The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-13

BHnCtlOn
''sacred edict" was quoted extensively
end the "public records" referred to to prove
that the writer's were sustained by the Gov
eminent at Pekin in their hostility to the
foreign population. That they were so sus
tanned and encouraged in their fell purpose
the declaration of the Emperor, that no in
demnity would be paid to families of the
Europe ans massacred at Tien-tsin, is sufficient
evidence. And, indeed the increasing diff
Guilty experienced by the representatives of
the Western nations in maintaining relations
with the Chinese officials shows clearly
enough that matters are approaching crisis.
While pretending to observe treaties they
evade their obligations, and are more and
more obstructive and insolent.
1t may be true that the hatred now mani
tested by the Chinese towards the Christians
is partly due to the injudicious zeal of the
missionaries. 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 mandarins perceive
that, through the civiliziDg influences of
Christianity, their hold on the masses is being
gradually loosened and their position under
mined. 1t is their interest to be conservative
and exclusive. Left to themselves, the peo-
pie would infinitely prefer prosperity and the
''barbarians" to misery and the mandarins;
but the gentlemen of the red buttons and
peacocks' feathers are masters of the situa-
tlOn, ana JDe1r mHDuaIeS uuSt De OOoNous
Truly the situation, as revealed to us by
this extraordinary explanation of mandarin
policy, is Chinese puzzle. How is it to be
| solved by the West? We may enter into
agreements with the mandarins-and they in
variably beat us in diplomacy-and make
treaties with them, but how can we insure
their observance? 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 incite
to deeds of blood, by unmeaning procla-
nations and vermilion edicts; but the
! interests of our citizens, as we'll 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 indiscriminate massacre of French
subjects; and as it has been with the French
it may be with us. The hostility of the Chi
nese is not confined to the citizens of any
one country, but includes all foreigners in
China. But the mission of Burlingame
served the purpose of the Chinese, "a 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 condi-
tiop, will surely demand satisfaction for the
murder of her citizens and exact an in Indemnity.
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 80 the better, in
our opinion. coalition of the Governments
of the West to obtain, by persuasion if possi-
BILE, but by force of arms If necessary, proper
guarantees that peaceful traders and Christian
missionaries will not be molested or muir
dered, is the only solution of the Chinese
puzzle that we can see.
THE NEW TREATY WITH ENGLAND.
From the ~ Y. Times.
If there is anything more than empty talk
in the often n-expressed desire of the maj ority
Of mankind to see disputes between nations
settled by arbitration, instead of by the
sword, the "Treaty of Washington" ought to
be received with rejoicing, not only by the
nations chiefly concerned, but by the whole
civilized world. 1t marks great and un-
expected advance towards that better age
. when it will be considered infamous for any
, ruler or people to declare war until every
means of peaceable settlement has been
tried in vain. Our own country has always
: taken the lead in negotiations of this charac-
; ter, and it is an immense security for the
: future peace of the world that Great Britain
, should now be joined with it. 1t would be
impossible to overestimate the value of the
example thus set to other nations, We are
not SO sapguine as to believe that after this
there will be no more wars, but at a period
when the people are everywhere exercising
so powerful and direct a control over their
Governments, it is not presumptuous to
. believe that, before war is declared, other
) nations will hereafter ask whether the prece-
! dent set by the United States and Great Bri-
tain cannot be followed. Before their blood
, is shed, and their treasure squandered, they
will point their rulers to the example set by
! England and America. Thus, out of the
Alabama claims, which have 80 long seemed
2 an unmixed evil, great and lasting good may
4 arise; and two great nations, which have &c
long stood in the foreground of civiliz alton
and which have done and are doing a great
n and imperishable work, may not only be
a more closely knit together by ties of mutua
respect and confidence, but may be the
8 means of averting incalculable misery and
a suffering from other nations.
q The principle of arbitration could not pos
n sibly be more fairly, thoroughly, or wisely
applied to practical affairs than 1t is in this
new treaty. The more closely it is studied
the more deeply will it comnend itself t.
the common sense of the people on bott
J. sides the Atlantic. There may be disputes
q over minor points-but in all its maiI
l. features, as well as in the principle upoI
p which 1t is based, the treaty is the yer.
l. model of fairness. Every difference exist
# ing between the two countries is referred Il
Y arbitrators whose perfect impartiality M
IA. h.