The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-08
The Tieu-tsin BIassacrc-What Shall the
Great Civilized Powers Dot

from that part of the world published lately in
the HERALD Our readers have been informed
both of the horrible details of that barbarous
deed and the motive and feelings that
prompted it. 1t would be hard to find even in
uncivilized countries any act more savage and
brutal than the murder at Tien-tsin last June
of the ten Sisters of Charity, three priests the
French Consul, Vice Consul, three Russians
and q large number of native Christian con-
verts. Nor were the outrages perpetrated con-
fined TO subjects of France or Russia. The
Protestant places of worship, and among them
the American chapel, were attacked and more
or less plundered and destroyed. 1t appears,
too, that not only the mob, but the soldiers
of the Governor Generals army also were
active in this work Of spoliation. Though the
outrage seemed to have been aimed at the
French especially, it was really against all
Christians and foreigners. When the three
Russians who were killed begged for mercy
and hoped to save themselves on the plea that
they were not French, the reply was, 'No
matter; we kill all foreigners" There appears to
be no doubt that the outbreak at Tien-tsin was
throughout portion of the Chinese empire,
at least, against foreigners in general. The
attack being made first upon the French, and
the native hostility not being so pronounced
against American English or other foreigners,
afford no reason to suppose that the foreigner
of one nation is not as obnoxious to the Chi
nese as another. Indeed, the very cowardice
and concealed duplicity made manifest in the
outrage upon the French at a time when
France was in trouble and supposed to be I'M
able to defend her citizens abroad show what
may be expected by other nations whenever
the Chinese dare to show their teeth.
We had hoped, when Mr.. Burlingame came
here as Ambassador from China, that the Chi
nese were going to take new departure in
their intercourse and relations with foreigners,
in accordance with the spirit and progress of
the age. The appointment of an American
citizen as the chief of the most important EN-
bassy that ever left China was regarded by US
as great stride to that end, and full of pro-
mise for the future. The government, people
and press of the United States hailed with
satisfaction that extraordinary mission and
this fact did much to break down objections
and prejudices in Europe and to make the
Embassys path more easy with European gov
ernments. There was at first strong feeling in
some parts of Europe, and in England particu-
larly, against making such treaties with China
as Mr. Burlngame proposed. The leading
English newspapers, responding to the senti-
20 AID Drsts o~L
traders in China and India, urged that
a more liberal policy to the Chinese, as
inaugurated by the Burlingame mission, would
not make the Chinese more friendly, but
would increase their arrogance and preten-
sions. This opinion was overruled, however,
in great measure after the American Chinese
treaty was made, and the Embassy arrived in
Europe. The British government and the
other governments Of Europe followed the
United States in the new liberal policy inau-
gurated. But the ink of the latest made trea-
ties upon this new policy was hardly dry when
the astounding information came of the Tien-
tsin massacre, and of probable extensive
conspiracy in China to drive out foreigners
and to deny them the privileges guaranteed by
these treaties. We're the British right in their
opinion of the iucurable hostility and faithless-
ness of the Chinese? Were the American
people and Mr.. Burlingame wrong in their
estimate of Chinese character and the results
of the liberal policy established The terrible
event at Tien-tsin and the temper Of the
Chinese people tend to destroy the hope we
had entertained.
The chief man of China, the Regent, Prince
is the same ruler that sent the Burlingame
Embassy abroad and appointed Mr.. Burlin-
game the Chief Ambassador. This indicated
that he was liberal-mlnded and progressive
man. The world believed him to be so.
Mr.. Burlingame and his associates pro-
claimed that everywhere. Are we to
suppose, then, that Prince Kung has
changed? 1t may be that he has not
that he still wishes to carry out treaty obi
cations and to bring China into more free
aud close relations with the civilized Christian
nations of the world. Yet how can we
account for the Tien-tsn horror? 1t is known
that at the time the Burlingame Embassy was
| sent abroad there was strong party in China
| opposed to it; some Of the highest mandarins
were. This old China party was like the old
Bourbons of France, the high tories of Eng
land, the ultramontane Catholic hierarchy,
and the old Panslavist Russian aristocracy.
All these adhere to the past, cling to the
exclusiveness Of former age, and pertina-
ciously resist any change or innovation. 1t is
this old China party that rose and plotted
against foreigners and Christians and COM
Is to be feared, by the aid or connivance Of
some of the high officials of the land. The
brutal rufiians asserted their expectation of
i Il A q of