Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-08
Tic Chinsse Revolution.

IL IS net Improbable That the most Important e.
vents of the age are now in progress, or have re-
Gently taken place, in the great Chinese Empire.
Late accounts represent that the rebels of whom we
have heard from time to tine for several years past,
were eyerywherc successful, and in the act of cap
turing Marking, the largest city in the country
Should they carry this point, the conquest of the
whole Empire, it is tho't, ilspoodily be effected
The consequence Of such revolution may be most
beneficial to to the world, and particularly to the
people of China. That donsely populated and Sc
Guided Empire may be brought into the family Of
nations. and fully opened to tho entrance Of The
Christian religion whose influences arc 50 benign
in our own happy land. When China once es-
tablishes free intercourse with the rest of the
world and permits christian missionaries to teach
throughout her borders. the effects OF the great
commercial and moral revolution will everywhere
be experienced. The vast regions Of Iartary and
Thibet, and other "darl places" Of Asia, IN some
degree dependant upon China. wilt then soon be
'annexed" to civilization and ohtsteRdom. anst
the time faretold by prophets and Tong waited for,
when men shall compose one universal brother
hood. will hasten on.
| Too little is knowa. however. OF the object OF
tho revelation and the character OF It's leaders, tor
the results to be confidently predicted. This ~
norance on the part of foreign residents at the prn
cipal seaparts, who are doubtless eager to obtain
information in regard to movement 81 extensive
and important, is remarkable featHre in the case.
When first heard OF the insurgents were supposed
to be mere band Of msrauders, such as are COIN
mon in the country. But they Increased in mum
bers and successfully resisted all the forces sent
against them; and at the last dates bad advanced
| from the extreme southwestern portion the En-
pire, fighting battles and stoyming cities. a dis
lance of fifteen hundred miles to Marking, which
was about to fall into their hands. 1t is evident
now that nothing less than the total sGbyersion o.
the empire has been contemplated. The young
Emperor appears to feel his extremity, and after
appealing in vain to European powers for aid, has
resorted to the usual Chinese methods of conquer
ing an enemy. In an edict of the 29th January
he says. ''Ths is tho time TO extirpato the Reb-
els, and if the Commissioner Su and General Hi
ang- wing were heavily punished, it would only
deliver them out of their difficulties"
$50 those" says Philadelphia paper, ''whc
have any inkling OF the way in which court mat
tiers are conducted at Picking, rendering it always
the last thing probable that the Emperor shoult
know Of what serious matters were going on a
round him. it will be mystery how be could learr
that formidable rebellion was raging, unless i
had become 80 formidable and the courtiers so des
perate as to have forgotten all their former usage
and maxns OF policy" The readers Of NJ. Hue
travels will remember the case Of XII Chan, al
Imperial Priyy Counsellor during the English OPT
uin war, who came near losing his head, but whos
punishment was finally committed to honorary
punishment to the capital Of Thibet, because
he veutured to inform the Emperor that the Chi
nese forces were not nynclblo.
About all that is known of the insurgents is
that many or most of them belong to the ''Triat
Society,"" secret association whose object is Il
expel the Tartar usurper and place Chinese up
on the throne. Some centuries ago, tho Tartars
conquered China, and since then the monarch!
have belonged to that dynasty. Throughout the
progress of the insurgents, moreover, they havi
systematically destroyed heather temples anC
IDOLS and hence it is inferred that the chief or his
followers and advisers have attained some kRowl
edre Of 1.-THE religion of the West"