The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-09
BIOGRAPHY THAT Is HISTORY.

Parkes died, but 1t is only now that
biography of him appears. Yet his forty
years Of active life really constitute the
history of the opening of the Chinese
oyster. No one can understand the evo-
luton OF the modern nation of China
without studying his handiwork.
He began life as an interpreter at the
consuIates Of Annoy, Foochow and Shang-
hal excessively. 1t is still tradition in
AnglO-Chinese circles that be acquired so
thorough knowledge of the dialects of
China that he could have passed an ex-
animation for literary mandarin. There
was at that time an unwritten law of the
British consular service that an inter-
prefer could not rise to be Consul or even
Vice-Consul. Thus young Parkes' am
biton seemed to be limited to tie duty of
translating dispatches. His ability was
so obvious. however. that Sir Henry Pot
inger prevailed upon the Foreign Office
to break through routine, and after long
struggle Harry Parkes. then young man
of %, was appointed Consul at Canton.
In this Office he precipitated the conflict
over the lorcher Arrow which led to the
opium war. Looking at the circumstances
With our present lights we see no justlf-
cation for the conduct OF the English.
They seem TO have attacked a defenseless
nation on frivolous pretext and to have
extorted an indemnity where they were
alone to blame. 1t Is clear. however, that
Parkes had made up his mind to humble
China in order to increase England's pres
Iige. He carried out his purpose with the
pertinacity which marked his career
through life.
Having settled in China at the age of IA.
Parkes understood the Orientals as hardly
any other European has understood them.
His notion was that It was waste of time
10 ask fair dealing from them. According
to him, the way to deal with them was to
bully them. In his own language, /. must
be word and blow. and it would not
hurt if the blow came before the word. A
position once taken, he never swerved
from 1t. When Sir Rutherford Alcock
alked of Chinese rights he laughed at his
sentmentality. The only rights which
Parkes recognized were such as Downing
street chose to concede. He modelled him.
self on Sir Stratford Canning, and, like
The great Elchi, he came to be regarded
by the Chinese, just as Canning was re-
garded by the Turks. as a supernatural
creature whom it was futile to resist.
Once he allowed himself to be carried
away by his overweening consciousness of
power. When Lord Elgin and Baron Gros
marched on Picking in 1860. he accom-
panied or rather preceded the expedition.
He was a long way in advance. The
allied army was many miles in the rear
when he reached the gates of Picking. H.
and his escort were seized and were handed
over to the Board Of Punishments.
Parkes was manacled; irons were placed
on lis ankles; be was fastened by chain to
a beam in the roof OF the prison. There
he lay for eleven days. during which he
endured indignities which his present
biographer does not chronicle, and which
indeed cannot be described. He himself
would never speak of them. He was on
the point of being executed when Prince
Kung, who had some knowledge of the
foreign world. and knew what terrible
retribution England would enact for the
murder of her Consul, insisted on his
liberation. By way of compensation he
was appointed Minister to Japan. and sub
seouently Minister 10 China. which post
he was filling when he died.
The influence which he welded was due
in part TO his intimate acquaintance with
the Chinese people. and In part to his in
flexible character. He was a perfect en-
cycopedia on Chinese affairs; he knew
the Chinese mind as we'll as Ii Hung
Chang himself. He had the advantage
over his colleagues that he was aware how
any proposed measure would strike the
members of the Yamen, and he never I'M
dertook things which he could not carry
out. Add to this that when he had made
up his mind he could not be diverted from
his purpose by arguments or warnings.
He was like stone wall. Throughout lifr
he cherished a serene belief that Asiatic
nations existed by permission of Great
Britain; and that the Chinese occupied
their territory and made their laws so long
as it suited England that they should do
so, and no longer. His last diplomatic act
was inducing the Chinese to promise to
make war on Russia on the Amoor in the
event of war between England and Russia
In Afgbanistan. Such positive men may
not commend themselves to the praise of
the philosopher. but they leave their mark
on their times.