The New York herald., 1871-05-02

l FOW0ros
When In June, 1868, the Chinese Embassy,
headed by Mr.. Burlingame, was honored with
public reception by the Congress of the
United States, we felt encouraged to believe,
and we wrote accordingly, that new era had
dawned upon the world. 1t seemed as if, at
last, light had penetrated the dark places of
the earth, and as If even exclusive China were
yielding to the benign and genial influence.
Our hope was strengthened and our pride was
6attered by the fact that the liberal policy Of
which the Embassy was the expression had
been brought about largely by the influence Of
an American. The appointment of Mr.. Bur-
lingame as chief Of the Embassy which was to
visit the government Of the United States and
the various courts Of Europe, was recogni-
tion OF the merits of the man and a compliment
to US as people, both Of which we felt proud
to acknowledge. The failure of that Embassy,
not through the faults Of Mr.. Burlingame,
who, unhappily, was called away too soon, or
through the faults of the great Western Powers,
who were, all of them, kind and courteous in
the extreme, but through the inherent per-
versity of the Chinese character, has rendered
1t impossible for the governments and peoples
Of the civilized world for many years to come
to have any faith In Chinese promises. What
"Punica .fdes" meant In the days of ancient
Rome, when Rome was yet uncorrupted, Chi
nese faith means to-day.
The demand which has just been made upon
the ambassadors of the various Powers by the
imperial government of China dissipates every
fond hope to which the Burlingame mission
gave birth. The Tien-tsn massacre, which
was horrible and barbarous beyond anything
which has occurred in modern times, and
which took place while the Embassy was on
its tour through Europe, was no doubt dis
couraging. But the government officials de-
MED the responsibility, and feebly attempted
for time to throw the blame on the shoulders
of certain ignorant fanatics. Disposed to be just
to the government of China in what we were
willing to believe trying and and transitional
period, we have waited to see the offenders
brought to justice; but we have waited In
vain, or rather we have waited to find insult
added to injury. In place of an apology and
a promise to do what Is right, there is made
upon the representatives Of the civilized
Powers of the world demand which can
only be answered properly by swift and eff
cient punishment. To make our position
plain and Ineligible to our readers we repro
duce the despatch which we printed some days
ago. The demand made by the Chinese gov
ernment is as follows:-
FIrst-That schools for the education Of
females be abolished.
Second-That the teaching to males, subjects
those Of Confucius, be forbidden.
Third-That missionaries shall be consid-
cred Chinese subjects.
F0urkt-That women shall not be permitted
access to the empire in that capacity.
The foreign Ambassadors are also notified
that the attendance of women upon reli-
gious service made one of the occasions for
the recent massacres of foreigners, and that
"though those events cannot but be deplored
by the imperial government, compensation for
their commission Is absolutely refused"
We collect money for China; educate mis-
sionaries, male and female, for China build
schools and churches In China-in the good
work all Christian nations and all names and
denominations of Christians unite-and this is
our reward. A more deliberate insult was
neverdung in the teeth of united Christendom.
Look at the different items Of this Chinese
ulimatum. In the mission schools we seek
to educate the female as well as the male.
China says the girls must not be educated.
Let our women's rights women think of this.
So much for the first item. The second item
Is worse than the first. All doctrines taught to
males, subjects of the empire, must be in har-
mony with the teachings of Confucius if not
they must be forbidden. Under this qualifi-
cation the missionary must have small
chance. Another demand is that we must
send no more female missionaries. The last
is that the missionaries, who, of course, must
be males, are to be regarded as Chinese sub
jects. The imperial Chinese manifesto is
honored with an addenda which informs us that
the presence ofwomen at the religious services
was one of the principal causes of the "recent
rnassacres' which the imperial
government deplores, but will not combensate.
What we have said, werepeat This language
is an outrage upoh the whole civilized world.
1t concerns the United States deeply because
our missionaries all over the East from Egypt
to Japan, are numerous, dutiful and success
full, according to their own hopes and the
plans Of their employers. 1t concerns Great
Britain quite as much as ourselves. 1t con-
Germs France-poor France, to-day. 1t con-
Germs the Pope. 1t concerns Germany.
1t concerns Russia, which Is great
Eastern Power. China has really insulted
the civilization of the West. Trade, the
gospel, the telegraph, the steamboat, the
steam plough, the steam car, the newspaper,
all force us onward. Exclusive China resists
In the intarasta of a so.csllad Civilization