The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-05-06

/ naS ittlc MciEnt, Knltc II mas III ucoUItI
warmth. Many women look handsome
in il, who are ugly in western attire, This
desirable dress, may make us less sorry
that SO large part Of the women in the
world are Chinese, Careful considera-
ton of the effect OF modes Of dressing in
both countries, has made me sure that
the custom Of binding the feet hampers
the body and soul Of Chinese women, less
than the changing and following of
fashions does that Of American women.
This healthful dress, may be reason
why with floorless and windowless houses
poor food, and unwholesome surroundings
Chinese women live to very old age.
Owing to causes some OF which have
been explained, the Chinese are a very
homogeneous people, although with 50
great diverSitios OF dialect and situation.
They are not lacking in national feeling,
but are deficient in patriotism, for there is
at present nothing to call il out. With a
good government, and wise administra-
ton OF the existing laws, patriotic feeling
could be easily developed.
This discussion has been conducted
quite independent of any consideration Of
the moral condition of the Chinese. A
| high state Of civilization is not inconsis-
|
/ in the first dawn of the civilization, and
in the hrltory Of Egypt, Greece and Rome.
| The moral condition of the Chinese, &c
coriing 70 my vie'g, may be ascertained by
an examination of their acknowledged
relation to God. to men, and to their own
selves, In these several relations the
most prominent characteristics which l
find. are an all pervading atheism. upon
the opposite face of which Is polytheism;
an all pervading insincerity, and an all
pervading Selfshness. There is no hope.
50 far as l can see for the Improvement of
these conditions, but in Christianity as
applied to the mass of the people This
Is not missionary society, and it is not
my purpose TO develope this opinion, but
merely to express it. as bearing upon the
general subject under discussion.
In closing, let me call your attention to
two considerations. LIST, he Gliqily cf
Chiaess Cirili;ufieB as Il vkole. When our
ancestors were noting in the woods. the
Chinese We're as really civilized as now,
and in substantially the same way. The
golden ages of China. were before the
birth of any modern nation the Han
Dynasty. which began zoo B. c.. and con
tinued until 4. ID. Is: and the Tang
Dynasty. from A. d. go to 907. The
period of greatest metaphysical activity, /
was in the Sung Dynasty, at the time
when western nations were engaged in
the CrusadeS Within the space of about
4.100 years, there are reckoned - different
dynasties. enduring on an average. about
lbs years each. vet the form of govern
ment and the institutions remain from
age to age substantially the same 1t has
been said Of Greece, that she being
conquered. conquered her conquerers."
The same IS eminently true of China. She
has been once the prey of Mongols. under
kublai Khan. and Is now ruled by Man
ehoos, and has been so for the past 240
years. but the machinery of government
Is the same which 1t has always been. If
1t were a supposable case that Russia or
England should seize the Chinese Empire,
and attempt to run II, as the saying
goes, il Is next to certain that these west
ern nations. with all their experience
would be obliged TO follow the example of
their predecessors, and govern China by
DEMONSTRATIONS which already exist, and
which have proved themselves so well ad
apted to the end for which they we design
ed The more we consider what the
institutions of China have done for the |
Chinese. the greater respect must we feel
for the Civilization which produced them. |
But 2nd 70 sSdH as, fool ilis respIcf fer Chi |
assl Graduation s,EiSss &C hace soais do7ldiHi-
E.cy Ell T. 1t IS said to be characteristic |
OF the average Eorkshireman, when he
sees q stranger passing, TO cave arr a
brick at him i somewhat similar I'M
pulse though under much restraints often |
felt IN China toward the Foreign Devil
and IN the United States generally under |
much less restaint, toward the pig tailed |
Mougoiian-" 4 gentleman remarked at |
ter the close OF meeting Of the Social |
Science Association" Of Honolulu, that
he never saw Chinaman, without want |
ing 10 kick him This l take 10 be
case OF imperfect sympathy due per
haps TO lack Of acquaintance with the /
better side Of the Chinese character Ii
Is feeling however II which many others |
share In q now almost forgotten essay |
by Thomas De Quincy upon China, written
at the time of the difficulties which led to |
the war Of IS5T-5S, we ind view of the
Chinese. which may be worth citing II
this connection 1t Is well known he
says. TO al who have taken pains to
study the Chinese temper and character,
that obstinate otstinacy like that Of mules |
Is one Of lis foremost features The |
Chinese q may easily be observed IN |
their state papers and acts. are intel |
lectually very imbecile people, and their 1
peculiar style Of Obstnacy Is often found 1
n connection with a very feeble brain, |
and also, Though Il may seem paradOncall |
with very feeble moral energy. Appar !
emily q secret feeling Of their Own TTeS0lu |
ton throws them for yiear0us support, |
upon q mechanic resource Of artificial 1
obstinacy.- In the same paper De Quincy
speaks OF the ridiculous 400 millions Of 4
people which some writers assume an
estimate which by stroke OF his pen be
deity reduces to 30 millions, flor no as
signed ress0n-l and then m0Talzes upon
the Yzstness Of this remainder. as e0mpar
81. say with the population u Russia
Quo5ing nobleman who had said Of the /
Chinese. that though they are g people
learned n Mathematics and n some OF
the eTudite sciences they are yet barba-
nus people" De Quincy continues: As
70 the bsrbzriSm, nobody vii contradict
his l01ishIp NTs; but as 10 the mathe-
mates and erudits sciences tins / the
first tine they were ever heard Of" After
referring % the introduction Of Western
nzthsmat5cs 70 China by the JesuIts- II
the 18Th century he proceeds; In fact
lively picture Of the temporary light
sruead By the Jesuits. might be drawn
from the relation OF ProsperO 70 Caliban-
The mighty wizard frsE taught the cruel
dog 10 Distinguish the greater and the
iesser iight-5n fact TO understand the
cause q day and night. But beyond
CERTAIN point he could not 20; and teach
Inst Ess thrown away upon one who could
lot be taught 70 i9re knowledge. CalibaD,
however was al last made tTactsble 20
discipline h understood the meaning
q kick But the Chinese Caliban-
Adhered slave. that any print Of good
ness would nof take was visited By sue
eessio-s Of Prosperos, and prosecuted them
al Whenever the casual caprice that pro
tactsd them Tor the hOuT, had burned itsef
Out ErIo1sgus praise given 10 such vie
6aTlesgres Of intellectual humanity, forces
nan % lodge his protest Had the Chi
lese eTer been inocalstsd with amp true
science. they would have learned 20 sppre-
cate those Eho have more Once lst them
n any one pursuit manifest d loveof any
thing really intellectual and Ne shall then