The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-11-07
rnE INsuRGENr LEApER, OF cHINA.

From an able article in the last number
of Hunts Merchants Magazine, FROM the
pen Of Edward Cunningham, Esq, mem
Der of the celebrated hnuse of Russell a. Co.,
OF Canton aud Shanghai gentleman who
has been ten years in China, is condensed
The following:
With respect TO the character Of the rebel.
lion and its lamous leader, Tae-ping. wang,
Mr.. Cunningham holds opinions directly ad-
verse to those which have prevailed in many
quarters ON this side Of the world. A- the
movement progressed, and the tenets oi the
supposed relurmers were developed, il be-
came apparent toesery observer who looked
beneath the surface OF things, that the use Of
the Christian Bible by Tae- ping wang, was
precisely the use already made 0l the Jewish
Bible thirteen centuries before, by Mahomet
in Arabia. Every new dynasty IN China has
been started with the PRONUNCIATION OF an at
tachment TO pure morals, love for the peo-
pie, and obedience To the preccpts of the
sages. Tae-ping- wang, wishing TO add TO
these suurces OF influence, connected him
self directly with the heavenly powers, and
as result Of this immediate connection and
communication, produced portions 81 book
which he found already written TO his hand,
most admirably calculated, from It's Orien-
tai imagery, for effect on Eastern minds. aud
miugling with them his own rhapsOdics and
cdiets, imposed them on his followers as cma
nations from Heaven, 10 be added 10 the clas-
sizes Of the sagrs, and to be forever installed
among the lights II the Chinese mind. When
Tie Sas1uchanna was at Marking, the chief
distinctly tnld thr Americans that their new
religion did not come from foreign nations,
but was wholly derived from their OWn an
cicnt philosophy aud the revelations pi God
10 Tae. ping wang. and on this punt thcs
have been consistent in all their statements
to lurcigncrs-whether English, Ffcnch, or
American. There il nothing whatever ~
the doctrine they profess, or The mode Of life
they practice, which approache. Christianity
nearer than the ubscryanccs u Mahnmeiin
ism, or that is more, or even 50 much in ac.
cnaIancc with the tcnets and requirements
of pure religion, as tile precepts inculca.
ted by Coulucius. The must intelligent Ens
slis', aud American missionaries 10 China,
have abandoned their belief. where enter.
tanned, in the sincerity Of Tae- ping wang.
III Il unw regarded as selfish and blasphe.
muus ad,enturcr, intent only upon his own
ends, and using the Christian faith, as Ear
d Ii does use il. only a. tool IN Tie con.
structinn Of his empire.
MIR. when closely examined is there more
10 attract our respect in thc policy aud mile
iary measures ur The leader. His policy Is
but a repetition Of thai which has prevailed
in China for ages, a simple desputism, rcn.
dcred, however. more severe than was known
before in the country by his pretcusinns u
especial authority lrnm heaven. aud the con.
sequeut rigOr with which his DEGREES are en-.
forced. on Tie pain u instant death. The
government ol China, hrhertn, a. we'll un.
der the Tartars as under their native sOycr-
cigns. has been remarkable ii it, drspOtisn,
Tor il attention to the wishes anl interests
ii the people, aud undoubtedly this singulaI
feature. lor an Asiaiic government, Is the
living spring which has preserved It's unity
aud stabiit, for - many ages. Tar. r.ping.
wang's cdrts, while they occasionally pto.
less care Tor the interests ol the governed
are principally to establish his own undisru.
ted authority aud supremacy.
4 Ii is a fundamental principle Of his doc.
time that Ne Is supreme upon the earth.---
rpen that foundation the superstruvtafe i
reared, and the lanatical temper aud oycf.