CoMimmiatious.
LEV. A. M. STEWART’S LETTERS-XXXII.
MORMONS.
Ever since Cain went out from the presence
of the Lord, the earth has been afflicted with re
volts, recessions, delusions, and fanaticisms. In
modern times, Mormonism undoubtedly excels
in credulity, fanaticism, and success. Iu its
origin, not half a century since, it seemed con
temptible, absurd, and jdfen ludicrous. So op
posed was it, also, to all the settled convictions
of the human mind, with respect to things both
in Church and State, that every thoughtful per
son was ready to say, “Let it alone; it is of
men, and will soon come to nought.” Such, no
doubt, had been the result under the advised
policy. Men, however, of hasty temper, un
settled judgment, and vindictive spirit, could not
abide so slow an ordeal. Mormonism in its in
fancy was persecuted, and, as a consequence,
swelled into importance, attracted and grew.
Like all other systems of error which have
been successful in attracting adherents, Mor
monism has embodied a large amount of truth.
Pure error, naked falsehoods, unadulterated lies,
do not take even with fallen humanity. The
father of lies, when quoting Scripture, felt con
strained to do it correctly. The Latter Day
Saints accept, without change, our Protestant
Bible, merely adding thereto some curious reve
lations to and through the “sainted” Joseph
Smith.
THEIR PILGRIMAGE.
When driven from Ohio, Missouri, Illinois,
and lowa, the wretched, starving, half-naked fu
gitives started on a pilgrimage, which an army
with banners dare not have attempted. Even
Mahomet and his followers, on camels, would
have undertaken it with much caution. How,
under their condition, and without all perishing,
they succeeded in traversing those fifteen hun
dred miles, of reputed desert, seems even now a
mystery. They settled, at length, upon a dry,
and apparently barren soil, where they hoped
never again to see or be troubled with Gentile
intruders. At the time ot their self-banishment,
this hope seemed very probable, as neither ex
plorer nor settler was likely, for ages, to spy into
their safe retreat. The tide of westward human
interests has gone with such accelerated motion,
that, in their imagined retreat, and within a
quarter of a century, they have been overtaken
and surrounded by an immense foreign ava
lanohe.
AGENTS FOR GOOD.
Whatever purposes the Almighty has to sub
serve with this strange mass of people hereafter,
He has already effected purposes the most wise
and beneficent, and for which no other agents
seemed fitted. They have most successfully de
monstrated, through necessity and thrift, the
wonderful capacities and productiveness of im
mense portions of our almost boundless Ameri -
can desert, as it is still termed by ignorant tra
vellers and stupid geographers. The territory
they occupy was no more promising than count
less other sections of Utah, Nevada, Wyoming,
Idaho, Montana, and Colorado, and which would
have been looked upon as hopelessly barren by ex
plorers, miners, and emigrants save for the exam
plesgivenbyMormon industry. By artificial water
ing they have turned a dry and parched land into
fields, and orchards, and gardens, of more than
ordinary beauty and fruitfulness. - And this,
also, in a climate of unsurpassed clearness, beauty ,
and healthfulness.
They have, moreover, been the instruments of
saving much life. Had they not occupied that
far interior and intermediate space, when, in a
fever of excitement, from 1849 and onwards,
caravans .of men, horses, mules, and oxen left
the Atlantic side for the California gold fields,
multitudes would have perished. Each traveller
across the continent; every wagon, stage-coach,
horse, or footman ; every soldier Uncle Sam sent
to. watch them, together with railroad surveyors,
agents, and builders, have all paid ready, even
thankful tribute, in money, for- Mormon-produc
tions. By such processes, coupled with economy,
industry, home manufacture, and' consumption,
that far interior community, numbering at. pres
ent a hundred thousand, is fast becoming one of
the wealthiest communities in the world. They
are rich in horses, cattle, sheep, and poultry ; in
cereals, fruits, and vegetables ; in manufactures;
and money.
