The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-28
Our CONSTITUTION IN CHINA.
How 1t Came to Be Translated
and Taken Home for study.


From the New York Sun.
Washington, July 21.-The relation of the
United States to the responsible govern
ment of China is, in some respects, differ
ent from that of any other nation. At
the present horrible crisis all is confu-
sion and chaos. In the future a lasting
sediment is to be made. 1t will be full of
difficulties, but America holds place OF
vantage The following paragraphs ex-
plain, in part why this is so-why the
high officials of China understand US bet
ter than they do any nation of Europe
When the first Chinese legation to the
United States settled in Washington
was accompanied by very intelligent ana
cultivated attache, by name Tsal SIN
Yung. He came OF an ancient Chlhese
family one of whose members had been
prime minister of the empire-a very unus-
ual post for a pure Chinese to hold under
a Manchu Tartar dynasty. He was grad
uate of DR.. Martins College at Fekin and
had also taken his bachelors degree in the
Chinese e1amina tions. During his resi-
dence in Washington he formed close
friendship with DIR. Edward S. Holden,
then one of the astronomers of me lnlte1
States Naval Observatory. In one OF
their CONVEX satious Tsai was asked the
object of the coming of his legation.
why, it is to make a treaty with your
country" And how is a treaty made?
ut Is :. written agreement between your
President and our Emperor" Nothing
more? ?" mo. nothing more IN this" 1t
TRANSFERRED that Tsai, and his mIa4ster a
we'll was totally ignorant Of the treaty
making fl notions of the Senate; and they
were thrown into CONSERVATION when they
heard the story of the rejection OF the
treaty with Denmark by the Senate after
President Grant had arranged for The ces-
sion of the Danish West Indies, and after
the contiding Danes of st. Thomas End
Santa Cruz had formally voted to accept
American citizenship.
Out of this conversation grew project
to translate the constitution of the United
States into the Chinese language For
many months the Chinaman and the
American met daily. Each provision OF
the constitution was carefully explained
and discussed and then written down
with a commentary; on a subsequent day
the Chinese translation was rendered
back into English and again discussed un
I'll all was clear. Doubtful points were re-
referred TO Frederick w. Whitridge, Esq,
of the New York bar, in writing, or oc-
casionally to Mr.. Justice Bradley of the
Supreme Court Finally the document
was completely ana SATISFACTORILY u
lated with a marginal commentary and
sent as an official dispatch to the Tsung-
li-Yamen In Pekin. A copy of ii was de-
posted by President Holden in the II
brary of the University of California,
where it now is. On Tsais part it had
been a labor of love and on his return to
China it won for him official advance
ment in rank and place. His American
co-adjutator was glad to give a portion
Iii a fAr V1xr
TO this public service which has resulted
in making the high officials in Pekin I'M
derstand the United States of America
as they understand no other country. They
are themselves literary people, and are
used to relying on the written word. They
know the organization of Great Britain
or of Germany in a very different way
from that of our own country. and we are,
accordingly, trusted as no other country
is.
Our opportunities at the present crisis
ore unique. Every European government
is distrusted by all of the high officials t
Pekin by those friendly to foreign inven-
tons as well as by those who hate and de-
spise the foreigner and al his works. When
the time comes to adjust a final and last
ing settlement for the future it is in the
power of America to take a high stand.
The constitution of our government is un-
ders God. 1t is known that we desire no
territorial acquisitions. We desire and we
mean to have the freest opportunities for
trade, and above all things the fullest pro-
lection for our citizens in foreign parts.
IL may be necessary for our troops to join
with those of Europe and japan in punt
tive expedition. 1t may even be necessary
to rae the walls of Pekin to the ground,
to plough the site and to SOW it with salt,
as the Tartar Chief Jenhiz Khan was
used 10 do with the rebelious cities of
Bokhara and Turkistan. All this will be
understood as a deserved punishment for
acts which even the Chinese cannot d.
fend. But in the final adjustment of rela-
lions America may hold a unique place;
and the position of moral vantage should
be safeguarded in all our acts.
-es