NEW CHISA, Can we predicate such a theme as this? Is it within the scope of practical politics Whatever may be the ght of it as possibly two premature to be considered, we are constrained to write on the subject, and to anticipate both the end to be attained and the moans of its attainment, While occupied for the most part with the news to hand from day to day, and the occurrences that are taking place, we may be warranted in forming an opinion on the possible issues of the whole, and our duty in regard to them. The final settlement and all the consequences flowing from it are not to be determined by a few leading men at the head of affairs, nor are they to be easily and speedily "brought about, but will require the patient and persevering exorciso of all the means at our com. mand, that the many and varied objects of the new regime may be accomplished.
It is a high problem we are endeavouring to solve, having to do with the great future of China, its own transcendent interests and its relations to the outside world, It is utterly beyond its own unaided powers to effect, and depends mainly the influences' we can bear upon it, and which we seem to be on the eve of making use of. The present insurrection, we believe, may be made the occasion of making a great change in the history and condition of China, only let it be regarded in a proper light, as famishing x grand opportunity, for the awakening and renovation of the' country by the mews wt our disposal, and acting as we ought to do, brighter and better days may be confident ly expected.
It is earnestly to be hoped that the movement, with all the sid events connected with it, will not be patched over by a mere declaration of peace and things be allowed to go on as before. We desire, indeed, that the war shall cease, with all the horrors arising from it, but we want a new regime to be instituted, and the present appears to be the time for it. Let every one who can assist in the matter do so, in whatever department of the work he has todo with, and facilitate, as much as he may, the dawn of a new and better order of things throughout the length and breadth of China, What then are the circumstances in which we are placed China is in a great measure in the hands of the Foreign Powers, and may be dictated to, or advised, as the cise may be. Certainly there should be no partitioning of the country in any form whatever. It would be disadvantageous and detrimental in an extreme degree. Let China be governed in the main as it has been. For the purpose it has an admirable constitution, only it needs to be admi tered in an honest and upright form. We have an appropriate example in the Customs' service which has for so many years been conducted in an able and successful manner.
In reference to the various departments of government, a like course of things might be instituted in an Advisory Council, consisting of Representatives of the leading Powers, whose work would be to give advice and direction; in a word, to assist the officials in the general policy of the Empire, each having his own proper ephero of action, yet all working in harmony with each other and the officials in connection with them. An arrangement of this kind would be impossible under the old regime, from the selfish interests of the authorities, but a competent allowance being made to every one, the difficulty would be done away with, the people at large would be unspeakably gratified thereby. We conceive that such a plan would be far more suitable than anything after the form of the Indian policy, which is laid on different lines than can obtain in China, But there are other matters thit require to be considered in the ease, and must have an important part in the accomplish ment of the end in view. We refer to the Missionary work, which may need to be prosecuted in a'manner more adapted to the securement of the object contemplated by it. Whatdo we mean? It is crand. photo in which it is engaged in China, and there is a unity and homogeneousness that admits of a corporeity of action that we find nowhere in the same degree in any other part of heaghendom. What then? We suggest that this should be taken advantage of to the fullest extent in the various fields and forms of Mission ary labour. Let. there be in a: y parti cular place and in sympathy with other parts a commonalty of work, each doing that for which he is best qualified, while the whole is under the same general administration, We demur to each and every one following his own line, in the case of individuals or Missions, without any regard to what others may be doing, when all might act as one in the interests of the entire work, thus concentrating their eff rts for the same object, in a manner and in a it that would identify them in the imation - f the native Christians and the eathen around, and enabling them to do much more effective and more economical work than they could otherwise do.
It is time to consider what new China is to consist of. What are to be its characteristic elements, and how are they to ba 1.—China enlightened in the sc>pe of its knowledge. However it may boast of ita attainments in philosophy and education is far behind in the necessities avd possibilities of the case. Ita schools and colleges its literature and learning, are remarkable in th it way, but exceedingly circumscribed in the range and extent of their studies. They do not apply to the investigation of nature, its various objects and laws, the ars and sciences, the interests of civilisa~ tion and social amenity.
Tt was much the same in the West, ages ago, until Bacon's time, an China needs to be enlightened in like manner, and by the application of the same order of things Its whole school tic learning must be ro-formed from the earliest years of the students on to the mors advanced scholars, in imitation of what other countries have done, and of which it is highly capable. TI schoolmaster requires to be abroad, and a much higher standard of knowledge is called for in the circumstances and condition of China than it has hitherto attained. and this is possible only at our hands and through our instrumentality.
2.—China purified in moral life and character. It has not a few noble principles to go upon in this respect, individually and nationally, which have doubtless j conserved the country as it is all the ages through. These may be called the man: charta" of China, and are engraved in their cherished classics, and inculcated in the every-day life of the people. But after all they are insufficient to meet the wants of the cas ein the instructions they give, and the motives they inspire, they are defective and fail to produce the sired result, China wants a higher, clearer, more authoritative revelation than it has hitherto had, to which appeal can be made, and which shall exert an overpowering influence on its subjects. That is in our hands to be communicated to them, and as this is done and made effectual for th end in view, the standard of moral character and conduct will be raised, and this is the idea implied and destined to be attained in the course of things now being considered. It needs only the inspiration which it is ours to impart to China to bring it under motives and influences fa beyond its highest dreams and make it what it ought to be in every department of life.
3.—China rendered truthful and honest in its political bearings and relations, both to its own people an! to outside countries. It has the semblance of a well-ordered government, and extends its résime far and near, from the highest to the lowest in the Empire. Considering its vast domains and the immensity of its population, it is amazing that China is held together as it is, and the more so as it is known t" bea compound of corruption ani veaslity in the whole of its administration. This arises mainly from the very essence of its constitution, its financial disorder and the standpoint of th" offi There may ba afew of these who desire to act honestly and truthfully in the conduct of affairs, but such is their training and the circumstances in which they are placed, that they may be said as® whole t" be compelled to act ax they do. A new economy is required in the entire course of things; and is not this the time when it could be suggested and urged upon the government by an Advisory Council We believe its high otticials are in many cases disposed and prepared to accept such an arrangement as an element of reform, and it would be a blessing untold to carry it out. This would be a special characteristic of new China, remodelled in the spirit and temper of its laws, their execution, and the conduct of the officials in regard to them.
4.—Chins developed in its resources and trade engayem-nts. It has vast possibilities in this respect, and is resorted to accordingly. It has untold capacities in its own powers of production and of roception at the hand of foreign countries. But it has not the means of developing ths one, or the disposition fully to use the other. It needs enterprise, activity, direction, to do its part in the matter, to open its door and to form railways, work mines and cultivate international relations beyond what it has hitherto done. It has to be taught and to realise its part in_ the economy of the world, such as it is fitted for, and which it has no right to forego. Be this as it may, a new China includes this as an indispensable element, by which it will rise in the scale of nations, ant occupy a plice for which it was designed in the arrangements of Providence, no tess for its own benefit and for that of others.
5.—China converted in its religious faith and worship. This is the crown and consummation of the whole. It is this that is wanted in the only true and proper senso to make China what it ought to be, and the question may well be asked: What can best be done in the circumstances? Without the shadow of a doubt we would say that those who have to do with the inthe various departments of it, ought to unite their best energies in any one place and in all for the purpose, not in a disjointed or even denominational manner, but as one man, one bods, to tell upon the heathenism round about, and seek the Christianisation of the whole land. This done, we may confidently look for the dawn of a new era in China.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.