Chapter X (2)

"From the information acquired, it is evident that the religious
element enters very powerfully into this great revolutionary
movement. Nothing can be more erroneous than the supposition
that it is a purely political one, and that religion occupies
but a subordinate place in it. So far is this from being the
case, that, on the contrary, it is the basis upon which the
former rests, and is its life-perpetuating source. The downfall
of idolatry, _and the establishment of the worship of the true
God_, are objects aimed at by them, _with as much sincerity and
devotion_ as the expulsion of the Manchús, and the conquest of
the empire. In opposition to the pantheistic notions of the
philosophers of the Súng dynasty, they hold the doctrine of the
personality of the Deity; in opposition to the popular
polytheistic notions, _they have the clearest conception of the
unity of God_; and in opposition to the fatalism of
philosophical Budhism, they believe in and teach the doctrine of
an all-superintending Providence. This appears on the very
surface, and no one can be among them for any length of time
without being impressed with it. They feel that they have a work
to accomplish, and the deep conviction that they are guided by
an unerring finger, and supported by an omnipotent arm in its
execution, is their inspiration. Success they ascribe to the
goodness of the Heavenly Father, and defeat to his
chastisements. The Deity is with them, not an abstract notion,
nor a stern implacable sovereign, _but a loving father_, who
watches tenderly over their affairs, and leads them by the hand.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are their proposed
standard of faith now, as they were at the commencement of the
movement.

"THE FEELINGS ENTERTAINED BY THE INSURGENTS TOWARDS
FOREIGNERS, AND THEIR PROSPECTS OF FUTURE SUCCESS.

"The feeling which they entertain towards foreigners is
apparently of the most friendly nature; they are always
addressed as 'our foreign brethren.' 'We worship the same
Heavenly Father, and believe in the same elder Brother, why
should we be at variance?' They seem to be _anxious for
intercourse with foreigners, and desirous to promote the
interests of trade_. _The opening up of the eighteen provinces
to trade, they say, would be most pleasing to them._ Some would
say that policy would make them talk in this way--suppose it
did; how is it that policy, or something akin, does not make the
Imperialists speak in the same way? They say that foreigners
will be respected whenever they pass through their territory;
and the respectful attention they have paid to those who have
visited them is a sufficient proof of their sincerity.

"A great deal has been said about the cruelty of the
'long-haired rebels'; but in this there has been _much
exaggeration and misrepresentation_. _In no instance have we
witnessed any traces of wilful destruction._ It is true they
kill, but it is because they must do so or submit to be killed.
They burn, but so far as our observation went, it is invariably
in _self-defence_. Much of the burning is done by the
Imperialists before the arrival of the rebels, and the cases of
suicide are far more numerous than those of murder. The fact
that all the women have been allowed to leave Súng Kiang, and
that they are known, in many cases, _to have made attempts to
save_ men and women who had plunged themselves into the canals
and rivers, is a _proof that they are not the cruel relentless
marauders that they have been represented, to be by many_. They
are revolutionists in the strictest sense of the term; both the
work of slaughter and of plunder are carried on so far as is
necessary to secure the end. These are evils which necessarily
accompany such a movement, and are justifiable or otherwise in
so far as the movement itself is so."

The following letter was written by the Rev. J. Edkins and the Rev. G. John, giving a report to the secretary of their society of a visit to the Ti-pings at Soo-chow. It is dated "Shanghae, August 16, 1860," and proves the incorrectness of Mr. Bruce's statements, that Mr. Edkins informed the Ti-pings, "in the most unequivocal manner," that Shanghae would be defended against them, and that Mr. Edkins met with an "ungracious reception."

"REPORT OF REV. GRIFFITHS JOHN TO REV. DR. TIDMAN.
"Shanghae, August 16, 1860.

