The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-06-30
NUMBER Sc.
Progress of the Chinese Rebelion---The Religt-
Gus Element Involved IN IL.

Progress of the Chinese Rebellion---The Religi-
Gus Element Involved IN u.
The London Times referring to the recent pre-
clamation of the rebel chief in China, and the
religious element which itGscloses as operating
in the present rebellion, says:
The Christianity of the document is certainly
nos pure, but it will be that several scrip
tured truths are recited, and that the Old Testa-
ment is appealed to by name. As far, however,
as its mere language professions are concerned.
there are, of course, many disciples ofthe Chris
tian missions in China, competent 70 give as
goo or better accounts Of their belief. The i'm
portance of the document consists in its being
issued, as if with authority, from the head-quar~
tiers of the rebels and IL the Introduction Of such
q subject into the communications of an ipsur-
gent chief with the people of the country. We
learn, too, from independent sources, that GER
tain religious views have undoubtedly been
manifested in the proceedings OF the Insurgents
They have displayed considerable zeal in the
4 publication Of temples, and have been partic-
ularly earnest in destroying images-a rcsolu-
| tion which is hardly traceabe to any political =
! principle, inasmuch as the idol ol-worship OF tho
Chinese is not connected with the re,gning dy-
nasty, but prevailed long before the Tartar in
vasiOn. Whether these measures import merely
a reformation of the national religion, or whether
they really bespeak design OF substituting
purer faith for the creed of the Chinese, we can
not say AL we sec is, that successful pro
tender to the imperial throne Of China, has actu-
ally addressed an appear 10 lnS OnlDeSe, n mo
name or true religion, and has called upon them.
in proclamation reciting certain leading truths
OF Christianity, to reject corrupt spirits ana
worship the True Spirits" How Ear the revol.
ution possessed these characteristics at its OUT
set, or acquire them IN its course we can only
conjecture: but as we have before remarked,
we are disposed to think that the most inpor.
tant features are accessions Of later date.
The Times then refers TO the reported inter-
vention OF the British and American naval
forces.
Questionable as was our late quarrel with CHI
ns, our friends IS not less so. But IL what 10
reported be true, and the so called rebels are
men Of more enlightened politics, and with even
an inkling Of revealed truth, certainly seem
TO be acting very suicidal part in taking arms
against people whose crime is that they arc
doing the very thing we have wished to See these
many years-breaking up the Old empire ofChi-
, NJ. The most probable explanation Of the at.
fair is. that each OF the three commanders has
interfereG TO prevent Ins Others frOIa doing -
before him. and so carrying of the benefits OF
the measure. It is very conceivable that tho
. French the Americans might not be so liberal
as We were IN dividing with the whole world the
concessions extorted by arms after the opi-
um quarrel The French have frequently be-
trayed hankering after another India of their
own in the East since the were deprived Of the
) first. and they are not apt as wer are to WACO
! war 8 for the good of mankind. The Americans
also are far more ready to annex than TO open,
and il is rather a suspicious circumstance that
, just now, when their very clever missionaries
/ have gwen them more intelligence Of the nature
/ and progress OF the rebellion than our repre3en-
, tatives and merchants were ever likely 20 DO,
they have il those waters the largest aruament
ever seen IN the East, under their flag What
if the army. apparently intended for the ct.as-
tisement Of Japan and the opening OF Jeddo,
should really have another and safer deStina-
tion, viz to hold the balance of Chinese parties,
and to slip IN at the right moment and grasp
, the prize That such ideas might present
themselves 10 individuals of these two natious !.
: likely enough-nay, it is conceivable that th5ss
projects may have dazzled the eyes of sous
, statesman at either Paris or Washington. Still
: more likely is it that the suspicion OF such de-
D signs may have quickened the movements Of our
, own naval representative For our own part
however. cannot see much danger CT either
3 France or America ever gaining peculiar as
} tendency in Chinese politics, ultimately doing
v there what we have done in India. The posses
: sion of an India would break up the Federal
q Union as surely and as Immediately as the coz.
o quest of Europe destroyed the old constitutio,
e of Rome. On the other hand, France has proved
q abundantly that her genius is not adapted fcl
! foreign dominion. She is too imperious, 20,
ostentatous, too exacting. and too bigoted q
: govern barbarians at the distance OF the world
4 process which, above all others, requires The
n gentlest possible touch on the reigns Of power
. Strange to say, the genius of England, reputet
. so rude and so blunt, is the only one that ha
s the delicacy the subtlety, and the tact for thi
n difficult achievement