Year: 1868




approve, war and not peace is the status, and
all such persons are the proper subjects for
military penal jurisdiction" This is picture
of the radical party, for the same intellectual
character pervades the whole mass of the men
who, sympathizing with the puritanical nature
that made the first trouble, would now oblit-
crate our very civilization in pure spirit of
egotism and intolerance. The nation should
rejoice that such party is obfuscated; for its
blunders, its most mischievous. errors, must
prove less injurious than the accomplishment
of its purposes.


Progress and Future Of American Influence


In Asia-nIr. Burlingame's Mission.


The British press, we notice, has been COM
menting freely on the mission of Mr. Bur
lingame as envoy of the Emperor of China to
the United States and the European Powers,
and in q very different spirit to that ex-
hibited by the jealous and narrow minded
French Minister and the British in China.


The London Post, the organ of the English
aristocracy, particularly takes broad and
liberal view of the mission. In an article
recently copied in the HERALD it says:-"We
rejoice, therefore, to see the negotiations of
the Chinese empire with us and other Euro
pean Powers entrusted to an ambassador who,
it may be confidently anticipated, will explain
them in a clear and simple manner, so that our
dealings henceforth may be placed on sound
and sensible footing. An hours conversa-
tion between Mr.. Burlingame and any of our
prominent men would do more to clear up
Chinese difficulties than ten years of
mere despatch writing" Preceding these
sensible remarks the writer pays a high
compliment to American diplomats and the
American style of diplomacy. He Says
american statesmen have for many years
past taken deservedly high rank in diplomacy
and have grown accustomed to success in their
undertakings. They possess the inestimable
advantage Of plain speaking and generally
come to the real point at issue in truthful
and manly way"


The contrast is very striking between the libe-
raj spirit and broad views of these remarks and
the vanity and stupidity of the French Minister
in China who made formal protest against





jealousy Of the British at Hong Kong. English
statesmen and the metropolitan press of Eng
land look at things in practical business point
of view, and though they may be apt to look
with jealous eye upon the increasing infu-
ence of other nations in Asia, they will not
throw away promised advantages for mere
sentiment. Besides, they have lately learned
to appreciate the power and prestige of the
United States, and have the good sense to see
that 1t is our destiny to take leading position
in the trade and affairs of China and Japan.
They see, too that our policy is liberal one,
that we seek no exclusive advantages, and that
whatever we do in the way of opening more
free intercourse with those populous empires
of Asia will be to their advantage as well as
our own. The French Minister in his silly
protest against the appointment of Mr..
Burlingame to the most important mission ever
sent from China, had no such comprehensive
views. He, with characteristic vanity, looked
only to the 6cl0t and influence it might give to
the United States by the honor conferred upon
one of our citizens. He thought this was
eclipsing the glory Of France in measure, and
that was enough to excite his indignation. The
value of the mission to France, as to all the
other great commercial nations, the commerce
and material interests of France which might
be promoted by it, were nothing to him COM
pared with the sentiment Of national pride or
glory. Does not the French nation assume to
control Europe? Did not its Emperor under
fok fo ulafa fba fTai IF fho Aua
Continent and to establish an empire and the
supremacy of the Latin race here? Ought not
''the great nation" to control the destnies of
Asia and the imperial ''Son of Heaven" him
self? The magnificent theory of French
supremacy, influence and glory overshadows
all questions of utility or practical advantages
in the mind of Frcnchman like this Minister
in China.


However, we do not think the Emperor
Napoleon will be as silly as his representative at
Pekin. He, as well as the British government
and other governments to which Mr.. Burlingame
may be accredited, will probably receive with
due honor this representative Of China, though
he be an American and though he has not
three tails. All these European Powers will
find, probably, as the London Post says, that
Mr.. Burlingame, with his plain speaking and
manly way of American diplomacy, will do
more to clear up Chinese difficulties than ten
years of mere despatch writing. Mr.
Burlingame will come to the United States
first, we understand, and we may expect him
soon. He will find 10 difficulty in his mission
here, though he may have become Mongolian
and mandarin Of the FIRST water and should
be found to have dozen tails : We shall
feel certain pride and like il all the more
that the imperial ambassador is an American;
but if he were Chinaman, a Frenchman or
an Englishman he would be well received, and
we should make the most Of his mission for
ourselves and the civilized world. We have