SALT LAKE CITY,
It is the most quiet, orderly, and best govern
ed city, in the. world. Among the Mormons,,
there is no disorder or outbreak; no profanity
or ; intemperance. The city on the Sabbath is as
quiet as a rural parish, in Scotland or. New Eng
land. Whatever disorder there may be, is cre
ated by Gentile intruders. The city proper,
numbers about twenty thousand. Its architec
tural -beauty has. certainly. been overrated--by
tourists and writers; and this perhaps naturally
enough, as such writers had travelled so long:
and so far without, seeing a house, or scarce a
human, abode. The court-house and) theatre; are
substantial i structures. The great projected
temple is as yet only even with the ground. The
immense Tabernacle has no ■ semblance of archi
tectural beauty-, The,,private establishment;of
Brigham Young is quite-extensive*, comprising
several home-like mansions united together, sur
rounded with trees, and all enclosed by a high
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1869.
wall, the enclosure being entered by a rather
ponderous gate.
The city, in its winter costume, wears a pleas
ant and comfortable appearance, but in summer
must be especially inviting. The original plan,
which has generally been carried out, was for
each family to have a lot of an acre and a quar
ter, thus affording space for shrubbery, fruit
trees, and a vegetable garden. By this arrange
ment the city covers a considerable space, com
bining city and country in a very agreeable man
ner. The streets are broad, cut each other at
right angles, and along each side of every street
there flows a stream of crystal water, led from
the adjacent mountains. These constant streams
nourish long rows of beautiful shade trees, which
have been planted on each side of every street-.
Concerning their domestic arrangements, but
little was seen or heard. About such matters
they are studiously reticent; when possible, si
lent. The evilß of their system are carefully
and quietly hidden away from Gentile intrusion.
Of their future we need hardly speculate. In
the amazingly rapid change and progress of
events, some adjustment must, ere long, be forced
upon them, more in consonance with the feelings
and wishes of civilized nations. It seems a
moral impossibility that an outrage so monstrous
and repugnant as polygamy, can much longer
exist in the midst of a great Christian commu
nity. A. M. Stewart.
CHINA, PROM A CHRISTIAN STAND
POINT.-!.
Having twice visited China and lately returned
from there, after a residence of four years,in
different parts of the empire, I propose to give
some facts in regard to that most interesting
country. I say, some facts—and mostly having
a religious bearing, because the subject is too vast
for the two articles which I have prepared.
To the friends of Christian missions, China
has always been attractive; but only lately has
this empire awakened universal interest among
our own, and other western nations. It is one
of the most remarkable facts of modern times,
that the oldest and most populous empire of the
world should seek the friendship and moral aid
of the United States, the youngest and most
powerful and promising of modern nations. No
doubt, above any other people, God has selected
our own country to be the Christianizer of China.
The planting of new States on the Pacific slope
in front of China and Japan, such as California,
Washington, Oregon and Alaska; the comple
tion of .the Pacific ■ railway, and the early con-,
struction of a ship, canal across the Isthmus of
Darien, all indicate the plan of God in bringing
into closer relationship these two great nations.
If our population continue to increase in the
ratio of the last thirty years, one hundred mil
lions of people will occupy our territory in the
year 1900. At that time the whole Pacific
slope, facing Asia, will teem with this mighty
restless American people, who, if true in using
God’s gifts of spiritual and political freedom,
shall play the most conspicuous part in evangeli
zing the world. ,
At the present time, besides a large number
of first class-merchant vessels in the China trade,
we have a monthly line of steamers from San
Francisco to Shanghae and Hong Kong, touch,
ing on the route at the midway islands and at
' Kanagawa, Japan. Without exception, all things,
considered, these steamers are the finest in the
world; and the voyage, embracing the calm Pa
cific and the inland sea of Japan, one of surpas
sing interest. The average time (from San
Francisco to Hong Kong by sailing .vessels —-the
distance being about, eight thousand five hundred
miles, —is about fifty days, costing, for first-class
passage, from $125 to $l5O. By : steamer,the
time, is; now about twenty-five days/ and costs
from $250 to $3OO for a first-class, passage. I
desire to add here, that ministers and missiona
ries . with • their families,, are taken from New
York to China at ; three-fourths the above rates.
