The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-28


trious memory.
Isolated Supremacy In China-The
Barriers Finally Broken Away.
1t is just thirty years since Mr.. Caleb Cush-
ing failed in his high ambition OF coercing an
audience from the Chinese Emperor at Pekin.
While the first American mission to China
was under discussion in Congress it was as
serted that an audience might be obtained
from the Emperor without prostitution; but
though these thirty years have been tull Of
change for China, as well as the rest of the
world, 1t has only come to pass that the Ce-
lestial Empire has completely broken away
from the traditions OF isolated supremacy.
Mr. Gushing in l843 wns compelled to re-
main as far away as Macao while carrying on
his negotiations with the imperial Commits
sioner. Mr.. Low in 1873 not only resides in
the imperial city, but stands before the En-
peror as at any European Court without even
bending the knee to that august person
age. great victory has been gained, and
chanan gained over the English Court.
In China prostitution and bending the knee
meant something more than the old Chinese
doctrine Of isolated supremacy, they were
typical Of the inferority OF other Powers. In
England the Court dress meant that the
Ministers of States were the servants of
kings II was something more than ques-
tien OF clothes to make the ordinary even-
ing black cloth costume the Court dress Of a
republic, just as it was something more than
q personal question whether the Ministers of
other Powers should perform degrading
obeis0nce to the Chinese ruler. In the recent
reception Of the representatives of the West
ern Powers and the separate audiences granted
to Soyesma, the Ambassador of Japan, and
to N. de Geofroy, the French Ambassador, we
have the fullest assurance that the barriers are
6nally broken away, and that the notion Of
isolated supremacy in China is at an end.
China must take one further step before she
shall have fully recognized the autonomy of
all the other Powers. But as this recognition
is not yet fully accorded in the East Room at
Washington, we can scarcely expect that it
should first be put in practice in the Purple
Pavilion at Pekin. The audiences of empe-
rors, kings and presidents to thu ambassadors
near their courts, to be complete, must also
include the ambassadors Of the press. Many
of our readers will recall the whimsical letter
OF one of our European correspondents last
summer, in which he described the HERALD
ambassador standing in the antechamber Of
the royal palace at Stockholm with Prince
oh t1rl
other ambassadors, waiting for the King.
Quaint as that idea seemed, it had ut
bottom great truth, and in the great
future OF journalism the representatives
of the press will be allowed an honorable
place in oil the public pageantry OF the rulers
of the earth. Had this right been fully recog-
nized when the ambassadors of the Western
Powers for the first time in history stood be-
fore the Emperor of China, in June last, what
. celebration the event would have received
Az it was, nearly year passed away before
we obtained description of the imperial
audience, and we should have missed it
altogether had not Mr.. Wade, the English
Minister, whose despatch to his government
We transfer to our columns this morning writ
Ten almost as well as q newspaper correspond
emit His account will well repay perusal,
both on account of the novelty Of his subject
and the inherent interest OF his story.
There is no more instructive chapter any
where in history than Mr.. Wade's history of
this event at the Purple Pavilion ut Pekin. To
Mr.. Caleb Gushing, SO anxious thirty years
ago to sail up the Pei-ho and knock at the doors
of the imperial palace, it must prove especially
interesting. What neither threats nor en-
treaties could obtain for him has come almost
unasked through the march of events Since
he came home from the outskirts of the Flow
cry Land, in 1874, with his treaty in his
pocket, not only China but Japan also has
opened her closed portals and the Japanese
Ambassador, side by side with the ambassa-
doris of America, England, France and Russia,
stands before the Chinese Emperor and his
Court The peoples Of the East have taken
their places with those of the West among
progressive nations, and at last oil the world
is kin.
A CLOUD IN THE EAsT.-The Pail Nal
Gascte gives currency to rumor that the
Khedive is 80 seriously elated with the con-
quest of Abyssinia that he contempates pro-
claiming himself ON Independent ruler, under