Year: 1868

Chinese mission now here d still shrouded in
diplomatic mystery. Ar. Burlingame, the
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pieni-
potentiary for China" has in eloquent and
glowing language told US that it means pro-
gress, the commencement of . new era in the
relations Of China with the rest Of the world;
that China is ''ready to take upon her ancient
civilization the graft Of our modern Western
civilization" and that she comprehends the
necessity Of this from seeing and feeling the
pressure Of the material and intellectual de-
velopments of the age all around her; but we
have yet to learn specifically what China asks
and will accept in order to bring her into more
intimate relations with the family of nations.
True, Mr.. Burlingame tells us that China asks
the Western Powers ito give to the treaties
made with her under the pressure OF war
generous and Christian construction, to re-
spect the neutrality of her waters, to leave her
perfectly free to unfold herself precisely in
that form of civilization of which she is the
most. capable to Judge, and to respect
the integrity Of her territory" In short,
the general object .of The mission
appears to he to firmly establish and perpetu
ate that cooperative peace policy towards
China which this distinguished ambassador
was mainly instrumental in inaugurating some
few years ago. But the question remains, how
are the Western nations to respond to this ap-
peal for generous and enlightened policy, and
what can be done to carry it ont? Mr.. Bur
hngame cannot fail to do much good in his
eloquent efforts to instruct us on the condition
and wants of China, and to rally that ''strong-
est thing on earth, the enlightened public sen
timent of the world, in behalf of justice to
China; but we suppose he is something more
than missionary, and that as a minister plen-
ipotentiary, he has come to give practical
effect to the sentiments he utters through the
usual form Of treaty stipulations. "


Assuming this to be the case, or that if the
Embassy should only have initiatory powers
at present the result must be that in the end,
the question arises here, are the people and
admit China into the family of nations on the
same footing with other nations of the civilized
world? That this country is in favor of
peaceful and friendly policy, and that it ear
nestly desires to extend its trade with that vast
and populous empire, there can be no doubt.
Indeed, Mr. Burlingame when our Min
lister in China, and the government
at Washington have shown that the United
States desired to reverse the old policy of force
towards China and 10 establish peaceful and
| cooperative one. The American people and
government do not wish to use force, do not
want to make conquests in Asia, or to break
up or weaken the government Of China. On
the contrary, they will respect the rights and
territorial integrity Of that empire. More than
that, they will cordially respond to the offer Of
reciprocal advantages in an enlarged trade and
freer intercourse with the Chinese. In these
things there is undoubtedly disposition to
treat with China on the same footing a. with
the most favored nations. So far we appre-
hcnd, there would be no difficulty in making a
treaty.


But other questions may arise, though we do
not know that they have been raised, which
might not be quite a. easy to settle all al once
! One might possibly he that of the status of the
Chinese in this country. five expect to treat
with China on the basis of equality and to have
American citizens protected and TO enjoy the
/ privileges in that country which they have in
all friendly civilized countries, the Chinese
government may and would have the right TO
demand similar protection and privileges for
its subjects in the United States. To this alb
ctra ct mi Of c,ruaaa iuulica aud .ouat


ty no right minded person could demur
The difficulty lies, however, in the preju-
dice of race The people of this country
had, up to recent period, the strong
est pride and prejudice of race. They
meant to preserve the unity and supre-
macy of the Caucasian race over all othe,
races-over Indians, negroes and MongoIans
and there are still existing strong prejudices
Though the negroes. for political purposes and
as a result of the war, have been admitted &c
civil rights and equality under the law, there
is still repugnance to putting them or any
other people of what are called the inferior
races on an equality with the Caucasian race
With regard to the Chinese or Mongolians this
prejudice is very strong in California. They
have not had the protection OF the laws al
other people have, and in many cases they have
been treated in an atrocous manner The
immigration of these Chinese has been very
large, and il is estimated there are over fifty
thousand in California. The number would
increase greatly il they were protected and
had the same privileges as other foreigners
but to this the Califomians are opposed. Their,
might be very large emigration to othe
parts of the country as well, were such pro
lection and privileges conceded to them al
other foreigners can claim. There is no doub
they are as peaceablc and industrious as any
other people, and their labor might be mad,
try; still, the question arises, will our peopl,