The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-05-26


Progress. some time past we have
been regaled at intervals, with confused and
unsatisfactory accounts Of a rebellion n
China, but what il was all about we venture
to say but few Of US "outside barbarians"
knew little or nothing at all-thpugh we
heard OF rebel armies Of 10000 strong; OF
captures of cities; of defeats and hanging of
leaders, &c. However, when news come 10
us that the great city Of Nankin, with a
population of some four hundred thousand
souls, has been reduced TO subjection by the
insurgents, and that Canton, even, the great
est commercial emporium Of Asia, with
something like million Of Inhabitants, is
in danger ofialling into their hands, it Is a
matter of Importance to look into the history
of the war and its details. An article in the
London Times gives US about the most in
telligible idea Of the CeiestiAl Revolution.
from its inception down to its newest aud
most important phase, that has yet met our
eye.
From this it would seem that the over
throw of an Empire may be the result ere
long, disturbing the interested commercial
relations of England and the United States
Herewith. We have heavy and growing
trade with China, both directly to New
York and California, which the contiguity
of the latter to that Empire must rapidly in
crease as we'll as produce other effects in
our relations and intercourse with that pco.
pie in the future. The political design of
the rebellion is involved in obscurity. The
dethronement Of the reigning Emperor, how
ever, is now the avowed object. He be-
longs to the Mantchoo Tartan dynasty,
which subdued the Chinese two hundred
years ago, aud has held the throne ever
since. Some prctender-who, or what he
is, does not appear-is among the insur-
gents, and he is to be made king, not EN-.
peror, in case Of success.
The revolution has been Of several years
growth, and the London Times, in its histo.
ry of it, says: .-...r
The rebel army advsnced by slow de-
grees and with incessant fighting from the
southern provinces, steadily gaining ground
and augrnenting their own forces not only
by the volunteers naturally attracted to a
successful cause, but by compulsory Ievies
from the districts through which they passed
In November last they had got to Woo
chang the capital town of the central pro-
vinceS, standing on the great river Yangtsee,
the Tagus OF China; from which important
position they could descend upon Nankin,
distant by the river some sou miles. AT
this time their army was computed to ex-
ceed 10000 men. and it was thought that
the Emperor could not array against them
anything like an equal force. Our reports,
indeed, informed US at that time the utmost
CONSERVATION was prevailing at all the
towns between Woo-chang and the capital,
nor will the reader, Notwithstanding the
alex OF intermediate details, find any dill
Guilty in now comprehending the despatch TO
the effect that "Nankin had fallen into the
hhnds OF the rebels ON the K tn of February
The remark appended to this announce
ment, that nothing but European interven-
ton could maintain "the Emperor OH his
throne," is curiously characteristic Of our
reputation in the East. 1t is hard, however,
to say with what pretext or even motive
such an Intervention could be exercised
The mere substitution at Pekin of dynasty
which nobody comprehends for another
which nobody understood, could not be like.
y to exert any material influence on Euro
pean transactions. As far as we can dis
S1rn, the rebellion appears, if not to have
originated, at any rate to have proceeded on
the assumption, that the whole country was
misgoverned, overtaxed and generally op-
pressed.
The declarations of Tien-tek and his
supporters have uniformly promised fairer
system OF imposts, and better administra-
tlon OF justice, as the consequence Of their
success, and it seems that deep dissatisiac-
tion was generally felt al the existing state
OF affairs. With domestic revolution thus
created it could certainly not be the interest
of any foreign power to interfere, for, ex-
ceptlng on the opium question, il is alto
gether improbable that any change of dy-
nasty at Nankin could affect the commercial
relations between British and Chinese. Tbs
reasons for dsquietude on our part would be
found, five are not mistaken, rather in the
non-completion than the completion of the
revolution described"
Thus it will be seen that the Times, as
yet, appear not to favor, particularly, Eur
pean Intervention, but further remarks, sig
niicantly enough:
at must be remembered that the recent
extension ofthe disturbance to some OF the
chief tea districts may produce consequence
es which were escaped while the contest
was confined to the more southern or CEN
tral parts Of the empire"
The Friend Of China, however, urges that
it is for the interest Of European powers to
come to the rescue Of the Emperor. 1t is
urged that were the present dynasty subvert-
ed, and state Of anarchy ensue, the preser-
vation of quiet on her frontier would afford
Russi a plausible grounds for interference
if not for annexation. Forty thousand Rus
sian troops could probably hold China Prop
er more easily than the same number OF Eng
lish hold Hindostan.
The latest advices from China to the 22d
of March show, however, that the fall oI
Nankin, with the rebels within few march.
es Of Shanghai, threatening it with their
$4,000 men, had aroused the young Emperor
to energetic endcavers to meet the emer.
gency. He had issued an edct, calling up.
on the people 10 unite in his behalf, and de-
failing the military defensive operations to
be pursued; and he has levied a tax on OPT
um, to replenish the treasury and promised
favors and rewards to those who should aid
him with money to supply the sinews oI
war. He admits that, during the three years