The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-15
Grant Ina China-Prince Kung Makes
n Request.

arrival in the Chinese Empire and his re-
ception there by the actual ruler OF the
country, Prince Kung In the letter we
print to-day the visit of the Prince to Gen.
eral Grant at the American Legation and
the conversation between these two remark
able men of the oldest and the youngest ma
tions of the earth are fully and lucidly re-
ported. This is an extraordinary story.
That China should become SO prompt a
convert to the theory of arbitration Is In
itself a striking fact; for, with even the
great Powers of Europe still sending the
sons of their people out to slaughter one
another or to slaughter the men OF feeble
tribes thousands of miles away, the world
hardly looked to see government thor
oughly hardened in the ancient ways Of
the world so ready and even so eager to
submit its difference with far feebler
neighbor to the just judgment of an un-
prejudiced mind. But the proposition to
utilize the services of General Grant rs a
peacemaker-to induce q man famous above
all for his great services as soldier.
but notable also for his aversion to war-to
put their case wholly into the hands of an
American citizen, shows that vigorous
fancy controls the councils of the Chinese
government In short, the proposition is
one fully worthy of Prince Kung
This statesman Is, in fact, the head and
front of the progressive spirit in Chinese
politics. He is the man who has worked
from the inside as all the spirit of Western
aggressiveness worked from the outside to
bore the Chinese wall and let in the day
light of modern ideas. Born in the purple,
and educated on the ancient staple Of Con-
fucian ideas, he was only functionary near
the person of his imperial brother till
critical event in the dynasty brought him
| forward as the energetic element in royal
family regency, and showed that the acute
ness, the ready perceptions and the resolute
will of the Tartar race had not been bred
out in many generations of residence in
royal palaces. He is the only man pro-
duced in the recent history of China who
has given conspicuous evidence that in the
possession of the qualities which make
great statesman and great ruler he is fit
| to stand beside the statesmen Of Europe,
even when these happen to be men of
! genius. For this man to have broken
through all official formalites and proposed
to distinguished traveller to undertake
an important arbitration between two great
governments was natural, and it seems to
teach the Western world itself lesson in
that casting down of ancient barriers and
| direct use Of common sense which the
| Western world has been 80 anxious to teach
| the Chinese.
| In the form Of asking General Grants.
ssadvice," and under cover of an anxiety
to confer with him, and with a graceful
apology for talking business to o visitor out
of harness, this adroit diplomatist engaged
the conversation on the subject OF the
seizure of the Loochoo Islands by Japan
and the consequent disturbance of friendly
relations between Japan and China. II
feel that I should apologize even for the
reference" said the Prince. (which l would
not have ventured upon but for our convic-
ton that one who has had so high place
in determining the affairs of the world can
have no higher interest than that of fur
thering peace and justice" There can be
| no handsomer way than this to compel at
tention and demand assistance, and when
one is thus pressed by man of Prince
Kung's dignity-by the ruler of the greatest
aggregation Of human creatures of which
history has any record-the generous mind
| perceives that grand condescension thus
presented as request cannot be put aside.
General Grants own succinct stateme nt of
the spirit of the foreign policy of the Ameri-
| can government was also such to exhibit
his sympathy with this fine conception that
q desire to aid the progress OF justice in the
world should be the first interest of a gen.
tleman in whatever circumstances he might
| be called upon-a sentiment of knight
| errantry in craftsmanship. Our foreign
policy, the General said, is made up of "iar
play, consideration for the rights of others,
respect for international law" which is
handy adaptation to national circumstances
Of the three points laid down by Justinian's
lawyers as sufficient to properly regulate
every human life-''honeste vivere, dlte,1m
non lPdere su,tn cuique tribuere." Between
two men of great experience, accustomed to
deal in the great concerns of human life,
and whose minds have taken color from
| their great functions, 1t Is not strange to
find this ready sympathy on such topic,
and the world will not be astonished to
hear that Grant straightforwardly said:-"I
told the viceroy at Tientsin that everything
I could do in the interest of peace was my
duty and my pleasure. can conceive of
no higher Office for any man."
In every sentence of this remarkable con-
versation the reflective reader will find
matter for thoughtful consideration, and
the student of the noteworthy personalities
of our time will find in the speakers the