By the Sacred Books, taught in all the schools and made a part of the examination papers, it is the duty of the people to overthrow any bad government.

The Chinese have no power to legislate, do not tax themselves, and the government is a pure autocracy.
But it is not a despotism; for old usages make a constitution, which the government must respect or be overthrown.

"The right to rebel," says Mr.
Meadows, "is in China a chief element of national stability." The Tae-ping (or Universal-Peace) Insurrection has shown its religious character throughout.

It has not been cruel, except in retaliation.

At the taking of Nan-king orders were given to put all the women together and protect them, and any one doing them an injury was punished with death.
Before the attack on Nan-king a large body of the insurgents knelt down and prayed, and then rose and fought, like the soldiers of Cromwell.