The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-17
xhe Chin csc HevolassOn-M MFR. McLane' :
VOYAGE 10 Rankin

Indians had created great alarm.
xhe Chin csc hevolossOn-MY McLaAe'
Voyage Rankin.
The Importance Of Mr.. McLanes vacant
journey to Nankin and the discoveries Ia which
it led. will probably Justify U, % evotiny TO
the sub ect the large portion of our snacs which
will be ionod occupied with new from China
The bare fact that the United States steamer
SusqurhaDna has ascepded the great river
Yangize-Kiang as far "a the c,tv Of
Wuhu, many miles high n tban a fereiun
ship of war ever pene'rS ed before. i alone a
phenomenon. deserving O. special record and
attention. The voyag was undertaken, as ID
known, in order to . liable orr represensa tive
to form correct " Union Of the urasr.ss and
aims OF tne insu'gs nts, "a also OF tho prospects
oil concluding wa h them more advantageous
commercial res ties Than those at present ia
force.
IL was Wild the greatest diScalty that we
IN concert it'll other nations obtained from
the Mshch0 rulers of China, y few years ago,
PERMISSION to carry on an uarnolested trade az
n'e seep IRIS on the coast OF China. Three OF
these yc have since proved comparatively
ValneF SO, from the unsuitableness of their stu.
ane's and the want Of fertile back country TO
feed them with merchandise. The other two.
thu Ugh thriving through our enterprise, are
utS efly inadequate for the purposes Of an OK.
teJ ded trade: and the extraordinary adyau-
t. gee presented by the Yangtze-K iang, the Mis-
'sisippi Of China, naturally pointed it out as
TIE direction in which our efforts for an ex-
\ tension of our privileges should be pushed.
Years ago, it was obvious TO every one
| who was familiar with the Subject
that benefits incalculable both to US and to the
Chinese would flow from the opening Of this
magnificent stream to our vessels. 1t was plain
| as MONDAY that, could we obtain permission to
navigate the Iangtze- Kiang es far Us Nanhin
or Wuhu, our citizens would not only reap an
abundant harvest from introducing into that
region the superior appliances Of our machinery,
aud thereby facilitating the production OF sta
| pies, and internal communication, but would
soon establish trade between San Francisco.
! New York aud The interior OF China, which
| would soon exceed that Of the Atlantic
| Ocean. 1t Is to be presumed that Mr. McLane
| was pcremptorily directed to use all his eudss
vors 10 gain this object. 1t is impossible to cay
Il
Manchu dynasty, nor is it Of much moment to
inquire, for shortly after his arrival the real
power il not the crown Of Emperor fell into the
hands Of The leaders OF the Insurgents The first
| intercourse Of our representatives with the
rebels led to no result No diroct proposals
were made on ,ur side; and no offers on th sirs
to which any serious Importance could be at
tached. In point Of feet, the grossest ignorance
prevailed both among our citizens in China
and the government at home with respect to
the character and objects Of the rebels. As OPP
ponents Of tyrannical and barbarous govern
ment, they gained little popular sympathy:
ms reputed Christians, they obtained some ia
vorable regard from the missionaries and their
friends. But Of their true nature and business,
the whole civilized world has been, and to
Ger tain extent is still profoundly ignorant.
| 1t was to clear away the mist which yelled
them that the Susquehanna, with Mr.. McLanc
on board, went to Nankin. There. 1t appears
| from our accounts, some closer intercourse was
held with the rebel CHIEFS and the Inclusion
| to which our minister came, after careful re-
view of the whole, was such as to prevent his
even preaching the subject Of his demands.
The rebel chiefs were seemingly Christians, it
is true; but their followers had no notion of
Christianity. They mingled the doctrines 81
the Bible with the absurd fables Of their own
mythology; while they acknowledged Jesus
| Christ to be one Son OF God, they claimed that
Tapping Wang was another. The fundamental
principle OF their creed appeared to be notion
that this latter impestor was destined to SUBJ
| due the world and achieve universal monarchy.
This destiny had been foretold, they said, from
heaven; and with the prophecy, a sword had
descended from on high to enable Tapping
Wang TO accomplish his ambitious designs The
barbarity and folly of their actions equalled the
absurdity end blasphemy of their words. Their
| whole progress had been q series Of savage
| cruelties, and ruthless acts Of destruction The
noblest architectural works Of the empire had
fallen before them. Whole villages had been
| STEPPED in bloed. So Far from iberalising the
( system OF government, the rule of Tae-ping
Wang was more barbarous and superstitious
than that of b's predecessor His closcst at
tcDdants assured the ENJOYS that they had
never seen his golden face" though az they
Irofanely added, the sight Of Christ had been
souchsafed to them. A dcspotism of the most
ssTolting character was the government be
proposed 10 establish
This mnch aseertaincd respecting the rebels
eud their leader, our minister 10 China seems
to have concluded, reasonably enough, that the
prospect Of his obtaining irGm them better
terms than from the old dynasty was too |
slender to warrant his taking any immediate |!
steps toward the accomplishment Of his mission.
With ignorance, fanaticism, and brute conceit |
10 contend against ON both Sides Mr.. McLane