Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-06-17

country has carried on quite an extensive
trade with her people, either directly or
Indirectly. We have exported from their
country silks and nankeens to the amount
of millions of dollars annually. The ex-
ports of tea alone to this country and
great Britain amounts to the round sum of
IS million pounds annually, camphor cin-
namon and rice are elso exported in large
quantities. The imports from the Uuited
States consists almost exclusively of
mcdcianal herb called ginseng, which the
natives pronounce universal cure ALL
The English have inundated their country
with an odious poison denominated opium,
which by the -way, is now prohibited by
their (the Chinese) laws Notwithstanding
their long continued non intercourse with
the nations of the world, many of their mon
ufactories are carried to almost perfection.
The China ware and ornamented Ivory and
pearl works are their principal manufac-
lures, ard in them ali they excel. They are
distinguished for their industry and skill.
They have constructed internal improve
mcnts which for magnificent conception and
national imp rtancc was never surpassed
by any country ancient or modern. The
great wall is stipend Gus work which will
stand uncrumbled and mistaken when the
English language shall be universally spo-
ken by the enlightened inhabitants that
shall! one day be encompassed by that same
huge fortress. This wall is 1900 miles in
length and "a feet in height, and was erect
ed more than 1000 years ago. Another
gigantic structure is the Grand Canal,
which will stand as monument to the in
dustry and enterprise of barbarism. This
canal is 100 miles in length and upwards Of
800 feet in width, and for miles its depth
exceeds GO feet.
He may call the PEG pie barbarious and
in one sense of the word the epithet is ap-
propriate, still there we find learning coun
tenanced and encouraged. They have not
reached very high point in the arts and
sciences and indeed it would be unnatural
had they done so. Despots never encour-
age such vain notions, and non-intercourse
with other nations would almost forbid so
progressive step. This together with the
language they use is sufficient detriments
to their reaching very high state Of men,
tai discipline. Not adopting the improve
ments that have been mado by other coun-
tries during the last three thousand years,
they therefore retain the same language
which was perhaps universally spoken
Their language if it can be called such is
hieroglrphic, using written characters and
every single character expressing an idea.
The number of these characters must there
for be immense. Men that have made the
Chinese language their study for many
years inform MS that these characters number
upwards of eighty thousand. Thus ma
tive to become acquainted even with his
own tongue must occupy his whole life
time, which will as matter Of necessity
retard thor progress in every kind of sci
once.
We applied to them the term barbarous
We have seen that they are intelligent, in
dustrious and enterprising, but notwith-
standing all tina. they treat their females
more barbarious than the most heathenish
people on earth. The world being the judge
Of their rank, from this circumstance alone
place them below the least civilized Chris.
tam community on the globe.
A certain species Of religion is protested
by the major portion of the people. The
spirit of their great philosopher Ccnfu.
cius is worshipped by oil the learned men.
There are some Roman Catholics and Ma
homedons. Their government is despotic
in the strongest sense of the term and
there is certain ceremony annually per-
formed when the Emperor appears in public
which for magnificent pagentry and splendor
wasneyer equalled. Their Emperor is or
shipped as an idol and by. the natives he has
received the appellation Of God, and all ma
tions have learned to know him as the Son
of Heaven. He lives in luxury and wealth
and generally uses his mighty power with
considerable mildness. The condition of
this most singular people was brought NOR e
u
directly before this country by the late dis
covery of vast quantities Of gold in Cali
fornia- The golden stories, after astonish-
ing our own country and Europe even PEN
etrated the wilds of Asia, and the inhabit-
ants of China lured on by the bright visions
of wealth hocked intot EewEldorado with
other people from all parts of the civilized
world. The industry and enterprise of the
Chinese astonished the Americans and the
Chinese in turn admired the wonderful i'm
provements of the nineteenth century,
They returned to their native country and
carried with them certain Anglo Saxon
customs and habits which cannot be cher
ished and sustained to a very great degree
in sucha government as theirs. We see the
consequence. The discovery of the Gold of
Observation-Disclosures evil it may have done has
caused n China revolution which must effect
the whole world An insurgcnt army has al
ready trayersed over one half their entire ter
ritory and left no unconquored spot behind.
The reigning dynasty is put at defiance, and
the commanding General is confident Of
unparalleled success. Whole cities and
towns are fast falling into his ranks, and the
rebel army already numbers host so pow
erful that the Emperor'S soldiery dare
not resist. They have only to march on,