Of course the Chinese come: and go, by these
steamers, at very low fares;, there being special,
and excellent accommodations for them. , At,
the .present time there are about sixty thousand;
Chinese in California; some fifteen thousand
being at work on the Central Pacific Hailroad.,
The number of Chinese arriving on the Pacific
coast is steadily increasing; and the time is not
far distant when multitudes of them, will be seen
in our Western and Atlantic States, adding a
new and difficult element in the problem of
government. They offer, however, some com
pensations. They make the very best servants
in the world; sober, skilful, industrious, clean
ly, reliable, and willing to do all kinds of, work.
Any one who has resided in China will sustain
me, I think, in this declaration. We need not
be surprised, therefore, if in a few years, the
question 'of domestic service in the United
States shall be solved by the presence of large
numbers of Chinese servants. Voluntary em
igration (of men) is one of the, great features
of modern Chinese sopiety., In California, the
Sandwich and Philippine islands, in Java, Bor
neo, Singapore, Siam, Burmah, Australia . and
elsewhere, this people are largely represented; and
wherever they go, they better their condition
by their order, sobriety,' industry and economy.
The influence which Americans have gained in
China, and which "ripened'into fruit in the se
lection of an American to advocate and secure
to China her position and rights among modern
nations, is just and legitimate. The record of
American intercourse with China has been, for
the most part, very honorable to our country.
Our merchants have bartered, generally, in
harmless and useful commodities; our consular
and diplomatic representatives have been usually
frank, considerate and just; while our mission
aries have introduced a vast amount of material
comfort and relief to the poor and afflicted ; and
scattered, far and wide, not only scientific and
other secular knowledge, but the doctrines of a
spiritual and better life.
I have often had the question asked me, What
is the origin and real import of our recent treaty
with China, and which is now being presented
to European powers for acceptance ? Believing
that this treaty elevates the moral attitude of
China, and places her more in sympathy with
the highest Christian civilization, than with mere
trade, I shall devote considerable space in an
swering the above question.
This treaty is not by any means, the expres
sion of foreign mercantile circles in China, (for
they generally oppose it;) but it had its origin in
the conviction, forced upon the best minds of
China, that a change was necessary in their for
eign policy in order to save the empire from dis
integration. Chinese statesmen are indebted a
great deal to Christian missionaries for their en
lightenment as to the dangers threatening China,
and. the means of preservation. It was the
translation of Wheaton’s International Law by
Dr. Martin of the Presbyterian Board of Mis
sions at Peking, and its study by the Prince of
Kung and other eminent Chinese, that gave
them to see how much would be gained every
way, by abandoning their ancient pretensions,
and by placing'the Empire on an equal footing
with other nations, under the jurisdiction and
protection of international law. Heretofore,
though China has been forced to make treaties
with western nations, chiefly with reference to
trade, yet she has refused to recognize the great
family of nations as equals. She has claimed to
be the Central Flowery Kingdom—at the head
of mankind, whose ruler is the true and only
representative of the Shangti or heavenly empe
ror. When we call to mind this old Chinese idea
of government —an idea that pervades, and holds,
and moulds the Chinese mind, —we see what an
immense concession has been made by the rulers
of that people to the spirit of Christian civiliza
tion, which recognizes the brotherhood and mu
tual obligations of man.
The Chinese theory of government, according
to Dr. Williams, is this : that the whole human;
race have been under the authority of one head
by superior powers. These powers, included un
der the comprehensive names of Tien and Ti, OT
Heaven and Earth, have delegated the direct
control of mankind to the one man who was, and
who at any time has been, the Emperor of China.
It is this, earthly Emperor alone, wbo makes,
with heaven and earth, the Trinity of Powers,
Tien, Ti, and Jin : or heaven, earth and man.
