Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-06-22
I'm ARTIXsBURGs@~.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUsE q. 1858.
CHEM.

The revolutionary movements now going
on in the "celestial Empire the probable
success Of the rebels, and the final overthrow
Of the present Tartar dynasty, invest this
vast country with an interest never before
manifested or felt.
Hitherto, China has been almost hermetri-
cally sealed to the trade and commerce Of
other nations, and for many centuries has re-
manned perfectly stationary SO far as progress,
improy cment, the arts and sciences, educa-
tion and religion are concerned. Very re-
Gently bold leader has determined to work
revolution of the Government, and thus
far his cause is popular with the masses--his
force already large, is daily increasing, and
his march triumphant. What the effect Of
all this may be upon the moral and physical
condition Of China and all eastern Asia, it is
impossible to conjecture, worse than it is,
it cannot be made, change must be an inn
provencnt. According to MIR. Gutzlaf, Chi
ma contains an area Of l ,20s, 90 square miles,
and extends from the 18th to the list paral-
lei of North Latitude, and from the 9Sth to
the l23d degree Of East Longitude, and con-
tains some of the largest cities in the world.
From the grossly fabulous, and cxaggera-
ted accounts Of the country given in the
Chinese records it is utterly impossible to ar
rive at anything like definite and correct con-
illusions. The population of the country is
estimated as high as 370,00O,000. In the
German statistical almanac published at Wei
mer in 1888, the population Of China Proper,
it is estimated to be l4s,oo0,0O0. The
Chinese pretend, that their Empire has ex-
listed from period long before the food
and some English writer's have found evidence,
they say, that the Chinese Empire was
founded more than 1000 years before the
Christian Era.
The Government of China is absolute
The lives Of his subjects are in the hands of
the Emperor-he makes, and abrogates laws
at his pleasure,-he is the sole source of all
power, hontr and mercy, and is regarded as
demi- god, aud is styled the "Holy son of
Heaven, sole guardian of the earth, and faith
er and mother of his people, and is media
tor between Heaven and mortals, acting as |
propitiator Of the one, and presenting tho
petions Of the others. The Emperor too, is
-egarded not only as the sovereign of China,
but Of all the world besides. Couf,lcius, the
Chinese philosopher, wrote 500 years before
Christ, that .sHeaven has not two sons, earth |
has not two kings; family has not two mas
:ers sovereign power has not two directors;
only one God and one Emperor" and this is
believed to the present hour, unless the rebel
chief has already convinced Tara Kwang,
that in some particulars, Coufucius might be
in error. The people are divided into the
following classes the mandarians, the mill
tary, the Literati, the Priests, the Husband
men, the Artisan, and Merchant The hus-
bandmen are the most favored class in the
State, and the merchants, especially those
who deal with foreign nations, are the least
respected.
The principle productions of china are
Rice, Tea, silk, Cotton, Sugar, Wines, fruits,
&c. Rice and fruits are the great articles of
food, and tea and porcelain, of commerce.
In arts and manufactures, the Chinese have
made no progress, although in some particu-
lars they are superior to any other nation
none can approach them in the art of dyeing.
They possess extraordinary skill in the work.
ing of ivory, she'll, &c.
The language of the Chinese is founded
upon hierogliphics, and symbols, and does
not include more than 5000 different char
acters- The people are all taught to read,
but are confined to their own language and
literature. Tie religion of the Chinese con-
sists of the most absurd, supersticious, and
false philosophy. In no respect have the
Chinese advanced in civilization beyond the
first stages Of society. In their moral quail
ties the Chinese are strange compound of
vanity, meanness, affected gravity and real
friyolity they are said "to be grea. in tri-
files, aud really trifmg in everything that is
great" Such, in brief, are some of the char
acteristics of this wonderful people.
ACCIDENT ON THE D. o. n. n.