The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-11-01
CUSHING's LECTURE ON CHINA.
concluded

SulCt5 tlG must ulSillO lOuS dppOlHlCu " the
inferior Offices of government employ, destined
through good behavior to rise to the highest in
the gift Of the government. In China an official
is punished by degrading him from his rank. In
this country, in navy for instance, the case
is different. If an officer behaves badly he is
suspended with or without pay, SC, but Off
Ger is never degraded, as for instance, from
Captain to a Midshipman. In China this is the
mode of punishment, it is the universal tenure of
office And man has to commence anew, eli
gible again to the highest Offices, if he conducts
well.
Public opinion is as much regarded in China as
in Great Britain, or the United States. Newspa-
pers abound, and read as much as in this
country. The Chinese have their red book as
we have our blue book Pamphlets, abored ar
guments published with us, and in farther
analogy, periodical addresses are made by the
sovereign to the people, which, however, incul-
cate morals as well as politics
The stated agricultural festivals are a great
feature with the Chinese-t is at these times that
the Emperor drives the plough before his whole
Court, an example to his subjects.
The works of Confucius are read by ALL and
their influence on the public mind is unbounded.
They publish as much and as cheaply, as in the
United States and the people read and write as
generally they do in this country. Their Ian
guage which was at first hieroglyphic, has be-
come one ofarbitrary signs, but not letters-there
10 liO dlpldDSts Dul separate STANDS 1Of
particular idea; there are so, 900 characters in
their dictionary, and from this it may be inferred
what an immense labor it is to learn their lam
guage, and what it is which converts China into
one great school. Oral language differs in differ
ent provinces, but the written language is the
same throughout China The written language
bears the same relation to the oral languages of
the provinces, as the Arabic numerals do to the
various languages of Europe When persons
from different provinces cannot comprehend each
other. they resort to writing or making figures in
! the air. Thls language giving unity to the peo-
| pie, laws, SC. has done every thing for the sta
bility OF the government
The manners of the Chinese are eminentIy
courteous. Ladies do not mingle in their public
assemblies The lecturer would not pronounce
their morals OF higher CT lower standard than
those of Europe. He did not believe it the prov
ince OF transient visitor so to do. The Chinese
estimate the morals of the Europeans at a low
rate,-they have learned them from English sail
ors and soldiers within the past five years. When
the Missionaries demonstrate with the Chinese
upon sin, They significantly point to the morals of
the foreigners. Che Chinese -eui.sz...s
tellectual. The country abounds in books pub
lie Libraries, and shops for the sale of books
catalogue OF one OF their libraries comprises 10
volumes. In every dwelling house books are a
necessary article of furniture.
Great injustice has been done to the Chinese
ing had formed high estimate of their intellect
ual powers from his intercourse with them. In
deed, officials could not fail TO exhibit intellect.
uality, as scholars take first rank in the empire
! The literary character of the Chinese has deoene
rated to some extent. The stability of their gov
ernment is evidence to a certain extent of their
intellectual and moral character. The prevalent
religion is worship of ancestors, though specific
religions, such as Boodhism, Lamaism, Mahome
danism, &c, are tolerated All important events
by the Chinese are celebrated by prostrations.
burning of incense, beating of gongs, and burning
fire works.
The staple food of the Chinese, is rice In the
decorations OF their tables and furniture of their
houses, traces OF high civilization may be found
The luxuries of the table consist of biche de mer
sharks fms and edible birds nests the latter the
highest cost article of food in China The food of
the Tartar, is game which is roasted and served
up whole, while the Chinese is served in small
dishes. Their drinks tea and spirit distill-
ed from rice. Many of the drinking vessels now
in use in the U 5. are copied from the Chinese
Commercially speaking, China is complete in
herself She raises her bread stufs, except some
little rice which she imports. She has tea. silks
materials Tor utensils of iron, and wood coal pre-
cious metals, sc. Her commerce was changed
by the course OF the opium trade, which is verv
prejudicia to China. 1t would soon however.
have been changed by the introduction of cotton
-" s. 1u"htAtASo VI Which, vi the raw KIND. she
imports from the United States She also imports
the manufactured article from the United States
and from Great Britain. The use of machinery
is prohibited in China. The trade, whether if
goes direct from this country or from Great Brit
ain, greatly benefits us, perhaps 6-7ths of Brit
ish manufactured goods consist of American cot
ton.
We now come to consider the question of what
will be the ultimate effects of this change of
commerce on the Chinese themselves. Two hun.
dred and fifty millions of people, up to this time,
have manufactured their own articles-now ours
will take the places of their own fabrics, and of
consequence, large numbers of men will be
thrown out OF employ. In China, as in the Uni
ted States they have no vast West to retire to, no
immense fields of agricultural occupations to en-
ploy them when their means of livelihood fail
them. These things being so, must produce want
misery and perhaps political agitation, through
out the empire. Mr. Gushing was repeatedly told
by the Imperial Commissioner, that China did NOT
desire trade with foreigners but that it was forced
upon her We must not only look to the benefits
accrung to the United States, through the SIM.
ply to China of raw cotton, and successful COM
petition in the manufactured article hut 49, :.