"By the last mail you were informed that two letters had just
been received from Soo-chow; one from Hung-jin, the Kan-wang, to
Mr. Edkins, and another from the Chung-wang, to Mr. Edkins and
myself, inviting us both to Soo-chow, to meet the former king.
We felt that only one course of action was left open to us as
Christian missionaries. We were exceedingly anxious to have an
interview with this man, for the purpose of ascertaining the
truth on various points of interest--of encouraging him in his
praiseworthy endeavours to correct the errors connected with the
movement--of learning what might be done towards spreading the
truth among his people--and of suggesting plans and improvements
for his consideration. With this object we left Shanghae on the
30th ult., accompanied by three other brother missionaries. At
one point we passed a floating bridge, which had been
constructed by the Insurgents, and left in charge of some of the
country people. A proclamation was put up on shore, exhorting
the people to keep quiet, attend to their avocations, and bring
in presents as obedient subjects. One of the country people
remarked, as we were passing along, that the proclamation was
very good, and that if the rebels would but act accordingly,
everything would be all right. 'It matters very little to us,'
said he, 'who is to be the emperor--whether Hien-fung or the
Celestial King--provided we are left in the enjoyment of our
usual peace and quiet.' Such, I believe, is the universal
sentiment among the common people. A part of the bridge was
taken off to allow our boats to pass through, after which it was
closed again very carefully. _The country people were, for the
most part, at their work in the fields as usual._ The towns and
villages presented a very sad spectacle. These once flourishing
marts are entirely deserted, and thousands of the houses are
burnt down to the ground. Here and there a solitary old man or
old woman may be seen moving slowly and tremblingly among the
ruins, musing and weeping over the terrible desolation that
reigns around. Together with such scenes the number of dead
bodies that continually meet the eye were indescribably
sickening to the heart. It must not be forgotten, however, that
_most of the burning is done by the Imperialists_ before the
arrival of the Insurgents, and that what is done by the latter
_is generally in self-defence_, and that more lives are lost by
suicide than by the sword. Though the deeds of violence
perpetrated by the Insurgents are neither few nor insignificant,
_still they would compare well with those of the Imperialists_.
The people generally speak well of the old rebels. They say that
the old rebels are humane in their treatment of the people, and
that _the mischief is done by those who have but recently joined
them_. We were glad to find that, both at Soo-chow and
Kwun-shan, _the country people were beginning to go among them
fearlessly to sell; and that they were paid the full value for
every article_. We were told at the latter place that to sell to
the rebels is good trade, as they give three and four cash for
what they formerly got only one cash.

"We reached Soo-chow early on the 2nd inst., and had an
interview with the Kan-wang on the same day. He appeared in a
rich robe and gold embroidered crown, surrounded by a number of
officers, all of whom wore robes and caps of red and yellow
silk. On our entering he stood up and received us with a hearty
shake of the hand. He said that our visit made him very happy,
and that his heart was quite set free. He then made kind
inquiries about his old friends in Shanghae, both native and
foreign. He was much pleased to hear of the progress of the
Gospel at Amoy; of the recent accession of converts to the
Church in the neighbourhood of Canton and Hong-kong; and of the
late revival in the West. 'The kingdom of Christ,' said he,
'must spread and overcome every opposition; whatever may become
of the celestial dynasty, there can be no doubt concerning this
matter.'

"He then put off his crown and robe, and dismissed his officers;
after which we had a free and confidential conversation on
various points. We gladly accepted an invitation to dine with
him. Before partaking of the viands prepared for us, he proposed
that we should sing a hymn and pray together. Having selected
one of Dr. Medhurst's hymns, he himself started the tune, and
sang with remarkable correctness, warmth, and energy. After a
short prayer offered up by Mr. Edkins, we sat at table. The
conversation turned almost exclusively upon religious subjects,
in fact, he did not seem to wish to talk about anything else. He
seemed to feel very grateful to Dr. Legge, Messrs. Chalmers,
Hamberg, Edkins, and others, for their past kindness to him. He
told us that his object in leaving Hong-kong for Nan-king was
solely to preach the Gospel to the subjects of the celestial
dynasty; and that on his arrival he begged permission of his
cousin to be allowed to do so. The chief, however, would not
hear of it, but insisted upon his immediate promotion to the
rank of king. Though thoroughly devoted to the new dynasty, and
determined to live or die with it, he told us repeatedly that he
was much happier when employed as a Native Assistant at
Hong-kong, than now, notwithstanding the dignity conferred upon
him and the authority with which he is invested. We were
escorted on horses to our boat at a late hour.

"We visited him again on the following day. On our arrival at
his residence, we found a foreign merchant waiting upon him, and
the Kan-wang considerably agitated in mind. The reason of this
we afterwards learnt was, that he had heard that the letters
which he had sent to the representatives of foreign powers at
Shanghae had not been opened; and that the city was held by
English as well as French soldiers. _The first he spoke of as a
personal insult to himself, and the second as a direct violation
of the principle of neutrality which foreigners should adopt
between the two contending parties._ * * *

"Though we told him that these were matters with which we, as
_Missionaries_, had nothing to do, still we could not but feel a
secret sympathy with him.

