1.—What does the state of things in the North suggest as tu the native government and its adherents? ' Anarchy" and disorder at head-quarters, usurpation of rule and authority, disregard of moral character and principle, negation of treaty rights and obligations, reckless destruction of human life, and overthrow of the most sacred teachings of the Chinese classics which have hitherto bound the nation, and made it what it has long professed to be in civilisation and culture. These are grievous charges, and may be easily added to, while they can be sustained in the strongest terms, by the conduot of tho: o ut the head of affairs.
However the Chinese Government and officials have a'l along excelled in untruthfulness and chicanery, still the country has continued on its accustomed lines, and in the various departments of its social life. But a break has occurred in the constitution of things and has been rendered all the more curious and striking because it has taken place when a new course of order and administration was about yo be initiated, to which it was in direct opposition. The break in question is charact-rised by tyranny, cruelty and vindictive hatred of the proposed change and of those who favoured it, By the motives actuating the usurpers, be the reasons alleged in their defence what they may, they have wielded their power in cruel spirit, and have been restrained only. by inability to go farther, for fear of the terrible consequences that will assuredly follow. As it is, they hive committed grievous atrocities, they have excited multitudes in many patts of the Empire to muner, robbery and persecution, while they have filled the minds and hearts of the better classes with fear and trembling compelling them to forsake their homes and exeape at the peril of thei lives. All this is no empty declamation. It is substantiated from far and near, and if the insurrection is allowed to courinue, it will extend throughout the E pire, and produce-untold misery and mischief.
2,—What doos the state of things in the North suggest as to the Foreign Powers? The wildest thing which the Chinese Go—vernment, such as it is, has done has been to enlist all the civilised Powers in the world against it. No exception has been made, and these Powers have been obliged to mass their forces to put down the insur. rection, and rescue the men, women, and children who have been and are still confined in the capital of the country. The Government and its myrmidons are much stronger for the time living than they were supposed to be, and have com: bined their strength ty carry out their professed purpose—the destruction of all foreigners within their reach and every tone connected with them as servants or native Christians, Though many have suffered in this way, happily our friends in the capital who have been compelled to fight dearly for their lives are believed to still living in considerable numbers, though in extreme difficulties. They are of various nationalities, yet have acted together: in the most harmonious and devoted manner, repelling the enemy over and over again, and presenting a perfect marvel of courage and skill. What is first wanted is the rescue of those yet alive and the suppression of the war, $9 as to prevent its spread and repetition in the future. This is now being done, and it will be! done effectually. What than? China must remain as itis, unbroken, unpartitioned, only. ruled and governed in a better manner. than. it is now or ever has been, What is wanted is to raise it to the requirements of the diy. The old gime has many excellent features, but badly administered. This has of lata been repeatedly adverted to and reference t> it now were like proving a
quired are at our service. In the magistracy and the order of government. in the literati and the common people, there are men and means fitted for the education and improvement of China, which could be well made use of un er the guidance of the Western Powers for the best and highest interests of this the greatest country in the world. There would be no insuperable difficulty in the matter, and it is surely a prize worth aiming at If the foreign Powers will only act in lisrmony in this respect, as they are happily doing in the matter of the war, the grandest results will follow alike in China and the West itself. We may, while seeking, to raise this numerous people in civilisation, as in fact they are expecting and preparing for at our hand, learn numerous lessons of supreme advantage to ourselves. Could we but see China xs it is from higher sphere than that from which we naturally regard it, asit is beheld from above, we should not fail to recog: China' as waiting, longing, aspiring after a far better and nobler course of things th it has hitherto reached, and. which it cannot attain by any means of its own, 3.—What does the state of things in the North suggest ay to the course and progress of Christianity? This is the real piece de resistance in the cass before us, It is against Christianity thit the fulminations of the Imperial edicts are specially directed and why! Because its whole tendency and aims xre seemingly oppose! to the estublishe l order of things. OF course we speak particularly of the Protestant phase of Coristianity with which we have to do, and which in its character and object is spiritual, in no way interfering with political matters and wholly tak-n up with the moral aspect, of affairs, the religious life of the people. However, every shade of Christianity ix identified in the estimation and treatment of those weare now speaking of, aul miny on both sides have suffered accordingly. This is only to be expected in the condition of things and our thought in connection with it 1s its marked and manifest progress. When the writer first came to Cniua there were july a few tens professing Christianity; vow it is acknowledged that there areas may as 100,000. But this vives no full idea of its spread and power. The manner in which thy converts are b-ating the brant of persecution well deserves our attentive notice, as will what is known of the life and death of many of them in evidence of their faith. Besides there is the wide diffusion of religious and general knowledge by books and tracts, the education of the young, the medical work practised far and near, and numerous other influences of a like kind, all testifying to the power and progress of the forbidden thing, and which would unfailingly lead to the volution of the Empire in the best and highest sense. It is on this account that the insurrection has taken place, and the change brought about or apprehended by it renders stich a movement inevitable. Our concern is only how to mako Chris tianity a still greater force in the count: how to bring it to bear more effectuall in every department of social life, from the Throne down to the hovel. How may this be done How may this divine and holy influence be made paramount in China and permeate all through the land Our hope of reformation in the various grades and conditions of life, civil and religious, rests on this, and it solemnly behoves those who have undertaken the work to consider the best means for the purpose. It is true that missionaries and missionary work are blamed for being in no small measure the occasion of the present trouble, and the fact is that were they far more perfect in their character and operation, the same result would follow even in an increased degree. It would be ce as 8 matter of course in the circumstances of the case, The single point therefore -to be considered is how, all things being as they are, the missionary may best perform his work, accommodate ing himself to the standing and prejudices of the Chinese, making use of their literature and learning, bearing with them in a kind, loving, Christ-like spirit, and seeking on the highest grounds and in an earnest manner, to win them from their unbelief and superstitions to the faith of the Gospel and the Worship of God. It has been done in thousands of instances, and it can be done in ten thousand thousand more. As it is so, China will be regenerated, and brighter and better days will dawn upon it than it has ever yet beheld.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.