The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-06-02
From the PHILADELPHIA Ledger.
IvHI tIIV IIIIuuVTF'II1 IItUBtr'
MISTAKES CONCERNING CHINA. -

MISTAKES CONCERNING CHINA.s-
A work has lately appeared in London,
written by Mr.. Meadows, for many wears
a British interpreter in China, which UNDER
takes to put the Chinese in more fayora-
BILE light before the European and American
world than they have been heretofore pre-
sented in. Mr.. Meadows protests especially
against the idea, promLl lgated by the Jesuit
missionary Hue, that the Chinese, beyond
all other nations, are material, sensual, mo-
ney-making and gross. He pointedly re-
marks, that if the people Of France, Great
Britain or America, were to be judged BY
the worshiping inhabtants Of Pa
ris, London and New York, it would be cutie
as fair verdict as that pronounced by Hue.
who has formed his opinions of the Chinese
from the selfish denizens of the great cities.
lie adds, with great truth, that the majority
of every nation, even the most christian, have
a lower scale of morality than the intellectu-
al and spiritual minority, who are continual
y aspiring after loftier life.
MIR. Meadows further asserts, that the ha-
bits and opinions OF the Chinese have suffer-
ed injustice from the ignorance Of transla-
tors, who have misunderstood terms, giving
them usually baser and grosser meaning
than truth warrants. He cites the antiquity
of the social and political fabric Of China az
proof that the character and condition Of
the people have been misrepresented for no
empire, he properly remarks, could last so
long, unless it was founded on substantial
justice, or unless its development was heal
thy. We explain the decline Of Rome by its
corruption. We attribute the prosperity Of
christian nations TO the virtue OF the people.
The Chinese, Mr. Meadows contends, have
a right to the benefits Of similar mode of
argument. Thousands of years, it is well
known, have seen no revolutions in China.
| There have been overthrOws Of dynasty, re-
bellions without lumber, but no radical chan
ges in the political or social fabric. Is not
this, instead Of being proof Of stagnation
and death, as it is popularity considered, a
proof, on the contrary, Of vitality and health:
\ The real, living faith Of the Chinese. ac-
corling to Mr.. Meadows. is not Buddhism,
but the religion Of Confucius. The whole
social and political organization of the EN-.
pire is based on that religion. II is, in COM
parison with other Pagan beliefs, pure and
elevated. In one essential point IL differs,
however, from Ghristianity-it makes no dis
tinction between the intellectual and moral
nature Of man, but teaches that whatever
there is Of good the mind can perceive, aud
that, having perceived il, the inference is
they follow il. To render men yirtnuus,
therefore, educate them. In no country in
the world, not even in these United States,
is learning so general. The entire civil
functions uf the government are in the hands
Of a specific class. trained especially for that
employment, on the ayowed principle OF put
ting " the right man in the right place."
Europeans aud Americans, much as they at-
feet to despise the Chinese, might take les
son from them in this particular.
4 Mr.. Meadows also Fsluies the notion that
the Chinese are i'll fed. Their edbles, though
different frnm ours, are nutricious; and =
sleekcr-lUoking race, he saws. nowhere exists.
The best specimens Of the Chinese race are
to be- found in the northern aud middle pro.
vinces. On the southern coasts, with which
Europeans are more familiar. the people are
less civilized, more brutal, aud not 80 reli.
giOus. Ii is from the bays aud creeks on
the southern and southeastern coasts, which
abound with mountains, that the pirates who
iniest the Chinese seas SWARM forth. The
Westminster Review, IN an able article on
China, CurrDburatrs the views uf Mr.. Mea-
dOws, by testimony drawn from various 9th.
er sources. II i exceedingly difficult, we
all know, to tOun1prsiand a people, unless upon
long and familiar acquaintance with them;
aud the opinions Of llr. Meadows are worth,
therefore. more than those OF ninety aud niue
other travellers, who have mer9ly stopped q
day or two at Canton, or lounged away
summer at Macao.
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