Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-07-24
Our Chinese Problem.
rlIk cn1NAMEx ArnnoME.


But it is in their own homp and IN
the record of their national growth that
we must seek the most important data
for estimating the Chinese character.
The necessary breyity OF magazine
article admits of only a superficial glance
at the outlifes Of this fecofd, and the
principles on which the social and politi-
cal Organization rests. For the practi-
cal worth and working Of these rinci-
pies we have a measure in the present
social and political condition Of the
empire. % 'A'' f'''ls@ 'i'H "n
The most striking features ia the his
tory of China are the persistency of its
civilization and its national Vitality,
which seems still undimiIished, notwith.
standing the great age of the empire.
This civilization is native to the soil.
At every step we find uninistakable
proofs that iii remote times the ances-
tors of the race lived under a patriarchal
government. The earliest records de-
scribe them as entering China from de
northwest, and we know that in that
direction, upon the high table-lands OF
Central Asia, between Thibct aud the
l1enshan, there. existed civilization
which was partly pastoral, but acquaint-
ed also with many arts, and in which the
use Of iron was known at the remote
period preceding the separation 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 un-
conquered, in the southern and western
mountains. The earliest records and
traditions, carrying us back far into the
uncertain period of history, show us the
founders of the empire gradually form
ing colonies through the land, and carry
ing on defensive wars against the north
ern hordes, at the same time they con
qpered both the natives of the soil and
the natural obstacles in the way of their
expansion. .,..'...
Already in the dawn of their written
history we find them carrying out a
great enterprise, building works to con
troll the waters of the Yellow River
one OF the most ungovernable streams
ON earth-by eoufnipg it between dykes
several hundred miles in length, TO pre-
vent its destructive inundations; an un-
dertaking 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 won
derful growth. ~ v8E Y,5Y aosI
Every essential feature of their civil
.ization-moral, social, political, indus
trial--is the offspring of their own minds.
More than this, from China have radia-
ted many of the fundamental features of
Asiatic, and even of European civiliza-
tion. The mariners compass, printing,
and guopowder were early inventions OF
that country, and there is little doubt
that they directly or indirectly in.
troduced INTO tue west during the reign
OF the Mongul dynasty, when SO many
Ehropeans wandered so freely through
all Asia 1T ohas been claimed that the
first Piintedscopy oftbe Bible was made
in Cbinas The observing traveller inzthat
country will seeiat every step the preto-
types ofitamlar objects in common use
with lis and in Eur ope. 13ulG9 30 sLs7i
IL has often been made q reproach to
the Clrinese TINT their inventions haze
remained uDperfected. This iscertainly
q remarkabletact, when we consider the
fertility of, mind necessary TO have origi-
natetf, lthroughout, such A. civilization
but5itj would seem that the sperfecting OF
thei results of thought and labor is, to a
certain leStents dependent ON their trans
plantatiOnsinto other countries, and oon
The reaction upon each other of different
kinds of civilization.l China has ever
been too isolated TO enjoy the benefits of
this interchange, although there is reason
to hope tsat'such hniera is now dawn
ing. 1T must Also be remembered that
China has ever been q world within it,
self f;sathcient TO itself. u Having no COM
pelitols, their inventions cstouped nj the
point herethe desired end WINS attained
they were intended TO be labonaiding
rather than labor-saying. 1t would seem
that with this isolation, the very fact
that the Chinese civilization il soindigcn-
Gus would go far toward explaining the
i,ersistency OF its type. b6o2 Sr9h :
The principles upon which the whole
social and political fabric OF the empire
is based had already been established.
and had takena 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 ex.
tinction of the aggressive dynasties.
These principles are pdteSadt and :JflidI
dssty and s'sdioia,idt responsi6i 6ility for
the p,iblie aoe5fare. AS the Emperor is
the SON of Heaven and the iither Of che
people, he is responsible 10 Heaseniors