Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-06-18


,ions. The Emperor. of whom, said Mr.
W.. l speak with reverence due to the
head of so many millions, rules with Ges
po,ic power, but not with severe despo
tism. The Chinese themselves are pleas
ed and satisfied with it, though they are
no, always content with lis minute effects
There is no standing army, no arislocracy
of wealth or power. Every officer OF
government must obtain his appointment
by literary eminence and rule by the voi-e
Of the people. the Emperor being the only
hereditary officer in the empire.
Their literature is extensive, but not
generally valuable; there are more book
IN Chinese Than il any other language,
but il is the literature of nation peacea.
BILE, industrious. and without genius.
Mr. W. proceeded 10 speak of the reli-
gion Of China. and held up TO The audience
several idols; one called the King OF
Heaven. not much respected, he said; and
another derived from the Catholics, the
Queen Of Heaven, or holy mother Ma
,sa-po.
But these, though their idols are not
their gods. they worship idols merely 10
have another anchor out To the wind ard;
they are superstilious, and think there
may be something in idol worship; but
they do not put their trust ia il; their real
religion consists in the worship Of ances
tors. Who will care for us in The other
world, say they, SO much as our parents.
In tins religion thew are early instructed;
the younges, child is made the priest of
the family, whose duty is to offer incense
daily at the ancestral shrine. They have
an anniversary for the worship Of parents.
when they come 900 or $50 miles TO the
graves o. their ancestors, 10 repair their
tombs and offer sumptnOus sacrifices,
which they themselves ca, after their an.
cestors have parlaken of lis spiritual part.
II was on This suhec. tina, the Jesuls
and Catholic missionaries split; The for.
mer allowing their followers 10 worship
ancestors, the latter prohibiting the prac.
tee as idola,rous. The recent edr, of
the Emperor must no, be mistaken by us
1T gives federation 10 the religion he has
cestors as much rs others; when body
of Christian men have been trained who
will refuse this idolatry. and slani for lii
erly OF conscience. we may expect TO see
persecution. Ii is Saian's empire, and
he will not peaceably resign it.
THESE idols. he continued are Buddhist
gods, but the Chinese are no, Budhists;
they worship their idols, for they wor.
ship all the gods they hear of. in order 10
be on the safe aide. have even seen a
statue of Napoleon Bonapar,e among
Their delties.
But the Chinese have never vet sanc,i
fed vice, or offered human sacrifices.-
lnfanticide, Of which we have heard so
much. is confined TO the single province
OF Annoy, where abont SO per cent Of the
females are destroyed. on account of the
poverty OF the people, and the difficulty
OF obtaining settlements for women. in Il
province whence Sd many males emicrate
To Bankok. Singapore, and The neighbor
ing countries,
DIR. Anderson said the audience might
i"'y 'oiy upon Nhese idctS' ds VT W III
iams. being acquainted with the language
and literature of China. and having resd
ed there for thirteen years, WAS as compe
tent to give Information concerning that
land as any man in the country.
Mr. Doty. of the Annoy Mission, Sc
conded these remarks and directed the au
dence to black eyed lue Chinese girl,
who. when 3 weeks old. had been pnr
chased from her own father for so, and
thus saved from de aih hv his hands.