The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-07

Japan.
In any other Eastern country than China the
capture Of the imperial capital, the sack and
destruction Of the imperial palaces and the
flight of the Emperor would have resulted In
the immediate overthrow of his dynasty. Some
rival prince would have stepped in and secured
possession, and the wheels Of government would
have been turned in his favor. But fortunately
for the representative of the Mantchoo-Tartar
dynasty at Pekin, he had only one rival, and ne
Mas too distant and unprepared TO take the
necessary measures for assuming imperial
authority over an China, That man was Tae-
Ping Wang. chief Of the revolutionary party,
and selfstyled King of Nanldn, Of which city
he is complete master. To him, of late, we
have several times had occasion to advert His
romantic history, his extraordinary religious
views, in which idolatry and Christianity are
strangely mingled; his daring exploits and ex-
tensive schemes of future aggrandizement, by
means Of his army Of converts-all excite our
curiosity and interest us in his singular career.
We attach Importance to his acts because he
is the chief instrument which is working the
downfall OF the reigniDg dynasty of China.
Wherever he has gone converts have focked
to his banner, and he now represents power
which successfully defes the strength of the
imperial arms. That he wishes to make his
religion as near Christianity as possible is EVIL
dent from his letter to Lord Elgin, which we
published few weeks ago; and that he does
this to great extent from worldly motives is
I1uN Ia rsohn To fa-
vor with the Western Powers in order that they
may offer no obstacles to his revolutionary
moveme nts, and to this end he Offers the Chris
| tian missionaries every inducement to preach
the Gospel among his people; aAd wherever
discrepancy between the tenets of his own
faith and that of the missionaries is pointed
out, he willingly expresses himself ready to
adopt the foreign view Of the case. This we
may call religion made easy.
The Rev. Mr.. Roberts, an American Protest
ant missionary, and strong advocate Of
the revolutionary cause has been for some
time residing at Nankin, and through him
we have been furnished with occasional
reports of the proceedings at the rebel
camp. In letter dated Nankin, November
6, 1860, he favors us with a translation Of
an epistle addressed to him by the Faithful
King" wherein, after copious expression of
compliments, he congratulates the missionary
on having come to preach heavenly things"
and extensively to exhort the people to reve-
rently worship the Heavenly Father, Shang-ti,
and the Heavenly Elder Brother, Jesus" He
goes on to express an earnest hope that the
people of all nations will come to his kingdom
to traffic amicably-a sufficient evidence that
he is eminently disposed in favor of foreign in
tercourse. But the most important part of
his communication is where he requests
the missionary TO use his influence
abroad to induce foreign governments
or individuals to SEN him s'several war steam
err, with their armory and ammunition, and all
ready equipped for action appointing, il they
choose, ten or more foreigners to each vessel to
work its machinery" Mr.. Roberts remarks
that he wishes them to resemble in size and
destructiveness the English gunboats, in order
that he (Tae Ping Wang) may be enabled to
drive the imperialists out Of the Yang-Tse and
the neighboring territory, so opening up the
southern part of China from the Great river
southwark to foreign trade and missionary
tabors. He has the money to pay for and main
tain such steamers, owing to the large amount
ofspoils that fell into his hands at the capture
Of Loo Chow. He will ask no questions of
the merchant or navigator" who may bring
them as to whether "his sovereign allowed him
the privilege" but will simply pay him the
money, and put them to the use which, Gin the
simplicity of his heart" he has fully made
known. Here is chance for some smart Yam
kee to sell steamers. ~
Tae-Ping- Wang is evidently not disposed
to remain idle; for we learn that q
few days after writing Me letter to the mis-
sionary he left Nankin, with his troops, to re-
sume his crusade and subjagate more COM
pletely the southern part of China 81 think"
says Mr.. Roberts, "when he left he took a
sweeping glance, not only at several Of the
interior provinces, but those of the coast from
Canton to ShaDghae,n with a view, Of course,
TO their subjugation before his return He
said that he did not expect to return to Nan
kin till after the iapse Of six or eight months
He promised to extend protection to foreign
ers, and especially missionaries, wherever he
found them; and he appreciated the wisdom Of
avoiding collision with English or French
troops. He observed that it was quite mis-
take his attacking Shaughae when in the pos
session Of the Allies in August last.
Although Tae- Ping-Wang ia the military
commander and temporal ruler, there is a
st,ll higher parsonage among the Instruction
lists namely, Teen-Wang-who appears to
attend to spiritual affairs, and to oc-
cupy the same position with regard to
Tae Ping Wang that the Mikado of Japan does
to the Tycoon. This individual has granted
several interviews to Mr.. Roberts, aud con
ferred upon him some substantial benefits. He
has appointed him Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs"-an Office however which the