The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-22
THE DAILY DISPATCH
THE CHINESE REVOLUTION.
IRIS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS.


don 7snses, publishedin yesterday 9 Dsspafca
the rebel army had reached Tien.fsin. thu
seaport town Of pekin, situate on the Pei Ho
and news of the taking Of the capital wa'
daily expected. There can be little doub
that the imperial city of China has by thi'
time succumbed to the victorious progress O
the insurgents, and involved in It's fall the Fl
nal overthrow of the Mantchoo dynasty
Much interest is naturally felt in ascertaining
amid many confused and contradictory &C
counts, the true origin and history of this re
markable revolution. and whether the Chris
tian faith has been really, and if SO, to what
extent,identifed with the Revolutionary move
ment. We believe that this desideratun
among newspaper readers has been supplied
in an able and elaborate article of the Loadof
Times, compiled from French work, BY
NJ. M. Gallery and IVAN. recently issued
which is said to present the only authentic
and reliable account of the matter in ques
tion.
The outbreak Of this Revolution occurred
after that critical period when the success OF
the British arms was followed by treaty
which opened the ports of China to CONNER
cil enterprise and brought the people of Chi
ma face to face with European civilization
In 1850, HEN FoUyG, the present Emperor,
being then nineteen years of age, assembled
the throne. But Hien Foung, though ayoung
man, appears to have been an Old Fogy, and
refused to avail himself of the advantages
which the treaty with Great Britain present
ed for adopting a liberal policy and extended
commercial relations with the outside world.
The old and experienced Chinese counsellors,
who seem, contrary to our American rule, to
be the party of progress, were dismissed in
disgrace, and the, enemies of Europe, with
heads as thick as the Chinese wall, were re-
ceived into favor. But there had been a
short period of enlightenment, during the
war with England, and influences had pre-
vailed in that period which proved too potent
for thereactionmy Emperor and his Old Fogy
associates.
China has long had her secret societies.
When established, their objects were as
harmless as those of the Masons, Odd Eel
lows, Sons of Temperance, dc, in our own
country, but they have long occupied them
selves with designs of revolutionizing the
government Soon after the English victo
ries, a religious was added to the political ele-
ment of these societies. The Protestant mis-
sionaries pushed the advantage gained by
British success, and to the other secret socie-
ties already in existence was now added the
"Chinese Union.' This was Christian COM
munity founded by Gutzlaf jealous mis-,
sionary, born in Germany, of supposed Chi
nese extraction, and useful civil officer of
the British government. This society quietly
drew throngs of the disciples of Confucius
from the service of Budha to the Protestant
faith Z
These facts explain the mingling Of the re-
igious with the political element in the Chi
nese Revolution. Onthe one side we find Sc
cret revolutionary societies on the other.
missionaries eager to make converts, and
both brought into the freest intercourse
The one employ the political element to pro-
mote their religious views; the other avail
+ themselves of the religious element to pro-
mote their political designs, and, under the
broad banner of obedience to Divine Com
mandment, march forth oonquering and to
conquer. 81 s.
The work before us gives ample proof that
the man who devised and settled the scheme
OF revolutionary operations in China, is one
OF the first men who has ever organized and
led rebellion The utmost Skill system,
forethought, vigour and intelligence have
marked every step of the revolutionary move
ment. Before the breaking out of hostilities,
the people had been led to expect that great
events, long ago predicted by the Chinese
= prophets. were at hand. The quarter in which
the rebellion first appeared, was the one most
. feared and dreaded by the Emperor. 1t was
the province of Kouang-si, country of gi.
gantle and inaccessible mountains inhabited
by poor, but hardy, sober, ard intrepid PEG.
pie-fhat vas chosen as the starting place of
the great revolution. The most remote noun,
tam districts of this province had never
2 Yielded to Tartar sway. Here dwell the race
OF the Miao,tze husbandmen and warriors.
: proud OF their independence, who, our an.
fhors inform us, have preserved the ancient
national costume; have never shaved their
heads; have never submitted to the Tartars
have repelled the authority of the Mandarins
and refused to adopt customs imposed by Tho
Manfcheos. 1t was with these men, the her
s ror of the Chinese, that the insurgents form
ed an alliance, and in August, 1850, unsheath
& ed the sword of rebellion, and commence,
that slow, cautious, but invariably success
full progress, which has never lost battle
which has gained strength as much byits oh
seryance of the rules of humane warfare. q,
by its military skill and proves, and which
has no doubt, ere this, achieved the consum
nation of its triumphs in the downfall of ii,
capital of the Celestial Empire.
The proclamations, issued from time t.
time from the rebel camp, would do credit. t.
the statesmen of any country. "A more logi
cal and explicit declaration of intention
and motives could scarcely be made, than tn,
first manifesto issued by their chiefs. 9Th,
Mantchoos.", said this plain and pointed doeu
ment. swho, for two centuries, have heredita
rily occupied the throne of China, were ori
syir,allv n er,aU rafnnv nf fareivnars Will