Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-04-08

Christian statesmen, four members of

Christian statesmen, four members of
Congress in the last quarter of the
nineteenth century, who seriously
object to people on account of their
religious convictions, should still as
sert that the very religion in which
they believe-and the only religion
established by the living Godhead of
the American system-is not adapted
to the spiritual needs Of one-third of
the human race. 1t is amazing that
these four gentlemen have, in the de
fense of the Christian religion, an
nounced the discovery that it is Who'll
ly inadequate for the civilization of
mankind that the light of the cross
can never penetrate China; "that all
the labors of the missionary, the ex-
ample of the good, the exalted char
acter of our civilization, make no i'm
preston upon the Pagan life Of the
Chinese" )" and that even the report
of this committee will not tend to
elevate, refine and Chrlstianize the
yellow heather of the Pacific coast.
In the name of religion these gentle
men have denied its power and
mscked at the enthusiasm of its
founder. Worse than this, they hare
predicted for the Chinese futute of
ignorance and idolatry in this world,
and, if the ''American system of re-
ligion is true, hell-fire in the next.
For the benefit of these four philos-
pliers and prophets will give
FEW EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS
OF CONFUCIUs,
that will, in my judgment, compare
favorably with the best passages of
their report:
My doctrine is that man must be
true to the principles of his nature,
and the benevolent exercise of them
toward others.
With coarse rice to eat, with water
to drink and with my bended arm tor
a pillow, still have joy.
| Riches and honor acquired by in
justice are to me but floating clouds
The man who IN view of gain thinks
of righteousness, who in view of dam
ger iorgets life, and who remembers
an Old agreement however far back it
extends, such a man may be reckonet
q complete man.
Recompense injury with justice,
and kindness with kindness.
| There is one word which may serve
as Il rule of practice for all ones life !:
reciprocity is that word.
When the ancestors of the four
Christian Congressman were barbari.
ans, when they lived in caves, gnawed
bones, and worshipped dried snakes,
the ins:a'nous Chinese were reading
When the forefathers Of these Chris
tian statesmen were hunting toads to
get the jewels out of their heads, t.
be used as charms, the wretched Chi
nese were calculating eclipses and
measuring the circumference of the
earth. When the progenitors of these
representatives Of the american sys.
tenn of religion" were burning women
charged with nursing devils
the people ''incapable of being influ'
enced by the exalted character of oul
civilization" were building asylums
for the insane. Neither should it b,
forgotten that, for thousands of years,
the Chinese have honestly practiced
the great principle known as civi
service reform-a something that even
the administration of MIR. Hayes has
reached only through the proxy o
promise.
If We wish to prevent the immigra
ton of the Chinese, let us reform oul
treatise with the vast empire from
whence they came. For thousands
of years the Chinese scclu led them
selves from the rest of the world
They did no. deem the Christian ma
tons fit to associate with. We forcet
ourselves upon them. We called, no
with cards, but with cannon. TIL.
English battered down the door in The
name of opium and Christ. The in
fanny was regarded as another triumph
for the Gospel. At last, in seli-de
tense, the Chinese allowed Christians
to touch their shores. Their wis.,
men, their philosophers, protested
and pvophesIed that time would shov
that Christians could not be trusted
! This report proves that the wise mel
were not only philosophers bu
prophets.
! Treat China as you would England
Keep q treaty while it is in force
Change it if you will, according to tn
! laws of nations, but on no accoun
: excuse o breach of national faith b.
pretending that we are dishonest fo
: iod's sake.
ROBERT G.. INGERsoLL.