The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-17
The Fate of the Chinese Empire,

That the Empire has fallen ere this, or,
if not yet, that it certainly soon will, is a
conclusion that no reader Of the latest in.
telligence from Europe can escape. Nam
kin, one of their largest cities, in state oi
ruin, " as in the possession of the rebels,
as also was Chinkiang, another important
point Both they were strongly fortifying,
and were waiting for re.inforcements from
the South previous to advancing upon Pc
kin. The insurgent leaders had raised
the standard OF Christianity. A correct
translation of the Bible was freely circulat-
ed among them. and zeal amounting to
fanaticism was leading them on to attempt
the destruction of the whole Tartar race.
while moral duties were strictly enforced
and practiced throughout their own ranks.
The insurgents are Of the Protestant form
of worship, recognizing Jesus Christ as
their Savior, and adopting the Trinity and
Ten Commandments. The news is au.
thentic, and inspires confidence in its cor
rectness. 1t was brought from Nankin by
the British steamer Hermes, which had
lain five days at that port, and became ac-
quainted with all the under. currents of
movements and events.
letter from the city OF Nankln thus
more minutely details the character of the
revolution:
"The insurgents are Christians of the
Protestant form of worship, and anti-idol-
ators of the strictest order. They ac-
knowledge but one God, the Heavenly
Father, the Allwise, Allpowerful and Om-
nipresent Creator Of the world; with him
Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind,
and also the Holy Spirit, as the last ofthe
three persons Of the Trinity. Their chief
on earth is person known as 'Tae-ping-
wang, the Prince of Peace to whom kind
Of divine origin and mission is ascribed.
Far, however, from claiming alteration,
he forbids, in an edict, the application to
himself Of the terms 'supreme,' 'holy,' and
others, hitherto constantly assumed by the
Emperor of China, but which he declines
receiving on the ground that they are due
to God alone. Their moral code the in.
surgents call the Heavenly Rules which,
on examination, proved to be the ten COM
mandments. The observance Of these is
strictly enforced by the leaders Of the
movement, chiefly Kwang.tung and Kwang
Sc, men who are not merely formal profess
sors of religious system, but practical
and spiritual Christians, deeply influenced
by the belief that God is always with them.
The hardships they have suffered and
the dangers incurred are punishments
and trials of their Heavenly Father; the
successes they have achieved are instan-
ces Of His grace. In conversation they
bore the more worldly-minded by con-
slant recurrence to that special attention
OF the Almighty OF which they believe them.
selves to be the objects. With proud hu
mility, and with the glistening eyes Of graf
itude, they point back to the fact that a,
the beginning of their enterprise, some
four years ago, they numbered but 100 OF
200; and that, except for the direct help
of their Heavenly Father, they never could
have done what they have done.'
| Again, the writer adds:
"That there are ambitious selEdeceivers
shrewd imposters, and calculating hypo
critics among them in plenty, we doubt not
we also doubt not that numbers join, and
will continue in their ranks, influenced ex
clusively by motives as worldly and igno
BILE as those which guide the conduct Of sc
many protesting christians of the West
But among the leaders and orginators o
the movement there are unmistakeable
signs Of a good leaven, which, we trust and
earnestly wish, may ultimately spread
throughout the whole mass. One con
vincing proof of the sincerity Of the ruling
mind is. that while fighting to free theil
country from foreign yoke. and anxious
to obtain adherents, they, nevertheless
throw great difficulties in the way OF rap
id increase ofnumbers by insisting on the
general adoption of new and revealed
religion learned from barbarians.
We have not time or space to say more
at present. We have thoughtit advisable
to dwell, in the first instance, mainly or
the most striking and momentous feature
ofthis movement. its religious and puritan
ical element-a feature now placed be
yond all doubt, but which the previou:
conceptions of many foreigners will cause
them to regard with The greatest astonish
ment, if not incredulity in any body o
Chinese"