The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-03
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEAD1Na JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICS COMPLIED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVRNING TELEGRAPH.
THE BARBAROUS AND RETROGRADE
POLICY OF CHINA.


POLICY OF CHINA.
Prem the ". Y. Herald
When in June, 1868, the Chinese Embassy,
headed by Mr. BurliRgsme, was honored with
q public reception by the Congress Of the
United States, we felt encouraged to believe,
aud we wrete accordingly, that a new ers'hsd
dawned upon the world. 1t seemed as if, at
last, light had penetrated the dark places of
the earth, and VI if even exclusive China were
yielding to the benign and genial influence.
Our hope was strengthened sRd our pride was
fattered 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-
ingame 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 compli-
ment to ug as a people, both of which we felt
proud to acknowledge. The failure OF that
embassy, net through the faults of Mr.. Bur-
lingame, 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 pervsrsity of the Chinese charac-
ter, has rendered it Impossible for the govern
ments and peoples of the civilized world for
many years to come to have any faith in
Chinese promises. What "PunicG fdes"
meant in the days OF ancient Rome, when
Rome was yet uncorruptsd, Chinese faith
means to-day.
The demand which has just been made
upon the ambassadors of the various powers
by the imperial government of China dissi-
pates every fond hope TO which the Bu Rim
game mission gave birth. The Tien-tsin
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 discoursging. But the govern
ment officials denied the responsibility, and
feebly attempted for o time to throw the
blame on the shoulders of certain ignorant
fanatics. Disposed to be just to the Govern
ment of China In what we were willing to
believe trying and transitional period, we
have waited to see the offenders brought to
justioe 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 repre-
sentatives of the civilized powers of the
world demand which can only be answered
properly by swift and efficient punishment.
To make our position plain and Ineligible
to our readers we reproduce the despatch
which we printed some days ago. The de-
nasnd made by the Chinese Government is as
follows
First. That schools for the education of
females be abolished.
Second. That the teaching to males, sub
jects of the empire, of all doctrines opposed
to those of Confueius, be forbidden.
sidered Chinese subject
Fourth. 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 religious
service made one of the occasions for the re-
centmassacres of foreigners, and that "though
those events cannot but be dsplored by the
Imperial Government, compensation for their
commission is absolutely refused"
We collect money for China; educate mis-
sienaries, male and female, for China build
schools and churches in China-in the good
work all Christian nations aud all names and
denominations of Christians unite-and this
is our reward. more deliberate insult was
never flung in the teeth of united Christendom.
Look at the different items of this Chinese
ultimatum. In the mission schools we seek
to educate the female rs 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 quail
fcation 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 of women at the rei-
gious services was one of the principal
causes Of the ''reeent massacres'
which the Imperial Government deplores,
but will not compensate. What We have
said We repeat. This language is an outrage
upon the whole civilized world. 1t con
Germs 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-poer France, to-day. 1t con-
Germs the Pope. 1t concerns Germany. 1t
concerns Russia, which is q great Eastern
power. China has really insulted the ciyili-
zation 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 ia the inte-
rests of a so-called civilization which is as
anhquated as the habits of the men who lived
before the food, or of our own Indians, who
have found their epithalamium in Longfel-
lows "Hiawatha.
How is this stupidity on the part of China
to be overcome? Precisely as it was over
come III 1878, by the combined forces of
Europe and America. Russia, America, Eng
land, and France then brought China TO her
senses. What happened in the summer of
1853, when the allies moved nm the Peiho
river compelling China to submit to all de-
mands, must be repeated as soon as possible
if in that great populous empire of the East