, 1881-02-20

the treaty, anu Its PROVISIONS are SO 1aVOfapl6
that the Pekin Government will be certain to
accept them, It may be assumed rs certain
that there is 10 danger Of war, not only ut
present, but for long time to come.
The credit for this treaty Of peace does
not belong altogether to the Marquis
of Tseng, but In large part to Gen. Grant
When he was i'll China tha whole country
was rampant for war with Russia. and
the war party was in the ascendency.
Recognized as the greatest General in the
world the Chinese Prime Minister consulted
him for advice He showed the Prime Min
lister the folly Of going to war with Russia,
how mighty the Muscovite power was, and
how easily 1t would swoop down upon China
by land and by sea. His advice was taken
The war feeling died out, and the Govern
ment entered upon the more pacific policy
Of negotiation, with what results has
already been shown. The same friendly
service was also done for Japan in
the Corea complication, and by his friendly
and sensible suggestions he prevented her
from plunging into d war with China, in
which, Of course, China would have been
successful, though it might have involved
severe contest and great expense at the very
time when she was in trouble with Russia.
However satisfactory the relations Of China
and Russia may be under the new treaty,
they are not regarded with much co1npla-
cency In England. The London Spectator Is
alarmed: first, because the war party still
has the ascendency, and, second, because
China now will be free to give her attention
to matters in which England is concerned,
and especially to the opium question, which
has always been sore spot in the eyes Of
the Chinese authorities. Upon this point
the Spectator says:
The Chinese Government would like, as
counsel Of perfection. to put down the use Of
opium, both native and foreign, with strong
hand; but. us practical administration. it wants
eating. BY tie imposition Of a fresh import tax,
aud Of dues Tor the right to convey opium from
tho seaports to the Interior, or from one PROV
ince to another, the Chinese could greatly limit
Its use; or. which they desire much more, they
could add @ Xery lqrge gI SUN annually to as 5heir
port that would have very persuasive tenden"
cy. Whichever course they pursue, It may be
out the stipulattons Of this treaty, and when
the contest for power at Pektn has been decided,
the Chinese Government will devote Ill its vlgor
satisfactory to itself of the opium question. It
will insist on a Chinese Interpretation Of the
agreement of Cheef0o.
The recent treaty between China and the
United States, by which the latter has con-
ceded that its subjects shall neither import j
opium into Chinese ports nor deal in opium
when imported, has emphasized the alarm
felt in England that China will soon make |
the complete prohibition Of foreign opium q
cardinal object of its policy. This is not to
be wondered at, since it would mean the
bankruptcy Of India. if there is enough Of |
India left to be bank1upted, but at the same !
time it will be difficult for England to con-
vince the world that China has not the right
to regulate her own taxes, or to explain why,
If India can prohibit the importation OF |
opium, China has not the SAME right