Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-12
Few Fac,. Anou, China.

When we reculleci that in the year OF
Christ 1875, we celebrat, d our first century
as nation, we can afford TO feel and ex
press some peculiar respect for govern
meut and institutions (whatever their de-
fects may be) whose beginnings are lost in
dim antiquity, and yet have continued sta
bic and permanent, While other empires
aud nations have risen, fourished aud
passed away.
Every student Of Geography has gener-
al idea OF the great extent Of the Chinese
empire. But il is hard 10 realize with any
degree Of exactitude the vaslness of the
territory over which its dominion stretch
e.. II is spread over 35 degrees Of latitude,
20 Of longitude, covering an area Of more
than 100000 of square miles.
China proper, Inhabited by the true Chi
nese, Is half the size of Europe. Ii con-
tains Is rich ard fertile provinces, and a
population Of more than 800, ,000, coo. Many
of these single provinces contain more in
habilants than some of the great stales Of
Europe.
What is known as the Chinese Empire
embraces (besides China properD Chinese
Tartary, vast region extending from The
sea of Ochotsk on the east TO Box hari on
the west, aud from the Altai Mountains Oh
the north 10 The great wall on the south.
II also claims tribute and a dominant in
huence in Thibet, Corea, Cochin China,
Cambodia, etc. The population of the
whole territory is estimated by the most
recent writer's at 500, 100000 OF human
souls! Aud these swarmiUg millions have
remained from immemorial ages until
within very few years, as distinct from
the rest of mankind as if they bad belong
ed 10 another planet. The modern king
doms and empiies of Europe are but ol
yesterday compared with the Chinese.
The authentic history of this people COM
mences 1000 years before the Christian era.
Their language has been the same for thir-
ty centuries. Their institutions are the
best types of permauence the world can
produce. Their records are the oldest ex-
cept the writings of Moses. Their dynas-
ties, or ruling families, have changed from
time TO time; but all that makes up the
national life of the Chinese, and imparts
their distinguishing characteristics, has
NOuhibuOd llOu dSC " o6O " buO BiSSSub
moment.
The name of Chnee is said TO he derived
from Tsin, an emperor who reigned little
more than two hundred years before Christ.
He built the great wall 10 keep out The Tar
tars who infested and menaced the north
ern frontier. TO construct this stupen-
dons work about every fourth man in the
prAxipoac lraQaA hainO arnallu
tasked and poorly fed, the lives of immense
numbers were sacrificed. The wall is 1910
miles long, and from ffleen TO twenty feet
high; with towers every few hundred
yards. 1t crosses mountains, descends
into valleys, and is carried over rivers on
arches Of solid masonry. Many parts of it
are now IN dilspidaled and ruinous con-
dition.
The design of this enormous work was
not fulfilled. II did not keep the Tartars
out nor serve as any protection against
their inroads. Aher various invasons,
more or less successful, they at length con-
quered the Chinese, and for more than two
centuries have had The ascendency. The
present relgning family belongs to the
Mantchou Tartar race; and a large proper
tion of the great officers of the empire are
the same nationality.
But, though the Tartars subjugated Chi
ma by force of arms, they did not alter or
disturb her ancient customs, government
or institutions. On the contrary, they
adopted at once and completely the super
GENERALIZATION of the conquered people,
and readily cOnfOrmed themselves to all
lis rules, methods aud requirements, so
that under the present Mantchou suprem-
acy, China has remained exactly what she
was before it, having only changed the
relgning race, and at the same time gained
an Immense accession Of territory.
The moral and religious sentiments OF
the Chinese are moulded mainly by the
works of sages and philosophers which
have come down from very ancient times.
Both the writings and their authors are
held in the highest reverence and honor,
and not seldom are the objects Of religious
alteration, while the study of their maxims
Of piety, morality aud wisdom constitute
the school tasks of every student.
The most renowned among these philos-
| ophers is Confuclus, or Kung-fu tsze, as II
is called in Chinese. He was born b. @.
65l. His works consist of histories, collec-
tions of ancient records and poems, aud,
above all, the arrangement. In manuscript
] form, ~ Dghnt nm knORR - ths aAenad