Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-06-14
THE CHINESE REBELLION AND EU-
ROPEAN INTERVENTION.

That calculation which time brings to most
mysteries is gradually dawning upon the civil
wer in China. Our latest information opens one
or two new points of view, and enables US to ap-
preciate somewhat more satisfactorily tho pro-
gress and prospects of the revolution. Three
procamations or manifestoes issuing from the
insurgent camp, have found heir way, In an En-
glish version to European settlements, and from
these documents we can discern. at least, the ge
neral professions advanced by The rebels. The
first of these assumes I'll the character of an i'm
perial proclamation-tlat is to say, it is put forth
in the maine of Tien-T eh, the nsurgent chief as
Emperor actually reiguing, and it invites the
support and cooperation of the people by promi-
of reward, and under threats of vengeance in
case of refusal. The second purports to come
from an Independent adherent OF the rebel cause,
and contains denunciation of the Tartar dynas-
ty. The third is the most remarkable and the
most Interesting of all, for, although very clear
in substance, and obscured by the usual intrica-
cles OF Eastern phraseology, it is Justification of
the 1nsurrectionary movement upon principles of
religion, and the religion unsupported to is moth
ing less than Christianity.
From these manifestoes, taken in combination
with other intelligence, we can infer that the
revolution is now mainly based upon what is as
sumed to be the national duty of restoring a ma
tive Chinese dynasty by the expulsion of the
the first hall OF the seventeenth century, some
two centuries ago. the Mantchoo Tartars succeed
ed in subJugating the Chinese Empire, and seating
aprince OF their own on the throne of Pekin 10
the room of the native rnlers. From that time
to the present. the Tartar dynasty has survived,
but it never conciated the affections of the peo-
pie; it gradually declined in strength. and its
ruin was precipitated by the disgraces and charg>
es of the war maintained for awhile against our
| ms aptc baot,
| the heads of the Tartars all the accusations
which such circumstances would naturally sug-
| gest. They describe them having outraged
the ancient institutions of China by innovations
in ceremony and apparel; as having administered
the government of the country without regard to
clemency or Jnstice; as sustaining themselves by
rapacty. and shielding themselves by corruption.
while the entire population lay PROSTATE and
| grooming under this excess of tyranny. TEN
| teh, therefore, after announcing with reference
| to his late victories) that he has slaughtered
ravenous officers and abandoned magistrates till
he is tired of the carnage" calls upon the schol
ars and people" of the country to aid him, by
pecuniary contributions and personal service, in
consummatlng the triumph of native indepen-
dence and social reform. This places the poll ii
cal character of the rebellion beyond dispute.
| The religious element of the movement is con-
| sderably less distinct, and the proclamation
bearing upon this subject will command unver-
sal interest, we transfer iC in its original phrase
| ology to another part of our columns. IL appears
to be mainly addressed to one of the members of
| the IrlRd Society a secret association formed
among the Chinese for the express purpose of
eflecting the expulsion of the Tartars, something
like the Tugenbund in Germany during the do
mlnIon OF Napoleon or those philosophical BROTH
erhoods which pioneered the revolutions of 1885,
! The Christianity OF the document is certain
| ly not pure, but it will be that
raj scrptnral truths recited and that the Old
| Testament Is appealed to by name. As far,
however, as its mere language or professions are
| concerned there are Of course, many disci Piles
| OF the Christian missions in China competent to
| give as good or better accounts of their belief
| The importance of the document consists ia its
being issued, as if with authority, from the head
quarters oil the rebels and in tho introduction of
| such a subject into the communications of an in
surgent chief with the people of the country
We learn, too from independent sources that
| certain religions views have undo ubtedly been
| manifested IN the proceedings Of the insurgents.
They have displayed considerable zeal in the pu-
rllcatlon OF temples, and have been particularly
earnest IN destroying images-a resolution which
Is hardly traceable to any political principle, in as
much as the idol worship of the Chinese is not
connected with the reigning dynasty, bat pre-
vailed long before the Tartar invasion. Wheth-
or these measures import merely reformation
OF the national religion, whether they really
bespeak Iesign OF substituting purer faith for
the creed of the Chinese, cannot say. Ali
we see is, that a successful pretender to the im-
| perial throne of China has actually addressed
an appeal to the Chinese, in the name of true re-
liglon, and has called upon Them in a procama-
ton reciting certain leading truths of Christian
ty, to reect corrupt spirits aud worship the True
Spirit
How far the revolution possessed these char
actefistlcs at Its outset or acquired them in its
course, we can only conjecture; but as we have
| before remarked, We disposed to think that
| the most important features are accessions of a
later date. 1t is not impossible that the original
| insurgents might have been as worthless band
as they were supposed to be- For many wears
past the Chinese Empire has been disturbed by
the ravages OF organised maranders 10 the pro-
vincss and pirates on the coast. In these gangs of
desperate men there was always the nucleus of a
rebel force, aud opportunity might have been
easily seized of ENGRAVING upon their successes
| those purposes of dynastic reformation which the
existence OF an association like the Triad Society
proves to have been long secretly maintained-
One party, in short supplied the machinery,
while the other furnished the power and the two
together have been naturally victorious against
an unpopular sovereign supported only by an
effete military caste. If the true history of the
rebellion is ever known, we should not be sur
prised if its origin and progress were found to be
of this description.
Itcan scarcely be necessary to remark that these
reports conf rm the wisdom and propriety of that
neutral policy which, we have now learnt from
the declaration ofa minister, her Majesty's gov
eminent have decided to observe. The preten-
der to the throne is clearly enjoying at least as
much public sympathy as the reigning Emperor,
and the appeal to arms has hitherto resulted in
his favor. If to these titles ofconquest and pop
ularity he adds the claims Of religious and po-
litical reformerif his intention is to eradicate
abuses of government, and give the country the
blessings ola purer administration, it is clearly
out of the question that the natural course of a
consumnation like this should be INSTRUCTED by |
any Interference of ours. We observe that Sir