New-York tribune., 1891-12-20
AvENGING GORDON's WORK.
THE TRUE NwARDNESS OF THE DISTURB
ANCES IN CHINA.

ANCES IN CHINA.
Canton. November 8.
In order rightly TO appreciate the character oi
khe troubles now harassing this Empire, IT must,
In the first place. be kept in mind that the So
ualled anti Christian riots have no relation what
ever to religious affairs. They are not directed
asainst Christians because they are Christians
IL is indeed, doubtful il any outrage ever com
Uitted against Christians in the Empire was III
spired by fana,icism or religious lntoier@"e'
Ghe Chinese are not and never have been ie
nsious fanatics. They are eminentiy Tolerant
Ameng themselves they have various sectS oue
. member Of one docs not hesitate to worship at
The altar Of another. Nor. indeed, does any
Chinaman show any hostility toward the religions
of foreigners, as religions. lie is perfectly ready
TO offer prayer to the Deity of the Christan' the
jew, or the Mahometan Ask him why, and
he will ask You in return. why not? Perhaps IL
NAV do good certainly it can do no harm
But IL the Chinsman be not a religious fanatlc'
ne ia intensely supcrstious No one is more credu-
Ions of myths His own religion peoples the worid
with multitude of potent spirits. ana what ne mas
learned of other religions adds, in his mind, other
multitudes. some good and some evil. Air, earth
and water swarm with genii. Every tree' every
,vare everv shadow. every breeze, is occupied by
being of superhuman power. These spirits are
usuallv ouiet and good-natured. But II is easy to
effend them, and when offended they become raging
demons. whose wrath only be appeased with
xreat sacrifices. II therefore behooves every one
to be on his guard constantly. lest he VeN some
snirit snd rouse it's displessure against him. And
this credulity is not, as some might suppose con-
fned to the more ignorant classes OF the Popula-
tion 1t is universal. The Mandarns OF highes'
degree are subject to it, Just much as the hum
@lavr IN hp
GO the practice of this belief The harkari OF the
Japanese is an extraordinary performance. But
r. Is nothipr compared with suicide in China. For
here suicide Is practised a means OF vengeance.
II a man have q mortal grudge against nelghDor
he will not kill him, as Western barbarian might
a. Not Mt all He will kill himself instead lie
will do this the obnoxious neighoors properly
perhaPs drown himself In the well, or hahs
himself to the rafters of building
Then, be believes his spirit Will forever haQht
that spot, and be able TO make his enemys NE
miserable Such suicides are much commoner III
many parts of China than murders ana oeaaiy
assaults are in America. almost as common aS
simple assault and battery.
Now. with these TWO points in mind, let it be
set down that these disturbances are directed
against foreigners as foreigners, not against
Christians as Christians; and that they are not
spontaneous uprising of the people, but are cum
ninRly fonent,d by shrewd political conspirators,
IN will then be easy to understand their real
snimus In view of the credulity and superstition
Of the entire nation, one can SEE how easy IL Is
for an incendiary propagandist to rouse the PUBIC
mind to utter and unrcasoning fury. Ut IS only
necessary to tell them that their evlis-lllnesS'
had hsrvests. heavy tSAes. floods, fires. anythlns
and everything proceed from the wrath oil some
ieYended spirits. They believe 1t quickly enough
Indeed, that is their first thought without any
selling. Then point out to them some plausloe
object Of the spirits wrath, and the work Is done
!t1Ie train is laid, and explosion Is inevitable
Moreover, the Chinese are above ell other people
lsusject % leadership. or themselves they are
nothing. But give them capable leader, and
they are Transformed An impressive instance of
ahis was seen in the TAPPING rebellion. II was
nothing in the world but the leadership of Gordon
xhst transformed the wretched mob Of the imperial
hosts into the Ever Victorious Army. In like
manner, the able leaders Of the present conspiracy
are directing the operations of millions with ab-
xoiute mastery.
/. The hpart OF the whole matter, however. is sug
sxested by the mention of Gordon and the TAPPING
rebellion. The fact is that the nassacred Chris
'tians of to-day are simply paying the penalty of
Gerdon's successes. For many a generation Tar
Stars have occupied the Dragon Throne, and the
Empire has been governed by them. Rude bar
barians fror> Manchuria have loTded it over the
native population. Ever since 1643 tha Manchus
have ruled all China, and though they form but
= handful compared with the true Chinese, their
own capacity for leadership has enabled them
to maintain themselves in power the leader
less Chinese. To this Tartar rule the Chinese
have for centuries ascrbed the wrath Of the spirits
who have sent all the evils that have afflicted
China. The only way in which those spirits can
be propitiated lies in expelling the Manchus and
replacing the true Ming dynasty upon the Dragon
Throne Then there will be no more plaques, no
more fires, floods, no more bad harvests,
but the kingdom will indeed be fOwery, and the
empire truly celestial in its peace, prosperity and
happiness
As the world knows this political revolution
was on the very point Of being accomplished by
the Tipping War. For once the Chinese found
themselves possessed Of leaders competent to lead
st any rate. far superior to the leaders of the
Tartar faction. So they rose against the Manchu
usurpers, and seemed likely soon TO drive them
from the land The Imperial Government was
beaten at every point, and was at its last hope
less extremity, when Gordon came to its relief
That marvellous man. alone and single-handed.
turned the day The rattan walking stick which
was his only weapon served an enchanter's
wand TO effect the most marvellous transforma-
tion-scene ever witnessed upon an earthly stage
The Chinese rebel armies were still the braver
and more numerous. But the Government forces
now had the better leader, and In China leader
ship Ia everything. Under the dominant sway
of this Christian foreigner, the native Chinese
millions their armies routed their leaders slain
their rebellion crushed the hopes and aspirations
sf cent aries blishted in the very hour of frutien
Aud she chains Of the hated Tartar rivetca upon