The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-12-08

DIS was in 1861, and for seven years there
waged civil war in the Middle Kingdom that
far exceeded in bloodshed the conflict between
the North and the South in the United States
And it is an interesting coincidence that
these two national upheavals were IN progress
at the same time and both inspired by the
same sentiment, love of country; wdile in a
still more striking manner did this mighty Chi
nese protest become counterpart of the
American revolution in it's avowed purpose to
claim its country for itself and Danish forever
beyond the confines Of the empire t,e hated
Manchu usurper.
That the victory Of Washington and his 1ova,
hosts was not duplicated by the Chiuese revo-
lutionists at that time was due to the fart
that their efforts were impeded, interfe7ed with
and finally successfully resisted by ttat Same
power whose unjust domination or these
American States eventually resulted in tho
immortal Declaration Of Independence
And yet how much Is known of the history ~
the "Ta1 Ping Kwok." the Tai Ping Rebellion
or 1.-THE Great Kingdom Of Pesce?"
The cable and the wireless have so brouqh+
the ends Of the earth together that TODAY wa
read in the morning paper what has transnred
IN the evening on the other side Of the earth.
But In those days, China was land huried
In mystery. practically unknown and unex-
plored and whose political and economic condi
tons attracted but little attention from the
outside world, and so far as we are concerned
We were too deeply engrOssed in our own gi-
gantic struggle to maintain the unity of our
own states. to give thought to what was
transpiring across the Pacific
The history of the Tai Ping rebellion is ono
of intense interest and full Of tragedy, pathos,
and romance, but is merely referred to here
as being the first cohesive effort made by the
Chinese to regain the government Of their own
land and free themselves from the thraldom
of foreign rule.
Their efforts we're unsuccessful The move
ment born in the spirit of enthusiastic pa
triotism but it ended in total riot and demorali-
Zation.
It's leader, Hung Hsieu Chuen first raised
the cry Down with the Manchus" and his en-
thusiasm was infectious.
The Chinese turned to him as a divinely ap-
pointed saviour Of their land and he, being
more or less of a visionary type, believed him.
self to be inspired and commissioned by Heav-
en- to accomplish this herculean task.
He had received a certain amout OF Chris
tian training and it is an astonishing fact that
the whole movement was primarily based on
Christian principles. But that his religious
zeal exceeded hts good judgment and sound rea-
son is indicated by the fact that while he re-
ferred to Christ as the Elder Brother, he i'm
piously termed himself the younger Brother
thus placing himself on an equality with Dvn
ity.
Notwithstanding this and other faults Of
Judgment his cause appealed to the great mass
Of the people, thousands flocked to his vic
torious banners and his against the Man.
chu government was series of uninterrupted
triumphant achievements.
City after city fell before his patriotic as
sault and Wuchang Hankow and Han Yang