in that body was his op-
position to the Maine Liquor Law, and he pro-
cured a modification of its provisions. The
succeeding year he was a member of the Mas
sachusetts Constitutional Convention. He
represented his State in the 34th, 35th and
seth Congress, but in 1860 was defeated in the
election for the 37th Congress by Hon, VIM.
Appleton.
In 1851 President Lincoln appointed him to
the Austrian mission, but that power refused
to receive him because he boldly declared for
the unitcaton of Italy; and he was rendered
and accepted the Chinese mission. Mr.. Bur-
lingame's mission to China was marked by
the ability which had distinguished him in
other walks of life. He gave evidence on
many occasions of the possession of rare di.
plomatic powers, and Sir Frederick Bruce,
then the representative of England in China,
accorded to Mr.. Burlingame the highest praise
Tor the rare tact and discretion which he
eVlnced on many important occasions. In
1865 be returned 4,r,,,r- -,,1z nysByY5T OF
resigning his position, but at the earnest soil
tation of Mr.. Seward he consented to continue
in its duties. In 1867 he announced his in
tention to the Chinese officials of his deter
mination to resign his post and return to his
native country. 1t was received with profound
regret by the Chinese Ministry, who endeav-
ored in vain to dissuade him from the step.
The effort was unavaling, and Prince Kung,
who heads the party of progress and has been
11,rs or.
Emperor, rendered him farewell dinner, at
which several mandarins spoke of the great
services the American Ambassador had rem
dered their country and he in return express
ed his desire to aid China in any manner in
which he might be able. These speeches
seemed to suggest the idea of the Embassy
With which Mr.. Burlngame's name will be in
separately connected. Two days afterwards
deputation waited upon him and rendered
him the appointment of Ambassador to the
foreign powers, which he at once accepted.
Two Chinese officials of high rank were asso-
ciated with him as well as numerous retinue
of secretaries and subordinate officers, and on
the 10th of December, 1867, he sailed for San
Francisco.
On his arrival there, his journey to Wash
ington and subsequently to the principal cit
les of this country, of the conclusion of
treaty which marked the beginning of the
new era in the relations between China and
the rest of the world, of its ratification by the
United States Senate and more recently by
the other contracting power, in spite too of
the Vaccinations of tt e English merchants
and other interested parties, it is not neces-
sary to speak in detail. Since then he has
visited the principal capitals of Europe. every
where being received with the highest hon
ors and succeeding in the important and hon.
orable objects of his mission. His last field
of labor was at st. Petersburg, where death
has overtaken him in the full activity of his
powers.
In announcing his death in the House of
Representatives yesterday. Gen. Banks said:
"The mediation between the great ancient
empire of the East and the civilized nations
of the West, is one of the grandest services
which any man in modern times has perform
ed. That service Mr.. Burlngame had carried
nearly to its complete success. The empire
OF Russia, in which he died and where he
could have but just arrived, was the last of the
great States which it was his duty to visit.
ana tnere he was certain of soon accomplish |
ing an that could have been expected and de- |
sired by him in regard TO his great MISSION
In regard to that mission will only saw that its
creating was as much due to the peculiar and |
high character Of Mr.. Burlingame as to the
necessities OF the government which he repre-
sented.'