The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-11
Russia In China asS the Tae-Ptpg
Rebels.

Rebels.
! We published yesterday, with our cor
resrondence from China and Japan, .
copy OF the treaty concluded at Pekiu
on the 18th Of November last, between
Russia and China, and which was ratified
at St. Petersburg on the lst of January
1t Is interesting to compare the policy Of
one nation with that Of another, and to note
the various means which are used to promote
! the one end Of national ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ter
ritafially or commercially. While England
and France have been expanding many mil
lions Of money in pushing, at the point Of the
sword and the caanou's mouth, whist they con.
sidered their rights, Russia has been quietly
and inexpensively secuving far more real sd-
van.ages than the AIhes.
The ambition of the Car is directed 10 the
acquisition of 5erritory; thss of the other
Powers b to exterd the empire 81 commerce. in
the East by opening the ports Of China to Bri.
tish and French ships, and 30 obrMning mar
kct for English and French goods. By the pre-
sent treaty Russia has gained an excessive strip
Of territory Menceforth the eastern frontier
between the two empires will commence from
the junction Of the riverc Chilka and Argoun,
and follow the course of the river Amuor to
the junction of the river OuBouri with the LAT
ter-the country to the left, or north, BELONGING
to Russia, and thst to the right, or south, to
China. On the whole frontier line trade il
established, free Of al duty or restrictions
between The two nations, and the local
authorities are bound to give special projections
- the same-aDd all who are engaged in it. A.
large number of minor privileges have been
secured, among which we may mention the
Russian right Of keeping consu} and suite n
Ourga. There is wisdom in the course adopt
cd by the Gar, and we look forward to Rus.
sia exercising an immense influence over the
history of China The mere fact of her having
negotiated treaty so favorable with the pre-.
seas ruler of the Flowery Land will strengthen
his dynasty, by causing Russia to iiscounte-
nance, if not to punish, the Tae-Ping Insurgents,
who are plotting its overthrow. By letter
from one of our correspondents, an Ameri-
can Baptist missionary at Nankin, we have
just been favored with another glimpse of these
rebels, who appear to coRsbine Christianity
with idolatry in manner singularly unique.
They mingle c1riously heavenly and mundane
aiA.irs in whatever they hare to say to foreign
ers, and offer the best inducements in the one
sentence for the consignment of goods and the
conversion of souls. Profit and principle with
them 60 hand in hand, and the amalgamation
reads funny enough sometimes. The letter
which we published few weeks ago from the
same corresp ondent, in which he described an
interview with the chief Of the Tae-Ping army,
and included an address from tia latter to
Lord Elgin, has been extensively copied and.
remarked upon by the English press, The ten
dency of tho British is, as we anticipated, to-
avail themselves Of whatever commercial ad.
vantages The insurgents may Offer them, hut
at the same time to reject all part in their roli
gion which they consider anything but ortho-
dox or sound.
The military rebel chief presented the mis-
sionary with o sum of money, crown of gold,
yellow Grape robe, and satin shoes Of the
same color to which he added an intimation
that the Tae-Ping spiritual Emperor" Teen
Wang, had bestowed upon Linn an oface that
would afford him the privilege of free access
to his palace. He then formally requested him
to kneel down to receive these presents; but
the missionary demuired to this till he Was
finally told, in answer to his questions, that it
was to worship God, when he actually yielded.
He appears TO have treated the foreign disciple
of Christianity rather cavalierly in consequence
of his objection to kneeling to him, and
to have felt quite indignant when
the missionary told him that he preferred de-
clining the appointment rendered 10 him, on
account of the interference with bis religious
opinions and duties to which it might subject
him. The rebel chief seemed to object to the
missionary's proposition for the establishment
of schools by which to disseminate the true
faith, lest the Scriptures should contradict the
religion already prevailing among them He,
however, offered to compromise matters. He
would promote schools and chapels II the mis-
sionary would adopt certain articles Of the
Tae-Ping belief. Perhaps" said he, "nine-
tentbs of your preaching from the Scriptures
would do if you were to mix in one-tenth of
our stuff to please the people, who be-
lieve in the visions of the Eastern and
Western kings" OF course, the missionary
declined to conform to any such arrangement,
and the matter Of schools was left pending.
lie concludes his letter by remarking that "the
harvest is great but the laborers are few" and
urges upor the members of his church at homo
the advantage of sending out more mission
aries. IA to the insurgents, we think that
although their religious beliefs differ widely
from professed Christianity, to which they are
sad to aspire, they may eventually be led into
more clear conception OF its basis, and so 70
adopt its tenets wholly or in part The pre-
disposition they have shown In favor OF TO
reigners, AMI their willingness to open what
ever ports they hold to foreign commerce,
, auours well for the interests Of the Western
Powers in China, and is at the same time q
sa,utarv check upon the. narrow exclusiveness
i bxyt ran