The Emperor of China, therefore, has the posi
tion of Vice-gerent of heaven. And it seems
impossible to the Chinese mind, to admit any
other equal ruler on the earth. The inculcation
and acceptance of this grand idea, more than
armies and exacting civil rule, has held together
for so many ages the vast Chinese empire. This
claim to the title of Ta Rwang-ti, or August Em
peror, has been acknowledged since the earliest
times by nearly all other Asiatic sovereigns. All
ambitious conquerors who have arisen in Asia
have regarded their full title to be the Sovereign
Monarch of the race as incomplete, until they
had obtained the throne of China. For ages,
kings and rulers in different parts of the East,
have poured into the treasury of China their
tribute, thereby acknowledging her claim to su
preme honor. In the first place then, this treaty
which is supplementary to that of 1858, recog
nizes China as an equal only among the nations.
While on the one hand China yields the claim of
superiority to outside barbarians, western na
tions, on tbe other hand, are to recognize and
treat her,as an equal, and not as fair game, to be
fleeced, to be over-run, and to have foujed upon,
her poisonous drugs and a domestic and foreign
policy, under the pirate’s plea that might makes
right. ' ' ■ ]. '*
Again this treaty guarantees to the (Chinese the
control of China.and the introduction if internal
material changes. There, has been a growing
disposition among foreigners—the English and
French especially,—since the last war/with China,,
to dictate to her what should he j&s. domestic
and foreign policy —-a dictation purely in the in
terest of trade and political poster. In a vast
empire like China, where civilization has crystal
ized, and which is based on moral ideas and not
on material progress or physical force, internal
changes should not be too sudden, so as to pro
duce unrest, derangement and', demoralization in
the life of the people. In i vast empire like
China, where-population upon population,
the busy human hive must he kept at work, or
famine quickly follows. Arid I would say here,
that the recent outbreaks in different parts of
China have had no political or religious, connec
tion at all with the great Taiping rebellion; but
have been enormous riots produced by want,
having no other object than mere plunder. The
Taiping rebellion (terminating, in 1864) was a
religious. and political movement, irhich, aimed to,
snatch from the Tartar dynasty the Chinese
throne, and re establish it at Nankin, the ancient
capital, under an emperor who claimed to be
the representative of the true God and of Jesus
Christ his Son. At the outset (in 1850) and
during its earlier development, the rebellion
awakened intense interest on the part of Chris
tian men ; but when the cruelties of its leaders,
and the wide spread ruin it was working were
perceived, the whole movement was denounced.
The Taiping leader (or Great Peace King, as the
word means) like Mohammed, abolished idola
try by the sword aDd reigned in the name, and
by the authority of God. On the fall of Kan
kin, the leader of the rebellion committed sui
cide, and the movement was abandoned; but it
has produced untold suffering, though it has not
materially prejudiced the Chinese against Chris
tianity, except on the part of the high officials.
What seems to be most wanting just now, is a
better acquaintance on the part of China with
Christian nations, and of these nations with
China, appreciating each other’s motives, plans
and condition. The treaty, therefore, disclaims
and discourages all practices of unnecessary dic
tation or intervention in the domestic adminis
tration of China, in regard to the penetration of
the country by steamers, and construction of
railroads, telegraphs or other material internal
improvements; but binds foreign nations, in case
such improvements are undertaken, to furnish
suitable engineers, to whom China guarantees
protection in person and property and a fair com
pensation.
Again, this treaty denies the peculiar “ con
cession claims.” When foreigners became some
what numerous and commenced trade at treaty
ports, the Chinese government appropriated, at
each place, certain lands on which to construct
dwellings, warehouses, and offices. After a while,
when the population became numerous, the
French and English especially organized munic
ipal courts and a police, levied taxes, made laws,
and claimed exclusive jurisdiction. The Chinese
government was denied the right of eminent do
main over her own territorry. But this unjust as
sumption on the part of foreigners, the recent
treaty denies, except so far as certain rightshave
been expressly relinquished by treaty.
