The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19


comes to China to study art Who reads
her classics to catch the spirit Of Demos
themes, the muse of Homer, or to acquire
the logic of an Aristotle? This may seem
irrelevent to the subject, but l think not
The overrating of Chinese Government and
civilization, has in the political sphere given
origin to treaties and policy by foreign
nations toward this country, almost univer-
ally regarded as disastrous by foreigners in
China, and those most conversant with her
government and policy as 1t is. And may not
these same erroneous views of the intelli-
gence of this people and the goodness OF
their government, greatly influence the set
tlement of this question of immigration! In
truth the recent American treaty with
China, has given direct encouragement to
increased emigration, as far as treaty can
operate on this people.
5. The CAinese are a peaceful, tracta6le
and polite people. This is important in la
borers who are to be concentrated on plan
tations along Railroads, and in factories
and was one of the chief virtues of the ne
gro. 1 can here join in the praises of Chi
mas warmest admirers. Were they other
wise they would probably be troubled Oftener
than at present by instructions. For while
my limited acquaintance with the theory of
this government makes me backward to
criticise the encomiums of some ardent ad-
mirers, the defects of its practical workings
are so patent, "that he that runneth may
read" However white may be the form,
within is all manner of corruption. For
example, we rent from an inferior military
Ulcer, and learn from him and other citizens
that their laws of war, or want of laws, per-
mits the soldier in disturbed part of the
country to enter houses, appropriate what
he pleases, slay with or without provocation,
take no prisoners, and commit those darker
deeds of rapine at which every virtuous feel
ING revolts. A former official "runner" told
me, what 1 believe is generally admitted,
that native having business at the Yamen,
had to pay his way from the outer door, a
good way in China, to the official presence.
And that this mercenary spirit pervades the
mass of officials, may be shown from re-
cent memorial to the throne concerning the
sale of offices by Ting Futui, one of the
most enlightened of Chinese Mandarins.-
Speaking of the extent of these sales, he
says: "Still more, so great is the variety
of these sales, that men bent on speculation,
not only those of but moderate circumstances
come knocking at the door for office, but
even the naked poor who have no means OF
making living gather little here, and
collect little there, in order to make mer-
chandise of Office. Again, ''Those who are
nimble-footed enough to advance sooner must
either be clever in boring or scheming then
way, or have friends in a position to help
them forward How can such class, by
nature unreliable and Sordid, be expected tc
cherish the people?" This looks little like
the imaginary China of some writer's, where
promotion is solely upon the ground of merit
and literary excellence. But does not thi:
memorial show vitality somewhere? JUS
enough to point out the malady eating ou
the life of the nation. How then has sucf
government been prolonged? think
much is due to the observance of the fifth
commandment of the decalogue. Since thc
government recognizes the duty of obedience
to parents, and Furnishes even to death thu
violation of this duty, it does not seem to b.
an unjust inference that God has extended
the promise of long life to the nation despit
its corruption.
But, to return from depression | should
like to follow further, let US note
6. The morality of this people. This is tt
the lovers of liberty, social order and reli
glon, the important question. And on SOM
points much may be said in favor of thi
people, Infanticide, have seen no evi
dences of, unless once. But this crime j
quite prevalent in some cities. In Americ'
it would cease, as Chinese women there, are
and long will be, in great demand. twill
pav to raise them, and where this is the cas-
infanticide is little known. Are the Chimes
temperate? The Irishman' S faillngS are in
temperance, and brawls, and blood shed. Th
Chinese are one of the wine drinking ma
tions. They make wine of rice Or "Chines
sugar cane," (ttS sole aSe By then',) and tn
wine shops outnumber their rice stores; yet
as is usual with wine drinking nations, ther
is little intoxication. Still, with far less thai
5000 miles travel, and only II months resi-
dence. I have seen several drunken China
men. Then are they not very temperat
people? Sadly true they are not. Opiur
smoking is amore tyrannical, wasting specie
of intemperance than whisky drinking. l
exhausts the powers of purse, body an
mind. Yet native estimates for the provinc
of Szechuen are that eight-tenthS of tn
men and one-half of the women smoke
Here and at Hangchou the estimate 70
adult males is the same, and l fear they ar
too near the actual figures.
To the American citizen arises the ques
ton, IS this vice to be natowalised along sOit
the Chinaman9 Does not opium eatin
lead him to fear opium smoking would sprea
among the white population, as well as Wit