Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-03-02

was bSNSi W oSS '-"'S'y
at his destination after voyage of fearful
peril, wherein the whole crew were saved
from fatal disaster by his remarkable
and courage, he found affairs in
China in very strange condition.
A conception flashed into his brain.
which could only have been inspired by
genius or madness But before sketching
any further the career of this strange man,
it will be necessary to give some brief
resume Of the state of Chinese politics and
society.
The Taeping insurrcction had been for
five years prior to Wards entrance into the
charmed circle of" Celestial politics the
great central fact on which hanged the
most momcntous results.
Hung-sue tseuen, a native of district
about fifty miles from Canton, came up to
the city in 1888 to enter into one of the
competitive examinations. He failed and
severe sickness combined with his morti-
fcatiou to deepen his natural serious mind
into incurable melancholy. A Christian
tract fell into his hands about this time,
and made deep impression on his imag-
ination. Shortly after his return home he
had dream in which Il venerable old man,
with shining countepance, said to him
Go and do my work" Hung brooded
over his new ideas for six years. before
any results were inculcated.
In 1910, when the British fleet bom-
bardcd the Chinese forts in the river of
Canton, it was felt as a natioual calamity.
The astonished "Celestials" were awak-
cned by this strange and unheard of
visitation to the belief that there must be
something rotten in this system and Gov
ernmcnt. 1t was at this time that all the
doubt and gloom that clouded the mind of
Hung seu -tscuen were cleared away, and
he entered on the propagandist work with
puritanic zeal. lie taught system, like
Unitarianism, modified of course by pecu-
liar Chinese notions, aud speedily gathered
about himself a vast band of converts.
Many of the latter were thrown into I'm,
perial jails or executed. But their chief
still only thought of passive resistance.
G radually the society of God Worship
rers" was swelled by elements of another
order, bold, discontented, truculent spirits,
who had fled thithcr for refuge. This
leaven had its effect, and the new faith
became inspired with fierce iconoclastic
zeal, that would not even tolerate others
in the worship of Confucius or Buddha.
Thus commenced conflict which shook
the Chiness empire to its foundation. At
the time of Wards arrival on the scene Of
conflict, nearly one third of the empire,
including the most wealthy and fertile
portions, was in the power of the Taepings,
and they had advanced within fifteen miles
of Hongkong.
Wards aulacious genius prompted him
to become an element in this Chinese puz.
zlc. His first offer of assistance to the
mandarin in charge of the Hong kong dis
trict was repelled with contcmptuous
disdain. The same fate met his applica-
ton to the next highest official, aud it was
only through the mediation of the Amcri-
can Consul at Hongkong that the bold
adventurer succeeded in getting his hopes
and wishes made known to the Emperor
at Pekin. Some three months had then
elapsed since his first application, aud the
success of the rebels, who
seemed likely to hurl the Mantchoo dynasty
from the throne, disposed the Imperial
Government to catch even at straws.
His propositions were accepted, and he
was authorized under the commission of
the Emperor to raise body of men for
immediate service.
Wards trading expeditions along the
Chinese coast had made him acquainted
with the martial character of the people of
Corea, who are as hardy and warlike as
the Chinese proper are timid and pacific.
Proceeding hitherward he enlisted in a
short time, by promises of spoil and high
pay, two regiments of the wreekers and
pirates. lie soon managed to introduce
into his fierce and turbulent recruits the
ideas of civilized discipline, aud was ena-
bled to arm them with efficient weapons.
Wards personal force and magnetism were
such that thoy rapidly conceived an extra
ordinary veneration and attachment for
him. They ever afterward constituted his
Thcbau band, his forlorn hope, with which
lie could always turn the tide of battle, nc
matter how desperate the odds.
Such was the nucleus around which the
Yankee adventurer organized an army
The new general officered his forces from
his Corean despcradoes, and Immediately
sought the enemy. The result was great
victory, tho first that had been vouchsafed
to the imperial cause for several years
Large numbers of the Taepings were left
dead upon the field, and the rest put to q
disorderly flight. Ward, unlike his pre-.
decessors, did not rest satisfied with such
a success, aud return in triumph to Hong.
kong, but pressed the advantage with
fierce tenacity, driving the enemy far into
the interior, and capturing city after city
in his march.
When the campaign was ended, General
Ward was received with the most idola
trous offerings of respect and vcneratiou
The Emperor felt that his empire had
been saved, and no reward was too great
for this timely assistance. Honors were
showered on the victorious hero, and he