Again, this treaty secures to China the neu
trality of Chinese waters and territory in case of
war between foreign nations; it opposes also the
Coolie traffic, one of the most infamous institu
tions of the world.' Macao, a Portuguese Roman
Catholic port and colony, near Hong Kong, is
the great seat of this trade. I have counted as
high as eight baracoons for the ' lodgment of
victims, and thirty first-class ships in the offing,
waiting to receive on board those human car
goes. Of course, there are two sides to every
question 1 ; and many believe that the Coolie
trade, if properly conducted, would benefit China,
the emigrants themselves and £hc cdtmtries to
which they go. But the truth is, the business
has always been in bad bands, and I suppose
always will be, as there is something intrinsically
degrading in it.
Again, this treaty guarantees to Christian
missionaries and others, in every part of China
all the rights which foreigners enjoy in the Uni
ted States, and- to China, the same rights here.
It is feared that under this clause the Cninese
will introduce idolatry and heathen worship in
the United States. In point of fact idol-worship
(of the Chinese sort) has long ago been intro
duced into San Francisco; but there is no dan
ger, whatever, that it will injure Christianity.
To visit a heathen temple and witness the wor
ship only makes us the more thankful to God
that He has taught ; ns the better way. Accor
ding to the genius of our republican institutions, :
we cannot consistently refuse liberty of worship
to any creed, however offensive that worship
may be to the true God. In order to combat
error and spread truth, the citizens of the Uni
ted States may freely establish and maintain
schools within the empire of China, and proclaim'
everywhere the Christian religion.
Finally, this treaty regards China in a just
and Christian spirit; and places the United
States as her best friend in selecting a' represen
tative American to advocate her claims before
the bar of Christendom. There are two other
Americans (besides Mr. Burlingame) whom I
desire to mention in this connection, whose in
fluence on the Chinese has been exceedingly
great —I mean Drs. Bridgeman and' Williams.
Long years ago they entered China, as members
of the American Board of Foreign Missions.
Among other great labors, they published the
Chinese Repository , that fountain of all our cor
rect knowledge of China. It is at present out of
print; but it is, worth-more than all recent works
put together —-the epitome of it being Dr. Wil
liams’ Middle Kingdom. Among other contri
butions to Chinese literature, Bridgeman pub
lished in Chinese, a geography and history,of
the United States. That work has been exten
sively read in China and Japan. It reveals to
the Chinese our origin as a nation ; Washington,
as the Father of his country; our religion and
laws; our system of education,; our national
progress, and our political policy in reference to
foreign nations. It taught the Chinese and
Japanese that America desires no territory
abroad; that her intercourse, is purely commer
cial on a fair basis of exchange; and that her
missionaries, and teachers, and physicians are
actuated by heavenly motives, and 1 not acting as
the agents, of government. Dr. Williams has,
contributed largely to our knowledge of China..
His history of the Middle Kingdom; his Eng
lish and Chinese vocabulary for mercantile pur
poses ; his contributions to the Chinese Reposi
tory, and his Lexicon of the language are all
well known. He is now preparing his greatest
work—on which his fame is to rest and increase
with the centuries, a lexicon of the leading dia
lects of China. For many years he has resided
at Peking as our Secretary of Legation or Acting
Minister, and is a man of unsurpassed ability
and intelligence on Chinese subjects. Dr. Wil
liams has always had the ear of Chinese states
men ; and especially of the Prince of Kung -
and I assert, without fear of contradiction, that
Mr. Burlingame owes greatly to this thoughtful
and Christian scholar, not only his 'success as
Minister at Peking, but his present exalted posi
tion as a Chinese mandarin.
THE OHIOAGO SOROSIS.
