Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-07
The Call to Christians from the COnfaration in China
BY BISHOP WARE EN- A. GAMBLER

II For many years past missionaries
and students of Oriental conditions
have been telling us that China was
awakening, but, notwithstanding all
that they have told US, we were
scarcely prepared for the events of
the uprising in the Chinese Empire
which is now attracting the wondering
attention of the world. No man, not
even the wisest and best informed, can
foretell the final outcome or this IN
surrection against the Manchu dynasty.
While the Chinese are a people of a
peace-loving spirit, this is not the first
uprising among them. The Tartars
became the masters of the country in
| 1919, and reigned over 1T till 1858 when
they were expelled by the natives, and
the Ming dynasty was set up, which
lasted two hundred and seventy-six
years, after which it fell through its
own misgovernment A general of he
last Ming emperor, who was engaged in
keeping the Manchus in check, made
peace with them in order to gain their
assistance in subduing the native
usurper who had deposed his sovereign.
The Manchus then returned to power.
establishing themselves in Picking in
1914, and after a struggle of seven
years they secured dominion over the
whole empire. Their rule has contin-
ued from that time until now without
serious interruption except the Tapping
Rebellion which began to show itself
in 1850 and which was not suppressed
finally until 1855.
The Tapping Rebellion was led by
Hung -sew-tseuen, a man of humble
origin, and an unsuccessful candidate
for government employment. His
movement began with the organization
- - a ,4r1.a. xryhf o1a
in the autumn of 1850 came into col
tlision with the imperial authorities ana
assumed at once a political character.
He persuaded himself and mis- follow
ers that he was divinely commissioner
to put idolatry and the Tartars out Of
China, and to establish in their place
the new native dynasty of Tapping or
the reign of universal peace. The
principles which he avowed appealed
strongly to the Chinese heart. He OPP
posed the traditional enemies of the
Chinese-the Manchus or Tartars. He
opposed idolatry, which Confucianism
also opposes, and which the native
atheism Of China most naturally OPP
poses. He proposed a reign of peace,
which commended itself to the pacific
disposition of the people. These prin-
ciples and other things brought to him
very great following, and his relig-
io-political movement became so pow
erful that 1t threatened the overthrow
of the Manchu dynasty. But he al
lowed such horrible barbarites upon
the part of his followers that foreign
forces stepped forward to assist the
imperial authorities in putting down
the rebellion. The imperial troops lea
by British and American officers, the
most conspicuous Of whom was Cen
erai Gordon-"Cninese Gordon"-final-
ly overwhelmed him; and the insurrec>
of Suchow in 1865
But while the Tapping Rebellion was
put down, the Chinese hatred of the
Manchus continued to shoulder
throughout the Empire, and it has at
last broken out in the present confla-
grafton. Whatever may be the imme-
date outcome of the present uprising,
we may be sure that the Manchu dy-
nasty is doomed. 1t has sustained it,
self by great skill and a constant show
of force. In every provincial capital
| it has put the civil administration In
the hands of a Chinese official in order
to conciliate the prejudices of the peo-
pie, but along side of him it has placed
a Tartar general thus holding the mill
itary force in the hands OF a partisan.
of the throne. But this skillful distrl.
button of authority has not availed in
the present situation The Chinese
people evidently propose now to be rid