Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-08
THE CHINESE NATION.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
IN THE EMPIRE.
The Peoples Ineapacity for Self Elevation.
Lack of Intelligence on tho Throne.
Corruption of oficiais-Reverence for
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Prejudice.

Lack Of Intelligence on tho Throne. [
Corruption of Onhciais-Reverence for
Acknowledgements Prejudice.
The Chinese throne has been conspicuous
for its lack of great, strong, formative
minds; and it is so hedged in with form,
ceremony and adherence to precedents that
unless the incumbent be man of supreme
ability he falls under the guidance of his en-
tourage, and although an absolute despot,
he makes little positive impression on the
government of his people. The provinces
are governed by viceroys of governors, who,
so long as they follow certain minute direc-
tions laid down for them, are at liberty to
manage affairs as they please, And under
them the mandarins do the same
In the matter of taxation, if the tax gath
erers turn over to their superiors their ex-
pected quotas, too careful examination is not |
made into the amounts over and above those |
sums which they have extorted from the peo- |
pie and put into their own pockets. The |
civil service is honeycombed with corrup- |
ton. If from no other evidence, this is ap-
parent from the fact that officers with utterly
inadequate salaries retire with ample fort
unes Mandarins, as a rule, seldom enter
Office with large possessions; and it is a rea-
sonahle deduction that the wealth with which
they smooth their declining years is i'll got
ten. Occasionally, the official who has been
| more successful in feathering his nest than
| in concealing the fact, excites the jealousy of
his superiors and suffers in consequence.
| Hang Ke, who was superintendent of customs
at Canton prior to 1859, resigned his seals
with a fortune of 800, 900 tael, (s50n 900, not
withstanding his salary was only 2, 400 taels
year, and the necessary expenses of hisyamun
| official residence) were 5000 q month He
was ordered to Pekin, and before he-had been
many days in the capital onethird Of his
$50 900 had been transferred to the INSIDE
pockets" of the members of the government
Occasionally severer punishment is inflicted;
but the crime apparently consists of being
discovered, not of fleeing the people.
Without strong, elevating force on the
throne to lift them up. without representa-
tive government in which they can partici-
pate and raise themselves tf they wanted tol,
without a well developed ard equitable Judi
cial and legal system to insure justice and
encourage right living, with nothing to stim-
ulate invention to amelorate the condition
of the race, without anything to develop
virility and stamina, with almost everything
to press, subject, confine and servilize them,
it is little to be wondered at they they do not
rise, expand and advance.
But they do not seem to desire anything
better They do not aspire 10 a higher con
dition. With an inborn spirit of subservi-
ency, intensifed by centuries of heredity,
| which is reflected in degree Of abject sub
missiveness to parental and civil authority
which is unknown in this country, they have
| not the spirit, courags or energy TO lift uT
, their hand for anything higher than they
possess Tie same lack of aniHus which
= leads full grown men meskly TO submit tc
unmerited and cruel hogying, without ever
+ raising finger Of protest, causes outrage
S people to neglect one OF the most poten
7, means of protection against oppression
afforded in the imperial censors- Only th'
most aggravated cases arc reported to then
d and the rest are neskly tolerated.
r No doubt this condition of things is due il
r a large measure TO the inpsnss and supersti
IT tious reverence of tho Chinese for antiquity
h We study tho past to improve upon it; the.
IS to initiate it. Tradition and custom or
r everything to them They are linked t5 tn
&c dead past by the unbreGkabie bonds Of pre-
% cedent; they are chained to a histories
is corpse. Their government, as has been seer
1t is crude: their Language, without aiphabet
ye infection or grammar, is un-ieldy and III
r suitable for progressive literature; the
is blind prejudice against post-mortem exam
ination still Leaves them in ignorance {
ne human anatomy, the functions of the hear
at lungs, liver and other organs are scale
US books to them; they nsks no distinction b
r,,1 eos
VI dons By more guesswork they have b
upon the ccll bladder as the seat of couras
ii and assurance, which, according to modsI
40 slang, is not so far amiss.
et In medicine, ignorance and snperSitic
ly prevail, and tho medical board at Pekin,
or the exercise of its profound wisdom, b
10 sanctioned such remedies cs dried red spott'
SO lizards, silk worm moths, tortoise and oyse
'st shells. Dragons tseth, verdigris, bears ga
re shavings of rhinoceros horns, elsphsn
skin, etc In astronomy, their Chalde,
A heritage, they have progressed no furth
VI, than popularity to believe that the earth
as square and fat, and that eolipses are caus
OF by some monster attacking the sun or moo
nd Their agricultural methods are of the me
OF primitive sort. And so it goes through
ZEN their so called arts and sciences. They ha
ea' not the inherent life and power to break th'
TN way out of the cocoon of early superstitit
DIN Although as nation they arc forty cent
. ries old, they are yet in the first stages
'ns evolution.
eer One of the most striking evidences Of
"h Mongolian prejudice against innovations
the utter absence of railroads in the count,
en- A few years ago some fore. i.nors secured
right to build dozen miles Of railroad a
hu operated it for short time. The Chin
'sr- viewed it askance, and at length purchai
oe- it-not to run # themselves, but deliberat
Vsr to tear it up. America and China are
sso complete antipodes in this respect as they
INC geographically We have half the railrr
" Oh mileage # the world, they none; and wi
nis one considers the vast civihEng inf1ue
ens and the great potency for progress Of Ct
oe railroad system, which brings the ends O
'ou, country together, gives quick communi
'iiai ton among the people. .excites ambition, op
-, avenues for enterprise, develops eonInur
ois- of interest and makes a nation homoseuet
ascs it is evident that here one hnds great FAC
oi Of the disparity between the Amarican
ou0 Chinese people
OF While there are few miles of telegrs
anu the use Of this means of communication
hampered by the unwieldiness of the
M guage and the impossibility Of expressing
in telesraphic symbols, except through
cumbersome and inadequate method of
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