The Shasta courier., 1861-06-15
Life and Character of Confucius.

1ucluS, ulu nl grow. IN knoWIeuSe ny ue-
grees, as children usually do, but seemed to
arrive at reason and the perfection of his
faculties almost from his infancy. He had a
grave and se,ious department, which gained
him respect. md plainly foretold what he one
day would be. What distinguished him most
was his unetampled and exalted goodness
and purity. He honored virtue, and endeav-
ored in all things to initiate his grandfather,
who was thar alive in China, and very ex-
cellent NAM
One dav. when he was but a child, he
heard his grandfather fetch deep sigh; and
going up tssim with much reverence, MAY
l presumai aid he, without losing the
sion of yyAr grief? Perhaps you fear that
your posterity should degenerate from your
virtue, and dishonor you by their vices. -
said his grandfather to him, ''and where
have you learned to speak in this manner"
''From YOURSELF" replied Confucius 8
attend diligently to you every time you
speak; and have often heard you say, that
a son, who does not by his own virtue sup
portsaae glory of his ancestors, and initiate
the virtues of his parents, does not deserve
to bear their name"
gained considerable knowledge of antiquity,
and acquainted himself with the laws and
customs of his country, he began to project
a scheme for a general reformation. Confu-
Gus, wisely persuaded that the people could
| never be happy so long as avarise. ambition,
yoluptuousness and false policy should reign
among them, resolved to preach up severe
morality; and accordingly he began to en-
force temperance, justice, and other virtues,
TO inspire contempt of riches and outward
pomp. to excite to magnanlmlty and great
ness of mind which should make men inca
pable of dissimulation and insincerlty. lie
used every honorable means he could devise
to redeem his countrymen from life OF plea
sure to life of reason. He was everywhere
known, and as much beloved. His extreme
knowledge and great wisdom soon made him
known +; his integrity, and the splendor of his
virtues. soon made him betoved. Kings were
governed by his wisdom, and the people
reverenced him as a saint
He was offered several high Offices in the
magistracy, which he sometimes accepted,
but never from a motive of ambition, which
he was not at all concerned to crafty, but al
WAYS with view of reforming a corrupt
state, and amending mankind; for he never
oh>any occasion failed to resign those offices
as sos perceived that she could be No
longs hem. lie inculcated candor
and Il the mon, and exhorted
IT, ss~-,s--sx w and Jimpleity of man5
Rob. By such methods fFtsssroagit GEM
raj reformation. aid established everywhere
so much concord and humanity. that the
kingdom appeared, as it were, but one great
family
Thus the people, regulated by the wise
maxims or precepts of Confucius, enioved
general happiness. till at length the jealousy
of the neighboring kings was excited. They
were convinced that king, under the coun-
sells of such as Confueus, would soon
become too powerful. Theyicontriyed plot
to demolish the edifce of wisdom and virtue,
which Confucius had erected. by the tempta-
tions of dissipation, luxury aud vicious plea
sUres. Conspiracies were formed against his
life; to which may be added, that his ne
glect of his own interests had reduced him to
the EXTREMIST poverty. Some philosophers
among his cotemporaries were so affected
with the bad of things. that they had retired
to the mountains and deserts, as the only
places where happiness could be found and
would have persuaded Confucius to have fol-
lowed them.
"But am man, said Confucius. and
can not exclude myself from the society of
men. and consort with beasts. Bad as the
times are, shall do all that can to recall
them to virtue; for in virtue are all things,
and if mankind would but once embrace it,
and submit themselves to its discipline and
laws, they would not want me or anybody
else to instruct them. 1t is the duty of a
good man, first to perfect himself, and then
to perfect others. Love your naighbor as
yourself. We should behave ourselves at all
times towards others as we would wish their
conduct to be toward ourselves. Return
good deed by the like, but never revenge an
injury. By the manners of the children we
may judge of the temper of the mother. An
honest heart makes an open countenance.-
Perform your promise if it be not contrary to
equity, for justice is before every PROMISE
Age should be respected, and those who suf-
fer under infrmity or poverty should be re-
heved or supported. The defects of parents
.Ssghtpeyer to be visited on their children.
Justice. and not valor, merits the first place
| IN our esteem. Let your reason be the rule
ofyour conduct, for reason will teach you to
think wisely, to speak prudently, and to be-
have yourself worthily upon all occasions.
Confucius. In the meantime. though he had
withdrawn himself from kings and palaces,
did not cease to travel about. and TO do what
Soou lie cOulu among the sSuFles anu dii'ohS
mankind in general He had often in his
mouth the maxims and examples of their an
cient heroes. so that they were thought to be
all revived in the person Of this great man
We shall not wonder, therefore, that he pros
elyted great number of disciples, who were
inEioiabiy attached to his person. He sent
six hundred of them into different parts OF
the empire, to reform the manaers OF the
people. Hardly anything can be added TO
the purity of his morality, which he taught
as forcibfy by example as by preeept.
Confucius did not trust altogether to the
memories of his disciples for the preserva-
ton of his philosophy, but he composed sew
eral books: and although these books were
greatly admired for the doctrines they con
tanned. and the fine principles of morality
-ahey taught. yet such was the unparalleled
modesty of this philosopher. that ne never
assumed the least honor about them. He
ingenuously acknowledged that the doctrine
was not his own. but was much more an
cient, and that he had none nothing more than