"After the merchant had left, we had a very interesting
conversation with him on various matters, but especially the
character of Taeping Wang, the chief. Before separating, he
proposed that we should commend each other to the care of
Almighty God, and invoke His blessing in prayer. After singing a
hymn, he engaged in prayer. His prayer was exceedingly
appropriate, fervent, and scriptural. _He prayed that all the
idols might perish, that the temples should be converted into
chapels, and that pure Christianity should speedily become the
religion of China. This was a most interesting spectacle--a
spectacle never to be forgotten._

"We were all much pleased with the Kan-wang. His knowledge of
Christian truth _is remarkably extensive and correct_. He is
very anxious to do what he can to introduce pure Christianity
among his people, and to correct existing errors. He says,
however, that he can do but very little actively in this work,
and that hence he is very anxious to get as many Missionaries as
possible to Nan-king, to teach the people. 'I cannot do much,'
said he, 'but if you will come, I will get you chapels, exhort
the people to attend, and will attend myself regularly.' He has
prepared a prayer for the use of the soldiers, which is
remarkably good. He wished us to prepare a series of simple
prayers for general distribution. We took with us a number of
copies of the whole Bible, and a good selection of tracts, all
publicly delivered to his care. These will, I have no doubt, do
their work among not a few. He expressed his opinion that the
Chief is a pious man, notwithstanding all his errors. He
devoutly worships God, and is a constant reader of the
Scriptures. The Bible and the 'Pilgrim's Progress' seem to be
his favourite books. The Kan-wang thinks that much may be done
in course of time towards putting him right on various points.
_It is very gratifying to find that he does hold the Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and
the standard of faith._"

The following extracts are quoted from the press of China, upon the subject of repelling the Ti-pings from Shanghae. The _Overland Register_, Sept. 11th, 1860, in its general summary, states:--

"However affairs may be affected at the North by the action of
the Allied Forces, the late proceedings at Shanghae will
probably inflict a damage which no success at the North will or
can compensate for, and the case is the more dangerous because
that _interested_ persons are led to scandalize the
insurrection, that the shame of the slaughter of the Insurgents
before Shanghae by the arms of Christian England and Catholic
France may be lessened. It will be seen from the details given
elsewhere that the advance of the Insurgents upon Shanghae has
been checked by the _direct_ interference of the allied forces
in concert with the Imperial rabble, and by way of adding insult
to injury, and of stemming the tide of indignation which a
_truly_ christian public sentiment might be expected to pour
upon the policy which dictated such action. Sundry individuals
are _persuaded_ to _write_ down the Insurgents who have survived
the _shooting_ down, and make them out worse than their heathen
countrymen. Hardly had the echo of the Christian muskets died
away and the heathen allies finished cutting off the arms and
legs of the slain to secure their ornaments, when it is found
out suddenly that the rebels are blasphemous outlaws, and do not
understand _the doctrine of the Trinity_ as taught in the
theological schools of England and other Christian countries,
and upon the word, every man who would save the reputation of
the allied councils, at once commences to damn the Insurgents
for blasphemy, that he may be able to bless the Allies for _foul
and cruel murder_. We have especial reference to a lengthy
dissertation by one Rev. J. L. Holmes, which is far too long for
republication in this edition, and which should not find place
if it were possible; and though shame may cause many to accept
any excuse for _the unwarranted and cruel slaughter_ of the
half-christianized victims who came to be converted, not killed,
yet we trust there may be found some whose Christianity will
take precedence of nationality even, and that the Insurgents may
find sympathizers, even though that sympathy involve
condemnation of the policy which prompts either to shoot them or
write against them.... The fact is, a gross and unmitigated
error has been committed at Shanghae, and all the writing that
can be published cannot alter the error or excuse it. The
Insurgents did not come professing a pure Christianity, on the
contrary, every missionary who has visited them, and even their
traducer, who shared their hospitality at Nankin, received their
parting gifts of friendship, and then returned to print five
columns of detraction and abuse in the _North China Herald_,
bearing testimony that the Insurgents admit the imperfection of
their religious knowledge, and only beg that teachers might be
sent them, so that they might know the truth _as it is in
Jesus_; and the Christian world may well cry 'shame!' upon any
Missionary of the Gospel, who going among them, instead of
seeking to instruct them, spends the time of his hospitable
reception in seeking out their errors and publishing them in
order to turn sympathy away from them and palliate the crime
that had already been perpetrated at their expense."

