The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-16

CHINA AND THE CHIHESE - i HE
LECTURE LAST NIGHT.-There was.
we are glad to say, large and highly
intelligent audience at Crescent City
Hall, last night, to hear the lecture of
Rev. DR.. Martin, before the Evans
vile Library Association. We were
doubly glad to see the large audience,
as it manifested healthy interest In
the Library Association, and was
deserved mark of respect to one who
has exiled himself from his native
country and his friends, and devoted
his life to the holy purpose of pro-
claiming the unsearchable riches OF
Christ to heather world. We have
not the time nor space to give
anything ike a verbatina report
of the lecture, even were it proper for
us to do so. 1t was replete with in
terest and instruction, embellished
with many thrilling bursts of senti-
ment, poetry and eloquence.
The speaker gave thrilling MARIA
tive of his first visit to Pekin, having
accompanied the British and French
allied troops thither, and witnessed
the battles and bombardments that
opened those heretofore impenetrable
walls to the representatives of Chris
tain nationss he also described his
second visit, in company with the
United States Legation, the general
facts Of which are familiar to most OF
our readers.
He described the Chinese Wall-a
greater wonder than the walls OF
Babylon or the pyramids of Egypt
and the Imperial Canal. These were
the results of the coeseed labor of
more than five million people; and
a sense of the oppression thus inflicted
led to d change of dynasties.
He also described the approaches
to Pekin-the triple walls that
| guard the Palace of the "Son
of Heaven" and the stupendous
palace, several miles square. The
outer wall is sixty feet high, forty feet
thick and twenty three miles IN
length. He described the magnifi
cent surroundings-th roofs of por-
celain, the almost boundless parks,
artificial lakes, bridges, groves, pa
godas and temples. He had not,
however, been permitted to enter the
Imperial palace. None could enter
there unless those who were willing tc
PROSTATE themselves, and do homage
to the "Son Of Heaven" as the En-
peror Is styled.
It had been required of foreigners
that they PROSTATE themselves nine
times, but the concession was made tC
the American ambassador that he anC
his attendants should be let off with
three prostrations. But the Embas
sador had proudly declared that no
single prostration could be made b.
the representatives of free and in
dependent nation. Finally it wa
agreed that the Americans should
visit the palace on their own terms
but as this arrangement was on thu
eve of consummation, the Emperor
changed his mind, and they were no
permitted to enter.
He spoke of the Government, o
which there were two Fundamental
MISUNDERSTANDING power of tn
Emperor over the nation and absolut
power of the father over his family
The dynasties were long and the
reigus seldom interrupted by civi
commotion and never by assassination
The sovereignty is not hereditary, bu
is often conferred on strangers, emf
nent for their virtues. passing by tn
sons of the Emperor, who were deem
ed unworthy to rule by reason OF thei
vices. He described the Mandarins
who were self-constituted emissarie
of the Emperor, bat not appointed b
him OF elected by the people, but ross
to that position by reason of thei
eminent learning and ability to rule
We cannot, however, follow tn
, learned lecturer throughout as he de
soribed the Chinese method of re
) .ducing excessive taxation-the treat
, ment of their women-marriage cere
l monies, and other customs and peeu
2 liar characteristics of this remarkabl
j people. The lecture was about a
t hour and a quarter in length, and wa
: listened to with the most profound al
tention and manifest pleasure.
q At the close Of the lecture, d
t Cloud announced that the second LEI
e ture would be delivered on Thursda
: night. Subject: What we may lear
from the Chinese, and what they haV
to learn from u.s." and the thir
would be delivered on Friday nigh
We hope the audiences will be il
: creased, as we can assure our reader
o these lectures will repay the time an
q expense.
AmuSemenfs.
1 T1r