Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-04-10

ter of the nineteenth century, VINO
seriously object to people on account
of their religious convictions, should
still assert that the very religion in
which they believe-and the only
religion established by the living
God, head of the American system
is not adapted to the spiritual needs
of one-third of the human raceI6 1t is
amazing that these four gentlemen
have, in the defense of the christian
religion, announced the discovery that
it Is wholly inadequate for the cizil-
ization OF mankind that the light of
the cross can never penetrate the
darkness of China; "that all the
iabors of the missionary, the example
Of the good, the exalted character OF
our civilization, make no impression
upon the pagan life of the Chinese )"
and that even the report of this COM
mittee will not tend to elevate, re-
fine and christianiZe the yellow
heathen of the Pacific coast. In the
name of religion these gentlemen
have denied its power and Knocked
at the enthusiasm of its founder.
Worse than this, they have predicted
for the Chinese u future of ignorance
and idolatry in this world, and, if the
"A HlpfICaU SySIeIH VI IcllSlOu 10
true, hell-tire in the next.
For the benefit of these four phi
losophers and prophets will give
A FEW EXTRACTS FROM THE WRIT
INGS 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,
| aud the benevolent exercise OF them
| toward others.
With coarse rice to eat, with wa
ter to drink, and with my bended
arm for a pillow, L 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 danger, forsets life, aud whe
remembers an old agreement. how
aver far back it extends, such man
may be reckoned complete man.
Recompense injury with justice,
and kindness with kindness.
There is one word which may serve
as rule of practice for all ones life:
Reciprocity is that word.
When the ancestors Of the four
Christian congressman were barbar-
ians, when they lived in caves, gDaw-
ed bones land worshiped dried snakes.
the Infamous Chinese were reading
these sublime sentences of Confucins.
When the forefathers of these Chris
tan statesmen were hunting toads
to get the jewels out of their heads,
to be used as charms, the wretched
Chinese. were calculating eclipses,
and measuring the circumference Of
the earth. When the progenitors of
these representative of the "Ameri-
can system of religion" were BUM
ing women charged with nursing
devils, the people ''incapable of being
Influenced by the exalted character Of
our civilization," were building asy-
lums for the insane.
| Neither should it be forgotten that,
for thousands of years, the Chinese
have honestly practiced the great
principle known as
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
something that even the administra-
ton of Mr.. Hayes has reached only
through the proxy of promise.
If we wish 10 prevent tho immigra-
ton Of the Chinese, let us reform
our treaties with the vast empire
from whence they came. For thOu-
sands of years the Chinese secluded
themselves from the rest of the
world. They did not deem the Chris
tiau nations fit to associate with. We
called, mot with cards, but with can-
non. The English battered down the
door in the names Of opium aud
Christ. The iniamy was regarded as
another triumph for the gospel. At
last, III self-defense, the Chinese al
lowed Christians to touch their
shores. Their wise men, their phi.
losophers protested. and prophesied
that time would show that Christians
could not be trusted. This report
prsves that the wise men were not
only philosophers but prophets.
Treat China as You would England.
Keep a treaty while it is in force.
Change it if you will, according to
the laws of nations, but on no account
excuse breach of national faith by
pretending that we are dishonest for
Gods sake.
ROBERT g. INaERsoLL.