The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-19

the man who stands in the gap, and who holds
the opposition balance Of power against these
radicals is everything
Tho Civil War and Sick Man, in China
Defeat Of the Royalists and Appeal Of the
Emperor TO Europe.
The Chinese imperialists have been again
defeated in battle by the revolutionary insur-
gents, WHO have taken up arms against the
Tartar throne and dynasty and seek to over
throw the whole system of rule, with the court
religion and philosophy by which government,
representing an ambitious minority was forced
on them after military conquest. Marching from
the vast provinces Of the southwest tho natvists
have vanquished the royalist forces in many
engagements, and we learn by our latest cable
kilograms from Hong Kong and Shanghae that
they have just been quite victorious in Q
sanguinary battle fought at Shintung, rout-
ing their adversaries, who were commanded
by Footai-a General Grant of the empire in
almost everything but final success This
result places the imperialist cause in o very
critical condition, as it will give tone, vigor,
spirit and consistency to the vast secret organi-
cation known as the Triad Socety-the
Fenians of that part Of Asia--w,ch has
been working during manv years for radical
change in the government OF the country.
| In this great strait the Emperor Of
China, who rules over the most ancient
existing dominion on the globe, has for
mally appealed to tho Powers of Europe
for assistance to enable him to preserve bis
throne against the rebels. BY this act his
Celestial Majesty of Eastern Asia voluntarily
invalds himself as sovereign and places his
name on the list of "sick men y alongside that
Of his Sublime brother, the Sultan of Turkey,
who, from the western portion OF the same
quarter of the earth, called in two OF the most
eminent foreign physicians some years since,
and, perhaps as a natural consequence, has
been in dying condition ever since, and now
also demands little further comfort and adj
vice at their hands. The foreign doctors will
take up the case Of the Emperor of China at
once. II is a novel and extraordinary one,
and will pay, for the patient is rich in lands
and specie and goods and chattels, and by
treating him, even If to the death, they will
be very likely to extend their practice among
his neighbors and subjects.
The boom Of the guns of the British men-os-
war which opened the ports OF the empire TO
foreign trade shook the traditions OF China
considerably, and when the French soldiers,
after the Peiho war, stole the pocket handker-
chiefs Of the Empress from under the sacred
v,tll - n
they accomplished almost as much to destroy
the divinity which doth .hedge a king"
in the realm, "a did their countryman
Voltaire In his day in France. The action
OF the present Emperor OF China disspates
these traditions to a great extent and his
people may, with great truth, exclaim. i" wis
dom" and "glory" have departed from the
East There is little doubt that the imperial
Chinese mission entrusted to the Hon Arson
Burlingame, United States Minister in Pekin,
has for is object the invitation Of foreign
Intervention; and 1t Is a splendid acknowledg-
ment of our principle of republican civiliza-
uon and Its effective progress In distant lands
to say that the representative Of the youngest
and most free nation in the world has been
selected as the confidential envoy Of me oldest
and most exclusive empire 10 the fellow mon
archs OF its potentate In matter Of such dire
national extremity.
The great European physicians will soon
have the cases OF three most illustrious pa
tents on hand, each one tho personal embodi-
ment Of system hoary In its antiquity, and,
~ some persons believe, eutaebling in its con-
sequences, viz.:-the Sultan OF Turkey the
Pope and the Emperor Of China The first
two have been waited on and the
last named has taken to his bed The
philosophers, the tbeologisns, The antigua
rians. the soldiers. the politicians and the
Peace Society men, are abou, TO have vast
fields opened for their investigation and
exertions in China, in Turkey and Southern
Europe. They will, most likely, squabble
among themselves as 10 the merits of some
new system Of civilization for China. In this
confusion the progressive aud soothing diplo-
macy Of the United States, free from "entan.
Cling alliances" will have great force, particu-
larry under the counsel Of Mr.. Burlingame,
who will assuredly enjoy the button OF man
darin-of the most authoritative oolor--should
royalty endure in the empire, Even II the
rebellion triumph be will have much honor IS