The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-11-29
Weaeral llfws,
The Chinese Revolution.

Serated rumorS, AMI positive Inventions, com
binc to keep most readers of the news in COM
plete ignorance Of the state of afals there
Very few persons in this country have been
able to gather, from the various statements, any
clear idea of what is the object of the rebels
what they have accomplished, aud what
will probably be the result of the rebellion. -
They who rely implicitly upon every thing they
see in print, are ready to believe that the Chi.
nese rebels are an army of Christians, before
which idolatry is already pr"strate, and that
nation of three hundred and fifty millions has
: thrown away it's idols and turned to the wor-
] ship of the true God. This marvellous dclu.
sion seems to have taken full possession OF
{ some of the religious societies of England, and
: some secular and religious editors OIL this side
) the water have not been slow to propagate the
delusion here That it is delusion is evident,
not only from The basphemouS pretensions of
the leader of the revolution, hut also from the
! testimony of missionaries, and particularly Of
the Rev. Mr.. Shuck, who, from long resi-
. dence among the Chinese, is famarly acquain,
ted with their character, and has personal
knowledge of Of the history of this wonderful
leader. From his account, 1t seems that Ty
Ping, or, as he now styles himself, Teen Tuh,
or Celestial Virtue, many years ago was some
what instructed in the Christian religion by
native preacher, connected with one of the
London societies. Afterwards he was further
instructed by the Rev. Mr. Roberts. of the
] Baptist Missions, and receiving from him the
books necessary to his purpose, he retired into
6sthe in erior, and there constructed his own
system, which is more like Mormonism than
anything else = Like the Mormons, he believes
s in direct revelation from heaven, and profes.
ses to have been three times admitted bodily
iuto the immediate presence Of God! Like
the Mormons, his followers teach and practice
polygainy, believe in succession of prophets
and look to their leader as one of the success
.k sors and brothers of Jesus Christ. So much
for their christianity. 1t is true that they de-
clare war of extermination against idolatry.
that is, at every step of their progress, they de.
stroy the temples, idols, and priests of the old
] dynasty, but whether the idolatry which they
would establish, is not in itself as degrading
1 as that of Buhd, will scarcely admit of serious
question. Solar as it may establish more
Hbera! and tolerant government in lieu of the
Tartar rule, which it seeks to suLvert, there is
much of good every way to be expected and
hoped from it. This is the point of view in
which the revolution is most interesting 1t
will be remembered that the Chinese proper
have been governed by the Tartars from 1912
! to the present time. They were called in by
the Emperor of that time to aid him in sup,
pressing rebellion which was too strong for
him. They suppress. the rebellion, and they
kindly consented to relieve the Emperor of all
s further dread of such matters, by taking the
reins of Empire into their own hands. The
present Emperor is the 7th Of this Tartar dy.
nasty, and, though, for probably century, se
cret societies have existed in China, the object
of which was to subvert the Tartar rule, yet
this rebellion is the first open attempt for that
purpose Thus far it has been successful
{ The rebels have overrun large portion of the
eighteen original provinces of China. They
are in possession of the most important cities,
/ and most of the seacoast the latest news an
Snounces their advance upon Pekin, and the
! flight ofthe Emperor into Tartary. Is this
fight, or a withdrawal for the purpose gath
ering force from the hordes of the Northern
Tartars From this source the rebellion of
S I542 was quelled, and it may again contrib
: ute the needed strength and courage to the EN-
Speror's army. If so, then the work of the reb-
sels is scarcely begun. They have not yet
: touched any of the Northern dependencies of
China; the old provinces which they have
goyerrun, are not secured by armies. for,iica
stions or otherwise, and they have yet to meet
mot the old troops Of the Emperor, which
were as unwarlike as the Chinese themselves,
but an army which he may collect from the
fierce hordes of the North, such as conquered
the country in 1912 The slightest turn IN
3 the side OF success, would then suffice to con.
vince the rebels Of their fatal policy in neglect.
ling to establish line of retreat and defence
All their enthusiasm may not avail them, when
once convinced of their folly in this respect
These are some of the difficulties and dan
gers before them, their very reckless euthusi.
, asm by which they have hitherto conquered,
{ may prove the entire ruin of their Cause
3 But they may succeed. We are inclined to
hope for it. not because they are better Chris
tians than the old Tartars, nor because they
are substituting Mormonism for idolatry, but
rather because their success will efectualIy
open China to the Christian world. Under
the rule Of Ty Ping, Christian merchants and
christian missionaries would be unrestrained
An every part Of the empire.
1t is said, upon good authority, that the
Rev. Mr.. Roberts is now in the camp of the
srebels, by the special invitation of the leader.
1t were to be hoped that his presence and in
sstructions there may improve its morals and
religion. But this can scarcely be supposed
possible, when we consider the pretensions Of
sthe leader, which thus far have been sustained
by the signal fulfllment Of his promises of
success Char. Standard
NJ
every body has listened with sadness to the
L.; nI 1. 4.