New-York tribune., 1881-03-26
LILLE LITE POLICY OF CHLYA.

The favorable report on Monday by the
Committee on Foreign Relations on the treaties
with China means, no doubt, their final con-
6rmation. There is not single feature in the
new adjustment by these treaties of our rela-
tions with China which is not perfectly just to
the United States, and even desirable. Yet they
may undoubtedly be set down as another sue
cess for China. Her successes lately in war and
policy have been so significant that 1t is time we
gave them attention. Tho public Of the world
will be forced TO alter its opinion of this nation
before long, and that with short turn. When
the wall of China was broken down and her
ports were opened. and the world could look In
at the queer petticoated almond-eycd swarms
who had hived unmolested in their Sc
clusion for thousands of years, the
general feeling toward them was
patronizing, cOntemptuOus pity. 1t is scarcely
changed at the present time. England has
forced her opium on them in spite OF their
protests; there is not a single civilized people
which has not snubbed John Chinaman when
he appeared among them and made a butt
of him. Even English and American mission
aries who have gone to the Chinese from the
purest of motives to teach them Christianity,
have dOmineered over them as over children
or idiots, in pious but aggravating fashion,
which, by the way. the Chinaman proposes to
nut a stop to in these treaties.
The most prejudccd Christian, how
ever, could not but acknowledge the
qualities OF thOroughness, subtle instinct
and slow persistence i'll attaining success
shown in the work of the individ-
ual Chinaman, which was one reason why
Western peoples have been forced during this
| nresent century, to unlearn all they knew of
certain arts, and begin at the alphabet again
under his teaching The same qualities are be-
| coming apparent now in their national move
ments, and are leading to q like sue
| cess. No military movements OF later
times, according to European tacticians,
surpass in skill, slow patience and the man
| apement of an enormous number OF details
| the campaign of General TsO across the vast
nlains of Central Asia and the recapture of
Kashgar. In her foreign policy as in war,
China. with q certain quiet cOolness which is
characteristic Of the Mongoian, is gradually
becoming mnre assertive, and fitting herself,
| no doubt, to be aggressive at the proper sea-
son. She has just adjusted her relations with
Russia to her own complete satisfaction, and
|
United States were suggested by her. She in
troduced into them the clause prohibiting trade
in opium, in order to lay sound basis of ac-
tion against England. 1t Is easy enough for
| the United States, who never sent pound of
opium into China, to promise never TO send
IL on condition that she Is admitted to cer-
tain privileges but by the "favored nation y
clause found in all Chinese treaties, it will be
obligatory on England il she would participate
| in these privileges to submit to the conditions
which we have accepted. The clauses pro-
tecting Chinese commerce are only O
mart of the self-deveioping policy now
octuatine every movement in Pekin. The
army, munitions of war, and coast and har-
bor defences have been thoroughly remodelled
and increased during the last two years. Fol
all these public movements European material
ouns. engineers and workmen have been EN-
Moved. but the control remains in the hands
Of Chinamen. The most significant advance il
the building Of woollen mills at Loo-choo-foo
managed and worked by Germans and ruI
with American machinery, but owned by the
Chinese. General TsO is the principal stock
holder here. as he is the inspiring spirit OF al
this recent self.protective policy.
Fifteen years ago China was supposed to bt
decreuit with age, in articulO mortis, but to
day she shows the vigor aud energy OF younI
nation. Her revenue Is increasing; her people
are lightly taxed; she has resources which /
developed would support even her swarminI
i as,,iona o,,tsisle of foreign trade. and she In