The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-07-07

pies, we have measure in the present social
and political condition of the Empire.
STRIKING FEATURES IN THE HISTORY OF
CHINA.
The most striking features in the his
tory of China, are the persistency of its civ
ilization, and its national vitality which
seems still undiminished, notwithstanding
the great age of the Empire. This civiliza-
ton is native to the soil. At every step we
find unmistakable proofs that in remote times
the ancestors of the race lived under pa
triarchal government. The earliest records
describe them as entering China from the
northwest, and we know that in that direc-
ton, upon the high table lands of Central
Asia, between Thibet and the Tienshan,
there existed civilization which was partly
pastoral, but acquainted also with many
arts, and in which the use of iron was known
at the remote period preceding the separa-
ton of the earlier branches of the Arian
race. Our own ancestors, and those of the
Chinese, were perhaps near neighbors, at
that epoch. In entering China, the latter
found it occupied by an aboriginal race, of
which remnants live to this day unconquered,
in the southern and western mountains
The earliest records and traditions carrying
us back far into the uncertain period of his
tory, show us the founders Of the empire
gradually forming colonies through the land,
and carrying on defensive wars against the
northern hordes, at the same time that they
conquered both the natives of the soil and
the natural obstacles in the way of their'ex
pansion.
Already in the dawn of their written his
tory, we find them carrying out great en-
terprise, building works to control the waters
of the Yellow River-one of the most un-
governable streams of the earth-by confn-
ing it between dykes several hundred miles
in length, to prevent its destructive inunda
tons; an undertaking, the maintenance of
which, even at the present day, forms a
heavy tax on the whole Empire. Thus, in
the infancy of the nation, there existed the
germs that were necessary to its wonderful
growth.
Every essential feature of their civiliza-
ton, moral, social, political, industrial, is
the offspring of their own minds More
than this, from China there have radiated
many of the fundamental features Of Asiatic
and even of European civilization. The
mariners compass, printing, and gunpowder,
were early inventions of that country, and
there is little doubt that they were directly
or indirectly introduced into the West dur
ing the reign of the Mongol dynasty, when
so many Europeans wandered freely through
all Asia. 1t has been claimed that the first
printed copy of the Bible was made in
China The observing traveller in that
country will see at every step the prototypes
of familiar objects in common use. with US
and in Europe.
1t has often been made reproach to the
Chinese, that their inventions have remained
unprotected. This is certainly remarka-
bic fact, when we consider the fertility of
mind necessary to have originated, through
out, such civilization; but it would seem
that the perfecting of the results of thought
and labor is, to certain extent, dependent
on their transportation into other countries,
and on the reaction upon each other of diff
ferent kinds of civilizations. China has
ever been too isolated to enjoy the benefits
of this interchange, although there is reason
to hope that such an era is now dawning.
1t must also be remembered that China has
ever been world within itself; sufficient to
itself. Having no competitors, their inven-
tons stopped at the point where the desired
end was attained; they were intended to be
grading rather than labor,saving. 1t
would seem that with this isolation, the very
fact that the Chinese civilization is indigo
nous would go far toward explaining the
persistency of its type.
PRINCIPLES OF THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
FABRIC.
The principles upon which the whole So
cial and political fabric of the Empire is
based had already been established, and had
taken firm root in the national mind in
early historical times; and so firmly were
they fixed that every attempt. to overthrow
them has ended in the extinction of the ag-
sressive dynasties. These principles are,
paternal and fAal duty, and individual re-
sponsibihty for the public weFare. As the
Emperor is the son of Heaven and the faith,
err Of the people, he is responsible to heaven
for the well-being of the nation; portion
only of his power is delegated to the officers
of the government. So also, in the family,
the parent is supreme, but also responsible
for the conduct of the children. The entire
population of city is responsible for the
citizens; each ward, for its families; each
family, for its members. No crime is greater
than the violation of filial duty in the family
relation, and all crimes acting against the
public good, are brought to the doors of the
public sponsors.
But the Chinese, always too material and
practical people to vest the control of the
imperial will in heaven alone, established,
so far as we know, first among mankind, the
principle that the will of the people and the
will of heaven are synonymous In the
Shu. King, compiled by Confucius, 500 B.
c., from authorities much more ancient, we
find the following axiom: "That which
heaven sees and hears, manifests itself in
that which the people see and hear" "That
which the people judge worthy of reward
and punishment indicates what heaven de-
sires to reward and to punish" Again it
is said in the Chung.King, "The wise En-.
perors of ancient times used the eyes and
ears of the Empire to see and hear, for the
wishes of the people were their. wishes, since
it is in the wishes of the people that the in
tentions of heaven are manifested" Be-
lieving thus firmly that "the voice of the
people is the voice of God" a. council of
the wisest men of the Empire, themselves
raised from the people, has ever surrounded
the throne, holding the position of censors,
memorializing the Emperor on the state of
the country, and generally not hesitating to
risk their lives in criticising wrong policy.
IL Il.