(3) The facts already mentioned suggest a third source of anti-foreign disturbances, under this section, viz., that the agents of foreign Powers are too often in error as to the right methods for managing affairs in China, Every country has its peculiar habits of thought and expression, and its cular methods of conducting affairs.
hina is plainly different from all. To be sure we have argued above that foreign diplomats should not adopt the measures of the Chinese in first-making demands and then yielding a part; and yet at the same time there are features that should be noted in Chinese diploniacy, even though they may not be totally imitated.
'A foreign Minister writes his despatch in English or French, and this is to be taken for proof, but we forget that a fine style in, these languages may be a weak and odd production when translated into Chinese and sent down to-some provincial authority, A strong plea in an English for naught with a Chinese mandarin. If a missionary to China should learn to think in Chinese, how much more necessary in critical disputes for the Western diplomat.
Think also of all the routine of the yamens, and how for every case presented there is a certain reply already prepared and fitted thereto,—a reply used in some similar case years before, and so forming precedent and ''authority." In China precedent determines the action, and many an elaborate despatch will be met by a non winns because this excuse has answered in a similar case once before. Just what will force an action, and what remain unnoticed, is better known to the Chinese than to the foreigner, but a failure of the foreigner to learn may crush a worthy case, and reinforce a precedent whose indirect mischief no one can estimate. A diplomatic blunder and a howling mob are twin sisters in China, The failure of a case, because managed badly, may instigate and guide the vagrant crowd, who prefer riot with its perils to peace with its poverty.
The Chinese, both people and mandarins, have a profound respect for power, and if true elsewhere, it is especially true in China that "nothing is so successful as success." For a Consul or Minister to have a whole batch of unsettled cases, or still worse, 4 whole lot once presented and argued and finally relinquished, can only cause the Chinese officials to' pooh-pooh every pro-lags n that such a man may make. To e sure if the foreign Powers are nil in China, then the foreign Ministers are left in an awkward state, and further attacks on foreigners can be positively looked for.
How different, also, is the ceremony, dignity and reserve of Chinese official lite from the freedom and even familiarity of some of our Western official life! The mere semblance of power is oftentimes mistaken
agent of great nation in proportion as for the pense itself. But in any case an he conducts himself with dignity and self-respect, both in social life and official duties will have influence in presenting his cases. The Rev. Arthur Smith mentions the absurdity of a Consul of the rank of Taotai, who was going to a provincial capital to settle up a dificult case, having a retinue, as he passed through city on the way, which consisted besides himself on one horse, of his cosh and servant on two others, the result being that they were followed by a hooting crowd and threatened with a riot. If it is a serious outlook when Western functionaries lose their reputation for possessing power, it is saddening as well as serious when they allow themselves to be insulted. One of official rank is honoured, while one insulted is something ofa " barbarian"—such is the Chinese idea, and it remains for our Ministers and Consuls to make their choice.
With a profound appreciation of the trying labours of the many excellent men who have represented our countries of the West in this clever, wily land of Chinese politicians, we yet fill out the pi i a few black streaks, telling of blunders committed, but bearing in mind that the excellent work of excellent men is not thereby maligned, but that only he who blunders shall bear the blame, be it great or small.
'THE SOURCES AS FOUND IN THE CHINESE
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.