Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-31
Religion Of the Chinese Rebels.

An interesting article on this subject appears in
the London Quarterly Review. The writer refers 10
the remark OF DIR. GurzLArr at the Gloss uf one OF
his works written several years ago. that if Chrstani-
ty should any time gain cffectua entrance into
China, it would probably be accompanied by revo-
luton but contends that although this revolution has
arisen and gone hand in hand with certain profess
sion Of Christianity among the insurgents, it would
be wholly erroneous to suppose that the civil war
owed its origin to the diffusion Of Christian sentiments
The rebellion is pronounced purely political in its
first objects-arsing from deeply seated and long
cherished antipathy among the old Chinese inhabi-
tants of the South to the Tartar invaders of the
North. 1t broke out first in the month of August,
1850, and grew up out Of dissatisfaction with the
trash, sensual and narrow minded" course OF the
young Emperor who assembled the throne after the
death of his father the Goth Of February, 1850
The circumstance of n certain christian profession
having mixed itself with the outbreak is considered
purely accidental and the religious element simply
auxiliary to the POLITICAL although undoubtedly 1t has
tended very largely to nuse vgor and fanatcism into
the Instruction and invest it with peculiar inter.
ests and importance. Hgngsieetsiem, the leader OF
the Instruction, is thus described:
"This leader of the instruction apparently Of OBJ
scure origin A native Of Qudnq ST. on his examination
for literary merit Canton, about 1885, he received, IL
appears from the hands Of Chinese convert named lie
angA who has for many years figured in the Reports OF
the London Missionary Society, certain tract, called
"Good Works to Admonish the Age" The contents
made strong impression on his mind Travelling from
place place in his native province he composed book
Of poetry and las is relaed) urged his
cept the truth with which he had become acquainted
Some time AFTER about 1874, be went to Canton and
badly that occasion he became acquainted with Mr..
Roberts, and for months inmate in his house.
Since that period he unhead of till he reaPpeared in
1850 the head Of great rebellion the regenerato
and beator Of hs country and for long time was inves
ted with mysterious grandeur which, as ovetawed his
countrymen, astonished and perplexed foreigners.
However, there is to suspect the sincerity OF
the He is to all appearance afanac-he must be
possessed =;th great and dominant idea. and
suppose is of ordinary stamp. Nothing that cai
learn Of him supports the notion OF his being po
tical adventurer mpostOr Of his aeled desire to
keep up affected mystery. His readiness to communi
with Mr. Roberts and the perfect freedom with which
his followers speak of him in his camp, tell the other
In of his writings, called the Book of Celestial De
crees, he earnestly disclams certain titles OF honour
ally conferred their Emperor by the Chinese, the
ground that they belong only to God; which gives i'm
preston of good faith and simplicity, and of exaggera
ted pretensons begun in fraud aud kept up by cunning
We read some time ago an article in the London
Lmts, winch endeavored to show the prctensior
OF the Chinese rebels to anything like an orthodox
religious reformation was not to be credited, on til,
ground that they still held to the worship of idols
that they entertained supersttous notions of visions
ty; and permitted bgamy among their followers
The latter charge is dsbelieved by the writer in the
heoieo and for the rest the apology is made that to
suppose that semi-cvilized and partially enghten
ed state of mind, the Chinese or any pagans are al
once to welcome pure unmixe truth and shed their
errors as serpent does its skim or to conclude that
because many old heathenish decisions and corrup.
TOPS exhibit themselves, therefore there is no SINGER
" in ftnirt,r
perfectly presented to their mind, is to run counter
10 all reasonable probability and to all experience OF
human nature under similar conditions. Their cas-,
is stated to be simply this That they are
semi-6arbarous people newly protesting a Ger.
tam number Of Christian doctrines and the main
principles OF Christian morality, but that We
md still lingering among them some old hea
thenish iolles and tricks, which, however, pro-
lane they may appear to us may not so appear to
them; aud that it is only accordant with nature tia
the partial truth should be sincerely embraced and
co-exist Tor time with long established errors III
PROOF oil Tie Importance OF their professions instances
are citcd such as the absence of jealousy and con-
tempt Tor foreigners or of any prejudice against for
cgn religon-the spirit and language of the Bible
that pervades their credible institution and obser
vance of the sabbath together with several other STU
king illustrations
Or ultimate issue of the rebellion the writer thus
speaks
with the very limited information we possess the con-
cusons that have been formed the ultimate issue of the
rooomon appear over sangune and basty. Even apart
from the tumor of Eruption of Mongul Tartars who
probably turn back the tide Of conquest It is far
from impossible that the insurgents may yet receive
snd OF the disposition Of the people at large 70
wards the new creed know absolutely nothing All
unay experience Is against their throwing up their an
sens suPestltons at the bidding OF an army who
G handful OF the vast population, aud il the rebels
compromise their creed to consolidate the throne"
THEPREsIDENT's POSITION
we roerred, in short paragraph Yestnrdnu 10