The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-12-14
Sf[iseelLaueons.
'Ehe Empire of China.

The Chinese empire 10 one Of the. mystic
ries Of the earth, and every thing known re.
specting it cannot fail to be interesting. In
its physical aspect it presents to our contem'
plation q vast area OF seven millions of
square miles, being somewhat less than
tenth part of the inhabitabIe globe, govern
ed by one man, of fore ign race, and contain.
ing dense population, with peculiar civil
lization, yet carefully secluded from all
other nations, onG by their peculiar language
and literature, their physical characteristics,
and national customs, distinguished from
every other race. II is not surprising that o
people thus circumstanced should be an OBJ.
ject OF intense curiosity, or that the mystery
which hangs over them and their country
should have led to un exaggerated idea Of
Their antiquity and attainments.
In the thirteenth ceLtury Marco Polo per-
etra,ed to CaIkay from Turkenstan, but in
the fifteenth, China still remaiued unknown
to Europeans, the accounts of the early
travellers being regarded with suspicion -
II was !rcm the Portuguese naviga,ors who
succeeded Vusco de Cana, aud who reached
that country across the Indian sens that Eu.
rope first received any certain informstinn o.
the situssion, extent, and resources OF China.
Since then our knowledge hss been largely
increased, but It's proportions are scanty,
owing to the Chinese jealousy and hatred Of
foreigners. The Portuguese managed eoLy
10 get eetled in the island of Macao; but il
w0s long atterward beio Eng land obtained
permission 10 build factory at Canton.-
English diplomacy in that distnnt region
seems to have been q miserable failure -
The first attempt TO open an Omicable inter-
course WIS made BY Lord Mccartney, and
failed, although gracious audience was
vonchsaled.
Lord Amherst was the next cmbassodor,
and returned as he went; and really all our
information of the state OF China in the in
terror has been obtained from the works Of
Christian missionaries. 1t is essentially an
agricultural country, although its commerce
is considerable; but at present the character
of the people invites more attention. Matte
Brun describes 1t is a nation of suhjugaled
and we'll disciplined barbariuns. A. most
absolute despOtism hes either acquired. or
preserved for China, the forms of patriarchal
government; but since the country fell un.
der the yoke of the Mantchoos the whip Of
the Tartar has been enjoined with the pater
nal rod by which China was previously gov
erned. The Emperor is styled the Sacred
Sun of Heaven, sole ruler of the earth, the
father OF his people. Offerings are made to
his image and his throne; his person is ador-
ed; his people PROSTATE themselves in his
presence; the noblemen OF his court, when
addressed by him, and receiving his orders,
must bend the knee. When this demi.god
goes abroad all the Chinese take care to
shut themselves up in their houses. Who
ever is found in his way is exposed to instant
, death, unless be turns his back or lies fiat
with his face 10 the ground. All the shops
by which the emperor 10 TO pass must be
shut; and this prince never goes out without
being preceded by two thousand lictors, car.
rying chains, axes, and various other instru-
ments, characteristic OF Eastern despotism.
The power Of the mandarin is fully as abso.
Lutte ss that of the sovereign, from whom he
derives his authority. An officer OF this
description, on entering city, can order any
person whom he chooses to be arrested, and
TO die under his hand, aud no one can ven
lure TO undertake his defence. He is Irece'
ded by q hundred executoners, who, with d
sort OF yell, announce his approach. The
mandarin himself, however, is at the mercy
Of the emperor. For the slightest provoca
ton the emperor will order the bastinado.--
In abort, all the notions Of Chin ese iron
his infancy are directed TO single point
obedience. The sacred nature of ,socia
rank is perpetually impressed on his min'
by inhumerable ceremonies. Atevery steI
he makes bow; every phrase that he utter
must be q compliment; not word can n
address to superior without calling to min
his own utter insignifcance. In word, tn
Chinese are the most cringiug. abject an
.servile people in the world; and when it il
borne in mind that their religion is gros
ma,erialism, can il be wondered thst they
are base, brutal and barbarous, prone to Iy
ing and deception, indifferent to human life
and utterly ferociou in their hatred Of slrAn
sers r. Ballog's Pictorial, ..'7