The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-31
The News from China-COnquest of the
Southern Provinces by the Rebels.

Southern Provinces by the Rebels.
We devoted a considerable portion Of
yesterdays paper to the progress OF the Chi
nese rebellion. Our readers are already
aware that the insurgents, having gained
a firm footing in the southern province of
Kuang-see and reduced the central districts
of the south to subsection. advanced north
ward till they reached the river 1ang-tse-
Keang Having divided their forces into two
wings. one struck the river near longitude 10
degrees. encountered the imperial army, defeat
ed it, and captured successfully the populous
and wealthy cities of Ys-choo and Nan-yang
whilst the other marched directly against Nam
kin. Advices by the last mail from China con-
firm our previous intelligence of tie fall of that
city; but those who are best qualified to form a
Judgment on the point seem to think the an-
nouncement requires still further corrobora-
ton. However this be, neither the intention Of
the rebels to march on Pekin, nor their evident
superiority to the imperial troops in the field
can now be questioned. Nor can any reasona-
BILE doubt be entertained of the ultimate over
throw of the reigning dynasty if foreign powers
do not step in to the assistance of tho Emperor.
From the documents published, it will
be seen that existing misgovernment is
the chief grievance put forward by the
insurgents in excuse for their rebellion. Unfor-
tunately. the want of any thing like specific
charges or substantial evidence-a want that
is i'll supplied by an abundance of fowery
apothe gms-prevents our attempting to form
judgment on the merits Of their cause. We
know, from recent works of travel that the
charges which have been made against the EN-
peror are substantially we'll founded. and that
others of still more grieveus nature might
have been safely added to the list but we con-
TESS that, with every desire to sympathise with
the reformers, we see nothing in their proc.a-
nations that would warrant an anticipation of
a change for the better if fortune favors their
cause Successful revolutions, however gene
rally popHlarise the institutions of a country,
and in the absence of more reliable guarantees
we must trust to this general proposition.
So far as we are Individually concerned, the
news received yesterday affords nc ground for
altering the opinions already expressed in this
paper. The appeal of the Intendant to the for
eign consuls at Shanghae has spread consider
able alarm among the European and American
residents, and the want of sufficient naval
or military force to take an active part
in the struggle seems to have increased the
uneasiness of the merchants Their persons
and their property will Of course be secure
from injury; but it is by no means equally
clear that the crops will escape devastation or
the foreign trade most fatal check. Commerce
has already been paralyzed at Shanghai. and
of force from Kong Kong would restore AMI
nation and tranquility. Whether the rebsls
purpose destroying the tea fields or not ia a
matter of debate Merchants who have teas to
sell are confident thst such is their intention:
buyers ask with obvious justice, what purpose
such an act of folly colld serve? From all we
can learn, it seems that the rebels have not
been over punctilious in dealing with person
and property on their march northward; and
the natives of Honan complain bitterly of the
exactions and reckless devastation committed
by the imperial troops. Neither party in a
civil war contemplates in cold blood, the de-
struction of property; but few instructions
have been queiled, and few dynastes over
turned, without considerable damage
The mail by the Arctic brings no intelligence
from China in relation to foreign Intervention
that was not fully recorded in our former spe-
culations on the subject We learn, however,
that the feeling in England is decidedly OPP
posed to anything Of the kind; and
as no one has seriously proposed that
we should intermeddle, the circular adj |
dressed to the three great commercial powers
is narrowed down to a prayer to Russia alone
or succor Her decision will decide the fate
of the dynasty. Without enlargng on theme
hat is by no means exhausted, we will simply
recommend those Of our readers whose imagi- |
nation is suggestive, to measure the relative
Ii tances of Kiachta and Nankin from Pekin,
and await, in becoming patience, the arrival Of |