Speaking of the French Jesuitical influence working against the Ti-pings, _The Overland Register_ continues:--

"That France should spurn the Rebellion, it is but natural, for
the Insurgents have the _Bible_, and next to the devil, a free
Bible may be supposed the object of direst attack on the part
of a Jesuitical priesthood. But it will be long ere the stain
upon British honour and justice and Christian profession is
erased. It is currently stated that the French are savagely bent
upon the utter destruction of the Insurgents, and that they will
insist upon an attack upon Nankin." (This was mooted at that
time, as per Mr. Bruce's despatches, but was not executed,
because, as another writer stated, "They have it in their power,
we are told, and nobody doubts the truth of the statement, to
ruin the foreign trade at Shanghae, and they also have it in
their power to form with the representatives here of foreign
powers provisional regulations by which in existing
circumstances the destruction of that trade may be prevented."
This was thoroughly appreciated; therefore, while gradually
destroying the Ti-pings and undermining their cause,
_neutrality_ was also pretended.) "Such a thing is by no means
beyond the bounds of possibility, so that ere long the world may
be edified with the sight of the 'Defender of the faith,' in
company with the 'woman arrayed in purple and scarlet,' and the
disciples of Buddha, all joining in the hue-and-cry after the
rascally Bible-reading insurgents.

"Happy are they who fall by the merciful administration of
Christian warfare, for if once their power is broken, there are
other Governor Yehs in China to take the place of the cowardly
brute who tortured and slaughtered 60,000 of his countrymen in
the Canton province, and Shanghae may be treated to the same
spectacle which six years ago sent a thrill of horror all over
the civilized world, with only this difference--_that the
responsibility will rest upon those professedly Christian
nations who will have been the cause of them_."

This has happened; but the thrill of horror was either not felt, or the professing Christian nations have become exceedingly callous; but then, "six years ago," it was Yeh who did all that; during 1860-1-2-3-4, it was done by Christian nations.

"The political creed of the insurgent leaders is _all_ that
could be wished by the most enthusiastic admirers of what strong
nations call 'international comity,' when the weaker party have
anything worth possessing. If the proclamations and other
writings from insurgent sources are sufficient authority (and we
know of no reason why they should be otherwise regarded), their
position is about as follows:--

"1. That _Chinese_, not Tartars, shall rule China; and surely no
Western nation can find fault with that.

"2. That the exclusive policy heretofore maintained by the
Imperial Government shall be superseded by a liberal policy, so
that China may become one in the great Congress of Nations,
instead of standing aloof in childish pomposity.

"3. That a free access be given to the arts and manufactures of
other nations.

"4. That kindly relations be cultivated with all foreign people,
and the resources of the country be developed by a liberal
exchange of its products for those of other lands.

"5. That the improvements in various mechanical arts, the
inventions of foreign nations, be introduced into the country.

"We have neither time nor space to complete the list, but it may
be said, generally, that in the political creed of the insurgent
leaders there appears, from beginning to end, a complete
revolution of the Chinese ideas in every important particular,
and there is not an item of it that should not meet with the
warm sympathy of every man who cares for the welfare of any
country besides his own, or even any man whose only interest in
foreign nations is limited to what may be got out of them...."

It has lately been the common practice to represent the Ti-pings as "monsters of cruelty," "ruthless devastators," &c. The following extracts, from a communication by a "correspondent of the _North China Herald_," republished in the _Nonconformist_ of Nov. 14th, 1860, give some authentic particulars respecting the Shanghae massacre of Ti-pings. Upon the approach of the Ti-pings to the walls of the city, the writer states:--

"When it was discovered that they were real rebels, orders were
given to fire on them. They waved the hand, begged our officers
not to fire, and _stood there motionless_, wishing to open
communication and explain their object. No notice was taken of
this, but a heavy fire of rifles and grape was kept up on them
for about two hours, when they retired with a loss estimated at
two hundred. Here, as at the South-gate, they seem to have
essayed to open communication, and to have been replied to in
the same way. After they had been driven back, the French
soldiers rushed frantically among the peaceful inhabitants of
the place, murdering men, women, and children, without the least
discrimination. One man was stabbed right through as he was
enjoying his opium-pipe. A woman, who had just given birth to a
child, was bayoneted without the faintest provocation. Women
were ravished and houses plundered by these ruthless marauders
without restraint. Everything was taken away from the poor
people, who were trying to escape, and thrown into a heap, so as
to do away with the possibility of ever being reclaimed. Unless
the article or articles were immediately yielded, the bayonet
was brought in to decide the question."

