New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-26
Socialism in China.

existence anu growth or SOCIALISM III Chlna.
Recently it appears that an extensive in
surection has broken out in Kwang-Si, one
of the eastern provinces of the Empire,
headed by an enterprising chieftain, called
Li-Tsing- Pang, which is also said to result
from the prevalence of Socialist influences.
The rumors are various aud contradictory.
At one time it is said that the object is to
overthrow the present Using Manchu or
Pure Dynasty, and to restore the last of
the Chinese Dynasties, called the Ming,
and that this purpose is supported by the
prevalent belief in an old prophecy that
the dominion of the Manchus is to termi-
nate in the year 1851. At another time
we are told that the instruction is mere
marauding expedition with no definite OBJ
iect. Again it is said that the purpose is
entertained of installing Christian Gov
eminent over the Empire. But during the
whole of the last six months rumors have
come from so many different sources of the
existence of socialist tendency among the
people, favored more or less by the literah,
that it can hardly be doubted that the ex-
isting disturbances have some connection
with vague ideas of radical reform in the
social as well as in the governmental in
situations of China. Mr.. Gutzlatl, the
eminent Missionary to China, in speaking
of the movement recently in Germany,
characterized it as Communist; he has also
frequently spoken ,of the diffusion of Com
munist ideas among the literati.
The rumor of a design to establish a
Christian dynasty has too little probability
to merit attention. Whatever may be the
nature of the movement, it must be pre-
sumed that it is entirely of native origin.
Foreign influences have as yet been ex-
tremely limited, although they are becom
ing more considerable every year. In an
other half century ideas from Europe may
mingle to an efficient degree with the
growth of the native mind of China, and
produce results modified by the external
forms of thought. Nothing of that kind is
now to be looked for. If there is Socialism
in China it must be Chinese, and not French
nor American Socialism. Assuming, then,
that there is e movement in China having
some of the features of Socialism, let US en-
deavor to penetrate the causes which have
probably led at this time to the occurrence
of so remarkable phenomenon.
The polity of the Chinese Empire is one
which mingles in remarkable degree the
features of Absolutism and Democracy. 1t
was remark of Com. Charles Elliott, I'M
der whose orders the English and Chinese
war was begun, made after visiting this
country, that the political habits of the peo-
pie of New England were more similar to
those of the Chinese than those of any Euro
pean community. In China there is that
which is quite similar to the town-meetings
of New-England, All the small neighbor
hood business, such as the laying out of the
public highways, for example, is managed
by the people themselves quite indepen-
IDENTIFY of the government, and the people
are very jealous of government interference
in what habit has consignedto their control
In all the larger affairs which are confessed
ly within the province Of government, the
government is theoretically supreme and
absolute; but, in point of fact, even with
reference to these, its power rests almost
solely in the general concurrence of the
people. There is no controlling military
power at the command Of the Emperor and
above and apart from the people, potent
. enough to suppress the will of the people,
as there is in the European despotisms.
There is no graduated scale of feudalism,
interlocked and compacted together for the
maintenance of their successive superion-
ties over those beneath them. The EmPe-
ror is theoretically seated in Heaven, and
all the people are without distinction on the
lower earth at an infinite distance beneath
him; but having placed him at such an
immense remove from themselves, among
the gods, they pay about as much respect
to his wishes as people generally do
to the behests of their divinities. They
bestow upon him continually the most ex-
travagant homage in words, while they
shirk by every possible means, every dis
agreeable compliance with his edicts.
Hence arises the ludicrous admixture Of
peremptory command and impotent wheed-
ling which characteristics those DEGREES. In
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