Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-20
China and Japan-MaiIs of The City OF
Picking Iantied.
mail and Purser's bag of the City of Peking
were landed this evening.


were landed this evening.
HoSG Kong, December "a, 1879.
Chung How, just returned from st. Petersburg,
now occupies tue chief position of influence and
power at the Imperial court owing to his success in
obtaining retrocession of the western provinces of
Kashgar lietC. He is strong advocate of ex-
elusive Chinese rights and Is known to be inimical
to foreign relations. 1t is anticipated that new
policy will soon be introduced defiant pru-
dence will allow OF the Western Powers, several
indications of which already manifested. Re-
ports are circulated of proposals for treaty
amendments, to be issued early in 1850 by Teung
Ii Yamen, all tending to the resumption of complete
control over all the ports by China, and the assertion
of the same rights Oyerforegn residents native
subjects These plans it is apparent will be cautious
ly and ingeniousy developed, and slow in maturing
but unless some event occurs TO check the extreme
selfconidence OF this Empire, caused by the over
Wanted achievements by soldiers and diplOmatists
it appears inevitable that a new and by no means
friendly system will be pushed forward. The sue
cessive steps however, will be managed adroity,
as to avert suspicion of the true purpose as long
as possible This is the genuine Chinese programme
for the coming year, and perhaps for several years
following
owing to the strong intercessons from foreign
private sources, and especially, it is believed from
the nt-0pium Society OF England, the barbarous
sentences Of mutilation passed upon the surviving
relatives OF fakub Bey, eX-ruler Of kashgar, have
been committed to life imprisonment.
YoKOHAMA, January 3, 1880
Public attention is entirely absorbed by a disas-
trous conHagration at Toxic, December 26th. This
is the third similar overwhelming calamity IN seven
years-the first in 1872, the second in 1876 Now,
miles Of ground Is laid waste nearly Is 900 homes
are destroyed, and $4,000 persons rendered desti.
tute. The actual pecuniary loss is still undeter
mined, but is not so great as it would be in the
western countries owing TO the cheap construction
of majority OF the houses TheloSS Of life is reck
oued at about 100. Here, also, much uncertainty
exists the progress of the flames having BEEN so
rapid as to overtake and destroy many who could
T., Il
recognizable bodies or fragments were found among
the ruins. Many again, died from exposure to the
Geld. The night succeeding the fire was excep-
tionally bitter. As happened twice before in the
great fires considerable part of the foreign dis
trict was destroyed including several missionary
establishments, one church, one foreign newspaper
otice-the Toxic Times. The Legation OF the
United States was in danger, but escaped
unframed Extraordinary measures of relief
were instituted by the Government authorities
and private individuals, and no efforts
were spared to alleviate the suffering But all these
are necessarily insufficient and there is strong cry
for imperative action of the authorities in prevent
ing future crowding together OF inammable struct-
ures and for the organization Of efficient fire brig
AIDES. which now are unknown here, the common
multitude opposing them and clinging blindly to
the old usages. There is confident expectation
that reforms will be introduced nsuring that this
will be the last of the fatally destructive fires in
Toxic.
There is much surprise and feeling at the an
nounced intention OF Japan to fix higher customs
duties upon American than upon English imports
1t is evident that strenuous efforts made BY En-
gsh agents here to keep down taxation upon English
commodities, while American agents have deemed
it incredible that any unjust discrimination will be
shown against nation which has all along stood
Japan's firmest friend. Nevertheless this unfor-
tunate mist Ike has been committed, and energetic
represer atoms OF its mpocy and danger have been
presented by the United States Minister, whose re-
monstrances will doubtless prove effectual.
The japanese have extended their excellent
axr
kin Islands.
The British Charge dAfaires is abandoning the
aggressive and obstructive pursued by the
Envoy when the latter WIS himself in charge
notification has been issued from the legation or
dering strict compliance with the pilotage regula-
tons of the Government of Japan, concession
long denied by Sir Harry Parkes, who it is believed,
would never have granted it if he had remained
here.
All foreign Postoffices are now removed from
Japan excepting only the French station at Yoko-
hama The United States offices were withdrawn
five years ago TO the mutual satisfaction of the
Japanese and Americans. The others retained
till now, with the avowed object of eXtorting COM
pensstion from the Japanese authorities.