Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-17
aII:3
- A Few Facts About China.

fects may be) whose beginnings arc lo-t
in dim antiquity, and yet have continued
stable and permanent, while other empires
and nations have risen, hourished and
passed away.
Every student of Geography has a gen.
eral idea of The great extent of the Chinese
empire. But it is hard to realize with any
degre of cxaclilude the yastness of the
territory over which its dominion stretch.
es. 1t is spread over 30 degrees of lati-
lude, 20 of longitude, covering IN area Of
more than 5000, 900 of square miles.
China proper, inhabte by the true Chi
nesP, is half the size of Europe. 1t con-
tans 19 irh and fertile provinces. and Il
population of IL ore than 100000 900.
Many of these single provinces contain
more inhabitants than some of the great
states of Europe.
What is known us the Chinese Empire
embraces (brsideS China proprr) Chinrs
Tarary, II vast region extending from the
sea of Ochotsk on the east to Bokhari on
the west, and from the ALTA Mountains on
the north to the great wall on the south
1t also claims tribute and II dominant in
ilucnce in Thibet. Corca, C0chin-China,
CamhoIia, etc. The population of the
whole territory is estimated by the most
recent writer's at 500,O00,000 of human
souls! And these swarmir g millions have
remained from immemorial ages until
within II very few years, us distinct from
the rest of mankind as if they had belong
ell to another planet. The modern king
dom and empires of Europe are but of
yesterday compared with the Chinese.
The authentic history of this people
commences 2O00 years before the Christian
era. Their lans uage has been the same
for thirty centuries. Their institutions
are the best types of permanence the
world can produce. Their records are
the oldest except the writings Of Moses.
Their dynastieS, or ruling families. have
changed from time to time; but all that
makes up the national life of The Chinese.
and imparts their dis inguishng character
islics, has continued from age to age to
the present moment.
The name of Chinee is said to be derived
from Tsin, an Empcror,wl o reigned II lit
tie more than two hundred years before
Christ He built the great wall to keep
out the Tartars who infested and menacpd
the northern frontier 70 construct this
stupendous work about every fourth man
in the province was drafted. But being
cruelty taskcd and poorly fed, the lives of
immense numbers were sacrificed. The
wall is 1910 miles long. and from fifteen
to twenty feet high with towers every
few hundred yards. Itcrosses mountains.
descends into valleys. and is carried over
rivers on arches of solid masonry. Many
parts of it are now in Il dilapdaled and
runous condition.
Tie design Of this enormous work was
not fulfilled, 1t did not keep the Tartars
out nor serve as any protection against
their inroads. After various invasions,
more or less successful, they ut length
conquered the Chinese, and for more Than
two centuries have had the ascendancy
The present rci9ning family belongs 10 the
MantchOu Tartar race; and Il large pro-
portion Of the gread officers of the en-
plre are the same nationality.
But, though the 'Taltars subiugated Chi
M by force of arms, they did not altar or
disturb her ancient customs, government
or institutions. On the contrary, they
adopted at once and completely the supG-
rior civilization of the conquered people,
and readily CO informed themselves to all
its rules, methods and requirements, so
that under the present Mantclou suprem
acy, China has remained exactly what she
WAS before it, having only changed the
rcigning race, and ut the same Time gained
IN immense accession Of territory.
The moral and religious sentiments of
the Chinese are moulded mainly by the
works of sagcs 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 picty, morality and wisdom constitute
the school tasks of every stndcn'.
The most renowned among these philoS-
ophers is C0nfucius. o. Kung lu.tsze. as it
is called in Chinese. He VAS born b. G..
SOL. His works consist of histories, col
lections of ancient records and poems, and,
above all, the arrangement in mAnu,cript
form, of what are known us the sacred
hooks and classics of the Chinese. These
works, upon witch numerous commcnDa-
+ les and explanations have been written
from time to time, are 10 day the principal
tG Xt books of the Chinese scholar, who
commits them to memory, volume after
onme. while the common people and la
boring GLASSES only learn extracts from
hem in the shape of short practical max
inns, applicable to the ordinary cilcum-
stances and affairs of life,
Ihas. ,Xl,i,,h ippI,1n, 10
morality, Il profound reverence for parents
and ancestors, IL l"ve of order, industry
and peace, are the fundamental principles
which ut this moment underie, us they
have for ages, all the peculiar institutions
of China; cXerlng IN influence on its vast
populations wholly impossible to estimate
or cxaggerate.
Mencius, or Mcng-tsz'. is another very
celebrated name in Chinese literature. He
| lived End wrote about II century later than
Conlucius, and his works play IN impOr-
lnnt part in Chinese education. Many
others might he mentioned whose writings
are highly valued and much studied but
none hold the exalted rank Of the two we
have mentioned.
| What may be called the state religion
in China is Confucianism; yet there are
other sccts, some of them founded by Chi
neSe teachers. and others introduced from
nei2hboring or Distant countries. Budd-
! hi>m was brought from India in the first
century ofthe Christian era, and has spread
widely in the empire. Many OF the Tar
lar provinces contain worshipprrs of the
Grand Llama. AIohammednnism and
ROmanism have tlourished more or less in
modern times. Protestant Christianity
has gained foohold latest of all.
Our country seems providentally des-
tined to act more directly and powerfully
upon China than any other. And China
believes in u, She las no grudge or pref
udce against us rs against the English.
She has shown us in various instances how
much she confides in our honor, trusts our
friendly advances, and respects our civili-
zation and our science if not our religion.
The last token of confidence by which she
entrusts some .of her most promising
youths for II long course of instruction
amongst us has m important significance,
and will have, as we trust and rope, more
important results than we have even
dreamed of.
s----s--------------
Few persons are probably aware Of the
extent TO which an export trade in fresh
beef has grown up between this country
and Europe. Over 5000 quarters of
! American fresh beef now reach Liverpool
every week and are at once sent nll over