The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-12
The Chinese Puzzle.

quently quoted and admired by his followers
than this :-"When you would do anything,
first consider; when you have considered, do
IL; then resume the tranquility Of your mind"
There is not much profundity in the advice
OF Confucius; but then he was the Bunsby
OF his time, and his luminous remarks on
everything, celestial and terrestrial, are still
regarded with awe and reverence by the pig
tailed Cuttles Of the Flowery Land. From
perusal of the extraordinary and highly inte-
resting translation of the Chinese incendiary
pamphlet which we published on Wednesday
last, we gather that the mandarins and
high officials of the Celestial empire have fully
considered and determined on the policy to be
pursued toward foreigners for the future
They have commenced to act, but it is to
be seen whether they will be permitted by the
Western nations to ''resume the tranquility Of
their minds" We are inclined to think that
they will not The butchery of the Sisters of
Mercy and the Russian traders last June was
but the beginning of relentless war of ex-
termination. The plan adopted by the bigoted
opponents of the conciliatory policy of Prince
Kung to incite the depravef common people
to acts of murder and outrage was well suited
to the purpose. The most villanous false
hoods concerning Christianity and the motives
and objects of Christians were put forth in the
pamphlet to which we have called attention
and distributed all over China In manner
that implied imperial sanction and approval
The SACRED edict" was quoted extensively
and the spub!ic records" referred to to prove
that the writers were sustained by the govern
ment at Pekin in their hostility to the
foreign population. That they were so
sustained and encouraged in their foil
purpose the declaration Of the Emperor,
that no indemnity would be paid to families
of the Europeans massacred at Tien-tsin, is
sufficient evidence. And, indeed, the increas-
ing difficulty experienced by the representa-
tiveg Of the Western nations ia pain aiming
relations with the Chinese officials shows
clearly enough that matters are approaching
a crisis. While pretending to observe treaties
they evade their obligations, and are moro
and more obstructive and insolent.
It may be true that the hatred now mani
tested by the Chinese towards the Christians is
partly due to the injudicious zeal OF the mis-
sionaries. But that this is not the main cause
is very plain. The explanation of the present
outbreak of fanatic hatred will be found in the
fact that the mandarns perceive that, through
the civilizing influences Of Christianity, their
hold on the masses is being gradually loosened
and their position undermined. 1t is their
interest to be conservative and exclusive. Left
prosperity and the ''barbarians" to mis- ry and
the mandarins; but the gentlemen Of the red
buttons and peacocks' feathers are masters of
the situation, and their mandates must be
obeyed.
Truly the situation, as revealed to us by this
extraordinary explanation of mandarin policy,
is Chinese puzzle How is il to be solved by
the West2 We may enter into agreements
with the mandarins-and they invariably beat
us in dipomacy-and make treaties with
them, but how can we insure their observ-
ance? 1t we'll suits the policy of the
exclusive government of Pekin and
its agents in the provinces to cover
up the atrocities of the wretches they secretly
incte to deeds of blood, by unmeaning pro-
carnations and vermilion edcts; but the
interests of our citizens, as well as those
of the subjects of European nations doing
business in China, demand that the mandarins
should be taught lesson. 1t is now gene
rally admitted that the mission of Mr.. Bur
lingame was failure. The treaty entered
into with France certainly did not prevent in
discriminate massacre Of French subjects; and
as it has been with the French it may be with
us. The hostility Of the Chinese is not con-
fined TO the citizens Of any one country, but
includes all foreigners in China. Bnt the
mission of Eurlingame served the purpose Of
the Chinese, as it gave them time
to prepare for the reputation Of all
treaties previously made with the Western
Powers. Being now, as they suppose in their
arrogance, prepared to resist any further
attempts TO spread Western civilization in
China, they boldly proclaim their defiance.
The result must be war. France as soon as
she RECEIVERS from her present helpless con-
dition, will surely demand satisfaction for the
murder of her citizens and exact an indem-
nifty. We are prepared to learn that other
nations have determined on measures for the
security of the lives and property Of their
people in China. The sooner they do 50 the
better, in our opinion. A coalition Of the
governments of the West to obtain, by per-
suason If possible, but by force of arms if
necessary, proper guarantees that peaceful
traders and Christian missionaries will not be
molested or murdered, is the only solution of
the Chinese puzzle that we can see.
THE WoMEN's SUFFRAGE CONVENTIONS held
in this city yesterday and the day before have
been extremely interesting and quite success
full. Indeed, it is notable instance Of the