The truth of these statements can be supported by the evidence of my personal friends, some of whom were wounded when trying to rescue helpless women from unheard-of barbarity.

"After this sort of work had been going on for some time, the
beautiful temple of the 'Queen of Heaven' was set on fire by the
French. The fire had been extending ever since, so that now the
Eastern suburb presents a sad spectacle. The burning of the
Southern and Western suburbs by the English, and the greater
part of the Eastern suburb by the French, has deprived thousands
of their happy homes and reduced them to irretrievable poverty."

Recounting the events of the following day, the author states:--

"Now the firing and shelling commenced. The Insurgents stood it
for several hours _like men of stone, immovable, without
returning a single shot_. At length a well-directed shell from
H.M.S. _Pioneer_, bursting in the midst of one of the hamlets,
and another from the _Racehorse_, which followed the former in
about two seconds, bursting in the midst of the other hamlet,
started them fairly."

At Si-ka-wei, a village some few miles from Shanghae, the following proclamation was found posted upon the Roman Catholic church:--

"The Chung-wang herewith commands his officers and soldiers that
they may all be thoroughly acquainted with it. Having received
the Heavenly decree to lead my soldiers everywhere to fight, the
soldiers have already come to Shanghae and have pitched their
tents at the chapel. Now it is ordained _that not the minutest
particle of foreign property is to be injured_. The veteran
soldiers are supposed to be acquainted with the Heavenly
religion, that foreigners together with the subjects of the
celestial dynasty all worship God and equally reverence Jesus,
and that all are to be regarded as _brethren_ (or to belong to
the body of brethren). The veteran soldiers will surely not dare
to offend, but I have been thinking that the soldiers who have
but recently joined us are ignorant of this being a place of
worship, and are unable thoroughly to understand that their
religion is one with, and their doctrine has the same origin as,
ours. Hence the propriety of issuing this command. Because of
this, all the soldiers, whether veterans or otherwise, are
commanded to be fully aware that, hereafter should any one be
found guilty of injuring the property, goods, houses, or chapels
of foreigners, it is decreed that he will be decapitated
without mercy. Let all tremble and obey. Don't disobey this
command. 7th month, 15th day."

The _Times_ of India contains the following, in the article from its Shanghae correspondent, dated October 24th:--

"I thank you for having done what you could for your suffering
fellow-creatures in China, but the work is not done yet.
Hitherto you have heard nothing but the details of rebels being
handed over to the Imperialists for torture; of Shanghae, with
its notorious execution-ground, being held by English and French
troops; of a steamer manned by sailors from French ships of war,
and loaded with rice, being sent to the relief of Imperialist
cities; of English officers and sailors fortifying cities and
mounting guns, and instructing the Tartar soldiers in fighting
against the rebels; of guns being plundered from the Taepings;
of duties being collected for the Imperialists; and last, not
least, of innocent blood having been shed by Englishmen, and all
this _without one single act of retaliation_, a circumstance
perhaps _unparalleled in the history of the world_."

But enough of extracts from the press; it is sufficient to state that, with few exceptions, the whole British press of China and India emphatically condemned the flagrant violation of honour, of international law, and of solemnly pledged neutrality. Although too late to prevent the deeds in China that have tarnished the national honour of England, it is yet possible that similar atrocities may be in future arrested, if the British people will only be a little more watchful of the dealings of their Government with foreign nations, and will seek wider sources of information as regards them than such as may be presented through ordinary channels. It is, moreover, of particular importance that, upon every question of foreign policy, a man should be competent to judge for himself: to content oneself with "home policy" is simply absurd, for while other nationalities and other races exist, home policy will entirely depend upon foreign conduct, and the relations that are established abroad; in fact, as much so as the conduct and management of a household is regulated by society and the customs of its neighbours.

FOOTNOTES:

[31] The opinions of Mr. Holmes afford a fair sample of the anti-Ti-ping missionaries.