The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-26
The Chinese RevolutioE-rrospects Of the

| since been recovered.
The Chinese RevolutioE-Frospects of the
| Pacific.
Shanghai has been taken, and at Annoy the
imperial forces have been utterly routed by the
rebels. So says the telegraph; and our previous
intelligence had given US every reason to eX-
pect something Of the kind. We may now safely
take it for granted that the insurgents have
overrun. if not mastered, tire whole of China
south the Yang-tse-Keang. We say overrun,
because, hitherto, it has not been the policy OF
| the rebels to take any measures for retaining
possession Of the places or provinces they have
conquered. They have invested no forts. gar
risoned NO cities; sweeping eyer onward, like
resistless torrent, they have left no traces Of
| their passage save marks Of desolation and
barbarous cruelty Until short while since,
they had confined their movements to the
inland country. Partly, perhaps, from fear
of foreigners, and partly because the interior
presented richer field for plumber, the follow
ers of Tae-ping during the first year Of their
military operations, carefully avoided approach
ing the sea coast. Canton was threatened some
time ago, and extensive preparations fer de-
fence were made both by the inhabitants and
the foreign residents But whether no settled
purpose existed on the part Of the rebels, or
| they allowed themselves to be deferred by the
! firm attitude Of the imperialists, no attack has
yet been made. Annoy offered more easy
| conquest. Though one of the five ports, it is
| by no means Furnishing city Disease has
been steadily thinning its population for some
| years; and the fatal effects Of opium-that
curse Of China-have been more wildly felt
there than in any other seaport town. OF
late years Canton and Shanghae have en-
dyed almost monopoly of the foreign
trade; and siege laid to Annoy involved
less chance Of collision with foreigners
than an attack upon either of the for
mer places We are therefore inclined to
credit the rumor mentioned above. so far as
Annoy is concerned. The news OF the capture
of Shanghae requires confirmation. Both Eng
land and the United States have large interests
at stake there, which could not but be injured
| by siege or bombardment The British and
American vessels lying in the mouth of the
Yeang-tse-Keang could hardly avoid taking
mems lives and property. Had any engage
ment actually taken place. therefore, at or near
the lot Of land set apart for foreigners at
Shanghai, it is probable that we should have
received more definite and authentic informa-
tion of the fact
To whatever measure Of faith the news is en-
titled, il is now certain that three-fourths of
China is at this moment prey to anarchy
The constituted authorities have been over
thrown, and no substitute set up in their stead
by the insurgents. Destroyers and iconoclasts,
| the latter have well nigh obliterated from the
richest provinces of the empire all traces Of the
Tartar sway but they have, in no instance
which has come to our knowledge, replaced it
by any government, authority or institution,
which can have the slightest claim to a perma-
nent character. This policy has characterized
their movements from the beginning, and there
is no reason to believe that the sequel
viii develope any material change. On
the day which shall see the final over
throw Of the Manchus some four hundred
millions Of pcople-about one-half the
whole human race-wll be left without ruler
government, code oflaws, or a single stand
ing monument of authority. The conquerors,
like Alexander's successors, will infallibly fall
to disputiDg their conquests among themselves;
and it is contrary to the whole tenor Of our ex-
perience of Eastern nations to expect that the
struggle will bring to the surface single indi-
yidual with energy, skill and genius enough to
attain the rank and power lately possessed by
the Emperors Of China. On the contrary. every
reason tends to show that the practical result
Of the pending revolution viii be to plunge
China into state Of anarchy almost unparal
leled in the history Of The world
The bare statement Of these facts will at
once suggest to every intelligent mind the vast
changes which must shortly take place in our
intercourse with Asia, and the opportunities
that will be presented for advancing our com.
mercal and industrial interests in that quarter
Of the globe. The first care OF all the contend.
ing parties among the natives, will be to secure
the alliance Of foreigners, and especially that
of Great Britain and the United States II
viii depend upon our representative in China
to grant or withhold the privilege, according
as the consideration offered counterbalances or
falls short of therisk we should run. In the
vlcisstudes Of civil war, occasions must occur
il which judicious mana. On The par. cf
rMLane could secure FOR us, at a very small