The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-03-25
SATURDAY
The Chinese Classics.
Continued
CONFUCIUS AND MENCIUS.
SAYINGS OF MKNcIUs.

SAYINGS OF MKNcIUs.
[ Quotations and comments prepared for The y. G.
ADvERrIsER.)
One striking feature in these ancient writings
Of Chinese sages. who hourIshed several centuries
before The Christian era, IL the discussion OF
OF government and Of social orgapaiza-
tion. The principles set forth, are such N must
meet the approval of the most advanced thought
Of this age. These sages advocate in every
chapter of their works. the duties of man TO man,
and that social order and government are Tor the
welfare Of the whole people and not Tor tie
glory or pride OF Princes or Rulers. The sayings
Of Mencius in particular should be inscribed On
nigh in letters OF gold in every courroi ChrIsien-
dom. Note what Mencius says IN the Book hung-
Chow, part l.
{. Those Princes Tor kings) remain undistin-
suished in the government Of u realm VINO seek
in the officers around their person, men whom
they teach and use and do not desire officers or
by whom they might be taught ana
And note what Mencius says of the principles
that shonld govern an officer or minister IN MS
relation to his Sovereign and to public oplonIon'
a. He who is in charge OF an office. when he Is
nro"eo,sS from fulfilling its duties, ought 10 take
his departure and h" WHOM : ~ %e Gn1s hs
bility of giving his opinion, - axe ms de-
words unattended to, ought also toe
parture." c-bi,b
The above words express the sense 0fp6"
ministerial honor. This is seldom acted upo~
except by men of very superior character, and
held IN blgn esteem Dy tneV lclloN-CiAiNchoi WV
have a keen sense of nobility of conduct, as ne
yond all advantage OF place or emolument. Men
of inferior character, and without claims 70 pun
bile consideration will regard nothing, but tue
simple question of their living. The most notable
instance we have of a high sense of ministerial
honor was that of Ashtophel. who when his coun-
sci was ignored by his Prince, saddled his ass
got himself to his house and there hanged MN
self. The Chinese sage never contemplated such
a high degree of official sensitivness as manifested
by the Jewish counsellor but he evidently
scorned the character that could accept emou-
ment along with neglect and contumeiy.
Now, Mencius was a frequent counsellor anu
adviser of princes and kings, without pay or
place, and was neglected and ignored on certain
occasions, whereupon, Yin TIE spake ABOUT
him critically To others. saying lie came
many lie 1.-THE third ola mile) to wait on the king
(of Tze) and lie was not made a Tang or a Woo
(certain ranks Of nobility. lf he knew that he
would not be made such, his service and advice
showed his want Of intelligence, to let himself be
SO used. If be did not know anything OF such
rank and opportunity, and came to the court not
withstanding, that shows that he was seeking a
benefit in some way
The disciple Kaou informed Mencius of these
remarks Of Yin TIE.
Mencius said YIN TIE does not know mo.
When l came many lie to wait on the king, 1t
was what | desired to do for the good OF the
, country. The king did not regard my counsel,
! and yet | did not hasten my departure, hoping
that the king might change. The king did not
send after me and yet did not give up the
king. The king after all as one ,ohO may be led 10
do good. And If he toere 10 use me. toouLd AZ rot
, be for the tCeDdre of The tDhoIe people Of TIE!
> Am ] a little tempered man, who when not ac-
cepted by the king. will get angry, speak evil.
and with passion displayed in his countenance,
will 60 on his way to denounce the kingf" =,
When Yin lie heard these words. he said "l
L am indeed a small man." And there are many
, small men of this day. and in this country. who
U should reflect on these words OF the sage.
Mencius in commenting upon the character oil
a king said Therefore a ruler who IL endowed
with talents and virtue will be gravely COM
PLEASANT and economical IN the management of
. his affairs. showing a respectful politeness TO his
] ministers. and not taking anything from the peo-
pie except in accordance with regulated limits. '
Mencius giving advice to the minister OF a
Prince gave the following remarkable advice
You must exert yourself to the utmost, to
promote a benevolent government. Now the hrst
thing towards q peaceful and benevolent govern
ment must be to lay down accurately the
boundaries Of the lands"
Can anything wiser be said in regard to the
ruling of a State, after a lapse OF 2,4OO years
The chief cause of trouble and litigation in q
new State is unsettled boundaries. California
knows this at great cost and loss Of pence. Lei
Hawaii heed the words Of Mencius and have al
her land boundaries speedily and dst2SStes;
settled. ,nse,y
An ascetic nh,ssGs
co~mplss r"iJsopher named Hen Hing was
e1&ASihing to Mencius about the pride and con-
sequence of the Prince of Tang, who had organ
lied a treasury, a storehouse and arsena lin con-
/, nectlon with the government IF the country.
lie said "a true prince shoald cultivate the
ground equally and along with the people, and
eat the fruit of his own labor"
/, Mencius said 81 suppose that Hen Hing
sows grain and eats the produce. Is it not no ?'
p sit IS SO, y was the answer. | suppose also he
d weaves cloth. and wears his own manufacture. Is
not so? No, Hen procures hair cloth. He gets
it in exchange for grain" 'Why docs not Hen
weave it bimseltf 2" That would interfere with
|. his husbandry. Mencius then said, ''the getting
n the articles you need in exchange for grain, is
d proper. The business OF the bandicraf tsman can
by no means be carried on along with the BUSH
e ness OF husbandry. And 80 government cannot
be carried on in connection with the practice Of
> any industry. Some labor with their minds, and
$ some labor with their strength. Those who la
. Dor with their minds govern others those who
. labor with their strength are governed by the
a thinkers. The ruler must not be engaged in any
business, but the business OF government
MencIus commenting upon the character Of an
D eminent man. made these remarks
. "To dwell in the wide house Of the world. to
4 stand in the righteous seat of the world. and to
r walk in the path Of right. When he obtains Of
y hce, to practice his principles for the good Of his
5 people, and when that desire Of office is disap-
pointed. to practice them alone. To be above
the power of riches and honors, to make bin
proud and dissipated above that of poverty and
!: mean condition, to make him swerve from prin-
clple and power and force cannot make him
bend. These characteristics constitute a great
man."
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