A travelling correspondent in the West sends
ns the following notes:
On the day of my arrival, the Chieago Sorosis
■were holding a State Convention. As this was
the prominent excitement during my stay, I
looked in upon them several times. Instead of
one, there were two conventions held, one at
Library Hall, and the other at Crosby’s Music
Hall. The former, which was the largest and
most popular, met for the purpose of considering
the subject of female suffrage simply. The lat
ter extended the invitation to “ all, without re
gard to sex, color, position or creed
attend and take part in the discussions, espe
cially those interested in perfecting oar govern
ment, by extending to all the people the right of
suffrage, and securing to them equal rights'"
This convention was small in numbers,, and ulti
mately coalesced with the other. Speeches were
made by Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony, Rev.
Edward Beecher, Rev. , Robert Collyer,
Rev. H. L. Hammond, and others. The dis
cussions were not one-sided, as Rev. Mr. Ham
mond and Rev. Robert Laird Collier both
spoke.in opposition. It was remarked by several
that the ladies made the best speeches. At the
close of the convention in Library Hall, a spirit
ed impromptu debate arose between Miss Anna
E. Dickinson and the Rev. Robert Laird Collier.
Miss Dickinson, having been persistently called
for by the audience, took, as the basis of her re
marks,, an assertion that Mr. Collier had: made,
“ that, during the meeting of the convention, not
a single logical argument had been employed in
behalf of female suffrage.” For this declaration
he was handled quite severely by the caustic
tongue of the fair debater. The audience seemed
to enjoy the controversy greatly. It ended by
the chairwoman closing abruptly, as the hall
was needed for the evening lecture. The ear
nestness and enthusiasm of the convention was
unmistakable. In the faces of the active parti
cipants, a great amount of intellectuality was
perceptible. There were no new arguments
used. In favor, the necessity of opening new
avenues for woman’s employment, and the in
creased purity of politics through the introduc
tion of a fresh element, were insisted upon. The
opposition doubted whether suffrage would ac
complish all that was anticipated by its sanguine
advocates, and urged that a difference in physi
cal constitution, and the peculiar relations of
woman to the family would forever debar her
from any extended interest in governmental af
fair's.
The Gbowsph op Chicago.
The growth of this city is unprecedented. One
of the newspapers a short time ago enumerated the
increase in buildings, during the past season as
follows. Residences finished, 2,000; residences
unfinished, 1,000; business stores and offices,
1,000; churches, 25; school-houses, &c.,,20;
various buildings in the outskirts of the city,
3,000; others that were to be finished before
the close of last year, I,ooo—total, 8,045 new
structures, valued at, $25,000,000. Already are
the most sanguine forward to the time
when Chicago will number a million inhabitants,
and are. preparing by the extension of the city
limits, the erection of palatial buildings,, and the
provision of magnificent parks to make it worthy
to be called the metropolis of the .West. -
Farwell Hall.
On Sabbath evening the .writer visited Farwell
Hall. The advertisement read that there was to
be.sacred music by the Hutchinson' family, and
Mr. D. F. Moody was to preach. Harwell Hall
is an apartment of elliptical form, holding about
3 000 people. It is Sfioely frescoed on the walls,
and the ceiling is ornamented, with numerous
Scriptural scepes froth Old and New Testament
history. Mr. Moody’s manner does not strike a
stranger very favorably. It is brusque and un
impressive. But when he becomes interested in
his theme, you are disposed 1 to forget his infelici
tous manner in the earnest desire of the speaker
d °. auditors good. Yo.uf correspondent
was highly pleased at meeting among the audi
ence our excellent District Secretary of Home
Missions for the Pacific coast. Rev. A. M. Stew
art.
After the principal service, the audience were
invited to a prayer-meeting in theUecture Room.
Upon entering, the room was found well filled.
Here a half-hour was spent in prayer and exhor
tation. On request, six. young men arose for
desired these to remain for
religious conversation. ‘ The two services were
admirably iriauaged to father up all the results
of spiritual, impression. - Fearing to. tire yonr
patience with the length of my letter I must
conclude.
V. D. Collins.