New-York tribune., 1871-10-23
THE CHINESE MANIFESTO.

We have received, via Yokohama, the official
pronuncianiento Of Prince Kung, Prime Minis
ter in China, containing the views of the Gov
ernment with regard to the massacre at Tien-
Tsin and the future massacres which may be
looked for. Whatever our private opinions
| may be upon China and her foreign relations,
it is always worth while to hear tho other
side, especially when facts are stated and in
ferences drawn with the apparent moderation
and fairness of this paper Prince Kungs en-
deayor appears to be to bring plain common
sense to bear on the matter, or TO treat it, as
| he Expresses It, with an even mind" Some
"time ago. he reminds us, treaties were
"signed between China and foreign nations, to
"be handed down to posterity. AS regards
trade, there IL no probability Of quarreling,
"but as regards missions there is q great
"dealn With admirable impartiaity In
heather, he credits the Roman
Catholic (Tien-chu) missionaries with the
power and will to teach the people what is
right, and attributes the hatred felt toward
them by the common people to their de-
Elective mode of procedure" At first, he
states, "the missionaries were well-educated
"men, and the converts peaceable; but after
"the treaties were signed the converts be-
"came vicious and malevolent: took advan-
"tage of the influence Of the missionaries to
"oppress the common people; and when litiga-
ton arose between these converts and the
"people the missionaries followed and sup
"ported the converts, Obstructing the authOn-
"ties.n
Now while the Tien-chu disciples are
Christians and the Prince is q Pagan, there is
great reason to suspect that he is in the right
of it. Human nature wears the same features
under any colored skin; in old times, neither
Catholic, Episcopalian, nor Covenanter, was
able to bear the temptation of political or So
cial power without degenerating into tyrant.
1t is not incredible, therefore, that the new
Chinese converts lorded it arbitrarily over
their unregenerate brethren; or that, as he
asserts, turbulent and lawless persons en-
&c tered the religion and used the power thus
acquired to foment disturbances and stir up
"hatred and revenge" The people DO not
separate Catholics and Protestants, he states;
"au belong to the Tien-chu religion, and,
"when disturbance arises, all foreigners are
"euually in DANGER The Prince urges
the fact that, while the high Chinese officials
are anxious to remove permanently all
causes for i'll feeling, they are not
seconded by the representatives Of any foreign
nation, and proposes conference In which
both parties may approach the subject with
an even mind.n Certain bases Of agreement,
however, he lays firmly down as essential on
the part of the Chinese; that as in other
countries when missionaries of differing ma
tionalities come to preach their own religion,
they are yet subject to the civil and political
laws Of that country 30, therefore, that Eu.
ropean and American missionaries shall abstain
from interfering with the local authorities and
meddling with official business at the
instieation of their converts; and also
that they cease to throw q cloud Of mys-
terry over their actions, 90 that 1t may be
plainly seen that they are not ut variance
with their teaching. Then the officials would
be able to protect them. But II foreign gov
ernments SIN decline to adjust any sound
foundation Of peace and asreeneht the Primo
Minister quietly tegrets the inability Of him.
self or the Ministers to avert the very serious
disturbance that viii arise from The pride
| " of the ignorant converts, which since tho
" afFair &C Tien-Tsin Rises Hike smoke, and tho
I" deep. Increasing resentment Of the common
people, II all China rise together, Cover
nom, the Tsung-lt, YsmAn, tho Emperor him
SELF however Wiling TO protect foreigners, will
be rpowerless. For" he adds with b grave
irony, "the people are numerous, and cannot
L" all be put to death. Neither, when they are
call angry, will they bow their heads quietly
"to be executed
! Whatever we may think of Prince Kuns's
'impartialityeg pode- Of redress, there can bs