, 1877-12-08


to people VINO commit suicide to escape
II hogging. All they want of life, science
0r morality is the practical utilitarian.
This peculiarity is factor in the problem
of their conversion to Christianity which
Jealous missionaries will do well to study.
Coniucius understood them and adopted
his works to them. He has fiatcred them
and made them pleased with themselves
"A stratagetic point carried to begin
with. He has thrown an air Of sanctity
around the antiquities Of the empire he
has extoed their ancient institutions; he
has lauded their ancient kings; he has
praised their ancient sages he has per.
petuated their ancient civilization.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
But the great secret of the stability of
Chinese :nstitutionsis that they are based
on education. All the civil officers of
the Government are the rewards and
prizes of literary merit. The Civil Ser
vice Reform, after which our good Presi-
dent ia struggling so hopelessly. has been
for many centuries the chiet character.
istc and crownng glory of the Chinese
polty. The Government is virtual
aristocracy. Not Of blood, like Great
Britain; not military, like Russia; not
of money, like ours, where gold will buy
the way into the United States Senate of
an ignorant and conceted boor, and
there whitewash his stupidity over with
n IL D. from some stupid college--but
that grandest Of all aristocracies, liter.
ary aristocracy, II competition of mind, a
premium on bruins! When that grand
old overworked Baptist preacher, Robert
Hall, worried and worn by excessive
cares and !abors, had to be carried by
his weeping Pensioners to mad house
brother preacher. noted for sottness of
heart and similar affection of head,
called on him and said. "Why. what
brought you here brother Hall :"
"What'll never bring you, sir-brains
roared back the eloquent old lunatic.
Neither is it brains tbat will bring our
aspirants to position. It is about the
last thing they have use for. But il
takes education tn fit a man to hold office
in China. Few are qualified before they
are forty, and have spent all their previ
GUS years in unremitting study. Lacking
this, no matter how "smart" q man may
be, nor how much money he may he
worth. nor how much of adept he may
he in laying pipes and pulling wires, he
cannot hold office in China. Is there
nothing for us to learn in this
Our wisest statesmen have always en-
forced the truth that "the education of
the people is essential to the nobility Of
the State" Washington in his farewell
address, says; "In proportion as the
structure of government gives force to
public opinion. it is essential that public
opinion should he enlightened" De Witt
Clinton asserts "The first duty of o
state is the encouragement of education;
A general diffusion of knowledge is the
precursor and protector Of republican
Institutions" Chancellor HsHt used this
language:
"The parent who sends his son into
the world uneducated defrauds the COM
munity Of lawful citizen, and. bequeaths
to it nuisance" George Wolf the
father of the Pennsylvania common
schooi system, in his message to the Leg
isiatupe, tells them that the state of
public morals calls for the enact
untnt Of . system Of public education,
and The security and stability ot the in
valuable privileges which we have inner
itod from our ancestors require immedi-
ate attention to the duty" Foreign
philosophical writers have expressed
themselves to the same effect. Montes-
qdiea writes: ut Is in republican
geverpment that the whole power Of
education Is required" Guizot declares
"that universal education is henceforth
one ofthe greatest guarantees OF liberty
and social stability" And De Tocque-
vile penetrated the very heart OF the
matter when he said: I'm examining the
Constitution Of the United States, which
is the most perfect federal constitution
that ever existed, one is startled at the
variety Of information and amount Of
diseernment which It presupposes in the
people whom il is meant to govern