The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-14
The Chinese Revolution-The Religious Ele-

every scrap of intelligence makes quite per-
ceptible addition to our stock Of information
The narrative of the Rev. Mr. Bittinger, Chap
lain of the United States steamer Susquehanua,
which was published in the HERALD Of Mon
day, may be regarded as a useful and welcome
contribution to the fund. At all events on
the most interesting OF Chinese TOPICS the re-
ligious character of the revolution, it gives us
the candid opinions Of o man who has had fair
opportunities Of Judging, and with whom ap-
parently, desire to be truthful has done much
to neutralise sectarian bias. Mr. Bittinger be-
leves that the insurgents are bona fide Chris
tians. Allowing that many absurdties have
sprung up side by side with the new Christian
doctrines, and that in many instances the fol-
lowers of Tae- ping- wang seem only to have
exchanged their original creed for another
equally senseless he still asserts that the rebels
are, as rule, anti-idolaters, and possessed Of
many if not of the most fundamental doctrines
Of Christianity. In support Of this view Mr.. Bit
finger enumerates many facts evidencing the
belief of the Chinese revolutionaries: Their pos
session of the Ten Commandments; observance Of
the Sabbath; iconoclastic tendencies; reverence
for the Bible.
In this view, it will be borne in mind Mr.. Bit
finger stands in opposition to the Jesuit autho-
rites, and some other travellers. Mr.. Hue,
undoubtedly the ablest of modern writer's on
China, totally discredits the notion that the
insurgents are Christians, and treats it in the
light of Protestant fable. Other reports from
the Jesuit missions which have reached the
light through various channels, are equally
explicit in denying the conversion Of Tae-ping-
wang or any of his crew. 1t is right to add,
toe, that the printed narratives of several
foreigners chiefly Englishmen--who have
visited China since the revolution broke out
have rather tended to confirm this Jesuit view
than to belle it.
The evidence before US therefore is Of two
kinds that Of the missionaries and the agents
Of the Bible and other Protestant societies,
which unanimously goes to show that the in
, surgepts are Christians and Protestants; and
that of the Jesuit rivals of the missionaries,
who cannot he brought to admit that the Pro-
testants have achieved in few years victory
for which the Catholics have been unsuccess-
fully contending for three centuries. We have
self complacent exaggeration to guard against
on the one side; evilspeaking jealousy on the
other. A correct judgment can only be formed
by allowing for these influences.
Nothing in history is more difficult to trace
than the progress of o religious opinion among
the masses. The seed is often sown, aud lett
Nothing comes of it for years and years, till
men forget the sower. At last when people
are expecting something very different,
up spring the ear and the blade, and
shortly after a strong hearty crop Every
mans memory will suggest to him such periods
in the history Of Christianity and Mahometau-
i'm. 1t looks very much as if a similar thing
were taking place in China at present. For
three centuries the Jesuits have been working
silently but perseveringly in the heart of
China. Men of unfaltering courage, aud sub
lime skill, who have always been ready to die
for their mission, and consider they have done
their duty if they have reclaimed the morals
of few families, they are to be found in al
most every parish every town and viii
lage in China. Sometimes the churches have
been well attended, sometimes i'll sometimes
the clergymen have been successful sometimes
discouraged and disheartened. At times the
Emperors have taken them under their protec-
ton and secured them not only safety but
honor at others, some intriguing Mandarin
has obtained decree of persecution against
them and they have been driven to hide them
selves in disguise. But never, during the whole
Of these three hundred years, have the mission
aries wavered or given up their design of
Christianizing China nor, during the same Pc
Rod, has there ever appeared any good reason
for believing that they would ever succeed
For about like period, and under circum-
stances by no means dissimlar, the first found
ers of Christianity labored. From the period
Of the cruciaxion Of Our Saviour to the aces.
sion of Constantine, Christianity made no pro-
gress worth mentioning. II smouldered in
caves, and forests, and catacombs: made con-
veIts here and lost them there; now advanced,
now declined; opened its arms to the vile
GnOstics, and did not disdain the leadership of
mad Origen; mixed up all sorts Of absur-
dities with the Biblical doctrines; was little
thought Of and then only as a topic for sheer.
All at once, the Emperor becoming a Christian,
the courtiers and the army and the people fol-
lowed the example in astonsbingly quick time,
and the new religion had conquered. Not from
worship of Constantine but because the Chris
tian seed had been imperceptibly sown in the
bed of society by the faithful workers, and
now at the fret sunshower Of favor-it sprung
up.
How similar the movement in China! These
Triads, who have always been known as thieves
and murderers, all at once to turn oat good
Christians and worshipping God, and fearing
thnn n 40 % Nxyl
scores but by thousands and millions! Strange