The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-02-09
CELESTIAL LITERATURE.
B1GorRY AND INTOLERANCE IN THE FLoWERY
KINGDOM.

B1GoTRY AND INTOLERANCE IN THE FLoWERY
KINGDOM.
The Springfield Republican has re-
ceived from Shanghae the translation
Iof curious and thoroughly abomina.
BILE book, published in Shanghai and
circulated by the Chinese mandarlns
among their countrymen for the sake
of exciting the vilest prejudices against
foreigners and the Christian religion.
It is called "Death Blow to Corrupt
Doctrines" and processes to expose the
) teachings and practices of the Chris
tan believers, charging them with all
sorts of vices odious to Cinnamon, and
with the strangest and most absurd
opinions and habits. There is a whim-
steal mixture of truth with the blum
ders and ISLANDERS of the little book,
and it ought to be read by all unchar-
liable theologians, as a warning to
what extent bigotry can pervert the
perceptions of men. The writer of it
evidently believes that he is true pa
triot, and man of noble ambition, in
trying to free his country of the afro
cious doctrines of Christianity. Toward
the end of it he says, in the true spirit
of Christian bigot seeking to destroy
heresy by persecution:
IF this sect is finally allowed to
spread in China, then this land which
for so many thousand years has been
noted for its civilization and refinement
will at once be transformed into the abode
of naked monsters and mermaids roam
ing about like focks of wild or domest-
ic animals. Would rot this be exceed
ingly distressing? Would it not be
profoundly distressing? We would
quietly suggest that the very best
thing at present would be to carefully
strengthen the coast defenses, to re-
strain and stop their trading vessels,
pluck up their roots, close up their
fountain and destroy their fierce and
rebellious natures"
The habits of debauched sailors and
foreign residents in the Chinese ports
are taken as results of the teaching of
the Christian doctrines, while the So
cial customs of Europe are dwelt upon
with horror, as subverting everything
that the Chinese hold sacred. The |
writer says:
Every one that would enter the
sect must first chop TO pieces his an
cestral tablets and the tablets of the
five gods, and then he may be received.
He sinks so low as to call his father
old brother, and his mother old woman
destroying the law of social relations,
and turning upside down the five vir-
tues and three distinctions of superb
ority and inferiority. They marry the
widows of deceased brothers, uncles
and nephews. Women are regarded
as superior; men as inferior. From the
King down to the people, all are sub
lect to the authority of their wives. 1t
is common thing for wife to drive
away her husband and seek and another.
They say that men are born of women;
many of their Kingdoms are
governed by Queens"
In other places the Misrepresentation
s gross and absurd. For example,
Inc writer charges that the Christians.
when any of their Chinese converts die, {
AXE out their eyes and fill up the orifice
With lead. And then the author, 'above
Ill others distressed his heart" goes on I.
o say, gravely:
"Ihe reason for extracting the eyes
$ this: From 100 pounds of Chinese
cad can be extracted eight pounds of I
liver, and the remaining ninety-two a
pounds of lead can be sold at the origi- v
.al cost. But the only way to obtain y
his silver is by compounding the lead S
With the eyes of Cinnamon. The eyes /
/ foreigners are of no use for this pur- c
ose. Hence they do not take out 5
hose OF their own people, but only '
hose OF the Chinese. The method by d
7hich this silver is obtained has never
cen discovered by any of the native Il
christians during the long period in n
'hich this religion has been propagated e.
ere. There is, however, method of IL
lklng lkenesses by spreading some d
hemicals over the surface of mirror. p
he practice of this art is very lucra- m
We, and some native Christians have D
ceroof