Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-02-17
LECTURE ON TIE CHINESE RLvoLU.
TIO3

LECTURE ON TIE CHINESE RLvOLU.
TI0a.
A lecture upon this subject was deliv.
cred by Rev. G. A. Washburn, on We'd.
nesday evening last, at the Smithsonian
Institution, an abstract of which we
give below. By some accident the gas
could not be lighted, and it was feared
that the lecture would have to be post.
poned. By the aid of candles, however,
the forces of darkness were held in
check, and the orator proceeded. By
the time the lecture was half finished
the hosts of darkness were put to flight,
and the house was thoroughly lighted.
The lecture was fine one, equal to that
of the eloquent Fletcher on Brazil.
In commencing, he rapidly ran over
much Of the history of China, showing
that this nation had remained entirely
isolated frorp all intercourse with foreign
Powers till 1915, when they were con.
quered by the Tartars; but they were
soon driven out, and the Ming dynasty
assembled the throne.
But they, in turn, were displaced bv
the Mantchoux, the Eastern I artars, who
have held the throne ever since. Among
the Emperors of that race, several have
been renowned for much energy and sa-
gacity, and one, if their history is true.
was equal to Charlemsgne. On con.
quering the kingdom, the Mantchoux
inflicted upon the people insults that to
this day are looked upon as most igno-
minious; and now, though they have
accustomed themselves to their burden,
they hate the conquerors with all their
former virulence. In fact, the people
have never been subdued thoroughly, and
efforts have often been made to throw off
the yoke that so much gals them. Sc
cret societies have been known to exist
for long time, whose sole object has
been to concert measures against their
rulers; and though many of their chiefs
have been punished, they still Continued
to plot. The whole country has con-
tanned the smouldering sparks of rebel
lion only waiting an opportunity and q
leader, when the mercst breeze would
fan these sparks into fame. Thele leader,
opportunity, and exciting circumstances
has been found, and VIC see the result.
He now described the leader of this
revolution as having been born of poor
parents. When young, he was good
student and as be grew older his dispo-
sition became morbid. At twenty-fou
years old he was afflicted by long sick.
ness, during which time he conceived
that he had received orders to extirpate
certain demons, and in his delirium he
was constantly battling with them. On
recovering, his former madness returned
and continued until until he was thirty
three, when he met with some books left
by an American Missionary. Upon read
ing these he asserted that he had obtained
the key to his visions-the demon he was
commanded to cast out was idolatry, and
the person commanding him Divinity.
Shortly after, he professed christianity,
baptized himself, and commenced preach
ing. Ere long he had gathered around
him a large number Of followers, and
then, like Mahomed, he conceived the
idea of attempting political revolution.
Like MahOmed, he received fresh revela-
ton as to the course he should pursue,
and soon, like him again, was at the
head Of large army. . 200,
The means employed by him to raise
this immense force was his wire working
on the two most powerful elements OF
the character of any people-patriotism
and religious enthusiasm. - 90 o.. ...-
| He asserted that be was the lineal de.
scendant OF the last Of the Ming dynasty;
also that he was the Son of God, sent by
them to deliver China from the Mant-
choux rule. This announcement called
forth all the ardOr in Chinese organism;
the Mings were the last of their own
sovereigns, and they, too, firmly believed
their Emperor the Son Of Heaven and the
brother of the Sun. Thus the cunning
man, while he was preaching new faitk
and overthrowing the idols they had 81
long worshipped, interwove with this
new faith all their prejudices and 'intens,
patriotism. The old iaith--Buddhism-
they care nothing for; it has lost its char
acteristic FEATURES, and has sunk to tn,
lowest butiSonery, and they would glad
ly exchange it for tangible faith tina
they can respect. "a 5st.5, --ff @7'
| The rebellion took its rise in the South
lwestsrn part OF the Empire, where rock