New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-20
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
CHINESE POLICY.
WHAT THE OPPONENTS OF BCRLINGAME
HAVE To SAY.
o the Editor Of The Tribune.


that in justice to the very large party, American
and English in China who constantly opposed his
and repudated his statements, yOu Will allow me TO give
another side OF the quest in your columns. do nos
credit the late envoy from China with Intentional mis-
statement was, fully believe sincerely convinced
OF much that he said regarding Chinese Official good
faith He had the lawyers instinct OF defending
the side for which he was retained and TO caIt
but expressive phrase, believed In" the Chinese He
might grossly misreprsen facts without being conscious
that he doing than putting them in favorable
light The circumstances OF his appointment dazDed
him. The <cldt Of being the first foreign envoy from
China TO the West the salary conferred upon
him, and his entire ignorance OF the Chinese language
combined TO make him view everything Chinese as
coeur de The suggestion OF his being nominated TO
the mission did not popularity supposed, cmanate
from the Chinese themselves. Mr. Robert Hart the
ent Inspector General OF Maritime Customs In China,
proposed the Foreign Board and they thnkingthat
his services would be rendered gratutousy acceded 10
It, When they found that salary would be necessary,
a somewhat stormy discussion ensued they eventually
agreeing defay it, and the OF his suite ont
Of the unnage Dues These facts rob tie mission of
its spontaneous character but it is not certain how far
Mr. Burngame was cognzant Of the difficulties which
had ~ arranged before he left Pekn However leave
1t he did with a most profound faith in the Foreign
Board as represented by Mr. Hart and firm conviction
that his appointment marked the era OF regeneration r
China.
lie abroad for his country The instructions fur
nished Mr. Burngame certainly sustain the definition
When he arrived Francisco he had come 10 III,
conclusion that would not only be advisable 70 point
out instructed that the Chinese rulers anxousy
waiting for admission into the family OF nations, slightly
checked in their laudable desires by the refractory
duct OF their rebeious subjects but that the said sub
jects equally ready TO welcome foreigners a. then
guides philosophers and friends" Unfortunately he
dealt with the subjects than the rulers his post
prandia speeches. informing bis delighted hearers that
China invited them to plant the shining cross ON every
lofty hill and in every lovely valley with much more to
the same effect not until he had reached the less
enthusiastic atmosphere Of cabinets that he brought for
ward the representations which he was charged To- make
Nothing then said about the favorable dlsp'l
tion of the people at large. lie aborcd to show that
while the Chinese Government was desirous OF extend
ing foreign intercourse the masses were doggedly or
entreated 20 De patient and consderate 70 force no %
lent social revolutions, but to gave me Emperor MINIS
tiers reasonable time to carry out the graf SSse'
which they professed themselves ready TO adopt. 81,
The astOnishment caused in China when fun reports OF
Mr.. Burlingames speeches ana dpiohduo tcoi oiio
the unanmity with which his utterances were Tepud,
ated merely by the mercantile classes Dut ny hs
that Mr. Burlingame had exceeded his instructions"
The authorities declared that they would stop
the funds of the mssiOn and sir X Acoch Ms great
shsn1bai chanber Of commerce III see here no eyi-
dnnce Of tbe desire for progress about which Mr. Bur.
game has spoken so mueh." The communities az me
impudence Of the Chinese officials IN asserting their de-
sire extend relations with foreigners and at Mr. Bur
lingame permitting himself 10 be the mOuthpece of
SO manifest an unruth Az have said really believe
af ne Wa h nU sySen %hen is Known ha AT the time
depaI from China seven out OF every ten OIL
proSnees were openly confessedt to be Of the aoen
party. There was truth enough in the statement that
The Chinese Government wanted time and To gain 10
the true object Of the mission But they wanted time
before the march OF events should force foreign improve
| ments and foreign intercourse upon tlef uh"hhhS
The true state OF affairs in China was and this Tho
| ola ed
| l. e. those who expect official employment or having
studied for the examinations nave , SliiuISeu Se %
over neighborsderve their pay from the highest
to the lowest by gigantic system Of squeezes" The
nay allotted to each Government empoye is 30 small
that it would barely afford him food IL is moreover,
CONSTANTLY under imprest petty fines being imposed Tor
the most minute Irregularities, and Il Is therefore seldom
drawn from the treasury But the expenses oil illst-
class mandarin amount TO about 1920 p.r ah.sun,
and moreover, he looks 10 putting by som, hing Tor
rainy day-say least $4,000 per year His revenue u
therefore derived from squeeze OF cohplisscnIaiy
money" in this way: Every sutor ana every uelenuao
in lawsuit pays as much as he can manage 10 spare,
and he who pays highest usually wins the suit Every
| subordinate mandarin and understrapper j. likewise
| of money The neighborhood can be taxed, and
| large portion OF the taxes sticks 70 the mah1arhs
fingers until way or the other the sum felufed IS
raised His subOrdinates in like manner eXtOrt their
own "squeezes" and so the system extends downwatd
| livelihood In similar way The corruption = In TACT 80
absolute that 1t almost serVes the PHpcee ~ ~ & %
certain OF what not 10 believe Hence tue advent OF
foreigners is anything but welcome They VIII not give
eratuties for Justice they will not endure oppressive
taxation; their preeepts and example teach inc non
official natives resent extorons The very purity of
our consular and other courts Is standing menace 10
the finances Of the native officials Moreover We require
man TO sneak the truth and adhere 10 engagement,
and these are the hardest tasks which can be I'M
posed on c44fss G nded 5y sde NTH
their language / have 10 the conclusion thar a
Wben Il Re S truth Would better serve purpose
The Of the people are tar NOR a2nesr n S .S
concealed intensity, the peasantry aud traders are
usually courteous and hospitable have Travelled much
49, ~ PROV
friends who have crossed the southern portions OF the
Empire, and they with me that lnhosptahty OK
therefore, think, ustabe TO assert that facts are d.
recty opposed to the official represenations made
ing 10 welcome us; they labor under no OEcFHhellng
desire to shining crosses planted IN tnG w ssy
when We come. Tie officials on the contrary are WIN
Jew exceptions III e c H9tb whom Mr. Bmrlngame
though interpreter communicated iace "a iae as oI
posed 10 their predecessors during inc
afe war The great complaint OF lore gners ia China
not that occasionally take place Tor similar oc
currences happen in great centers OF elylhz
ton; ID Is that officials cannot be got Ia ana IN sup
pressing incipent disturbances or IN p9nlshhg eflm
mails. They frequently instlgate or cohlle az ust
ances in get heavily bribed aferward to permit
the escape Of the guilty thus satisfy tnelr gruge
against the foreigner while putting handsome sum INTO
| their own pockets -
But in addition to those who hate and DISLIKE us on
general principles there 10 powerful class OF ohcias
who base their opposition on patroiiS grounds; Inc
| position by coup dlmt few OF me " war party
lost their heads and others sent to Eiee the chinese
siberia but they left behind them many adeTent VINO
abhor being favored by the party IN power
| These have for the last two years persstchly en-
deavOred infame the minds OF the people against US
and the Pc kin nassacrei one took PLACES doubtless
piece of their handiwork II II therefore evident ha,
assuming the good faith OF the present
which deny-it cannot be said that " the Gtcsls as
q class anxious FOR foreign Intercourse Even aPs
afford sufficient proof of their bad falth. NOT
long ago native general, who Is one , Oh y,trroV OF
the Two Keang to use the foreign munitions OF war
which he had collected at K.angnan 10 eHeiin" u
harl harlan A EODtl