The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05


lection on wider scale of that egoism
which makes self-preservation the first
law of nature, and which impels the bear
to defend her cubs, and the man his
family The nation is but the clan mag
nified many diameters. Love of country
is thus self love in a state of advanced
evolution, and the more complex the So
ciety, the more does the "bias of patriot
ISM affect the sentiments and the acts
of individual members.
Chinese political society is highly or
ganized, but there are probably many
foreigners in China whose knowledge OF
the country is extensive, who would yet
deny that the Chinese are as nation
patriotic, or perhaps that there is in
China any such thing as patriotism at
all. For the apparent absence OF this
feeling there are many efficient and suf-
ficient causes. The ignorance of most
Chinese, despite the many hundred years
of Western intercourse with China, is
phenomenal. Those Chinese fans upon
which is traced map OF the Central
Empire and its dependencies-one or
two ribs being thought sufficient for
France, England, Holland, Germany and
Arabia-are an apt symbol of the Chin
ese mind as whole. The presence of
foreigners is presumptive proof OF the
probable existence of other countries,
but for the most part these lands are
thought to be go distant, SO unrelated to
the ordinary affairs Of Chinese life that
they occupy no more of the Chinese in
tellectual horizon than the asteroids do
of ours.
Moreover, there is in China deeply
seated feeling that the affairs belonging
to the Government are no concern of the
people, who are always sharply contrast
ed with their rulers. as in the familiar
and significant saying: when the
magistrates oppress, the people rebel
Such a relation of antagonism is by no
means adapted to the exhibition of pop
ular patriotism. Besides this however
little one may hear about it, the Chinese
never forget that the ruling dynasty in
the empire is "foreign" and "barba
rian" one. Whenever there is any for
eign war, we always begin to hear ru-
mors that there is movement on foot
to restore the Mings, who we're over
thrown exactly two hundred and fifty
years ago, and there is strong popular
impression that this period is about all
that ought to be allotted by fate to
single dynasty. 1t is no wonder there
fore, considering its history and the pre-
valent superstitions about the Tartar
dynasty, that it is considered by many
Chinese as a mere excrescence which
might under favorable circumstances be
thrown off absolutely. It's presence for
SO long period must have powerfully
tended to narcotize real Chinese nation
al feeling.
Yet despite these drawbacks, it is un
deniable that there is in China great
deal of this national feeling. if not much
patriotism. 1t is antagonized by the
Unborn clannishness of the Chinese, by
their habit of regarding separate prov
inces as separate kingdoms, as well as
by the existence of wide variations of
dialect and of custom. The commercial
instinct is perhaps as strong among the
Chinese as it has ever been in any race,
the Hebrews not excepted. The first
and irresistible impulse is to make gain
OF the presence of the foreigner, and this
is always done with a celebrity, certainty,
and yet often with tact and delicacy
which command our unwilling admira-
tioa. No nation was ever more practi-
cal than the Chinese. They know, as
we say, on which eide their bread is
buttered, though large part of the ma
tion never eat any bread" and all of
them abominate "butter." But few or
none OF them are unable to perceive the
vast pecuniary advantages to China Of
the presence of the foreigner. Yet de
spite this perception. it is undeniable
that mary of those who directly profit
by the presence of foreigners. would be
only too pleased to have them all driven
into the China Sea.
This certainly shows a "bias" of ma
tional feeding. though it many not be in
any sense patriotic. 1t must not be sup
posed from what we see of Chinese readi-
ness to cheat the Government and to be
indifferent 10 it's welfare, that the Chin
ese-as many foreigners in China appear
to suppose-are incapable of patriotism.
The disproof of this is found in their
checkered national history. Seven and
twenty historical dynasties have not
come and gone in this great and ancient
Empire without stirring to it's depths the
Chinese soul. While it is significant
fact that none of these dynastic changes
has been due to the triumph Of great
principle, like many to be found in the
crises of Anglo Saxon history, yet at
such times Chinese national feeling is
thoroughly reused. This was the case
in the great rebellion OF the yellow
caps" in the third century Of the Chris
tian era, and it was true in its recent
.....o~oo. tbo To; rahallso., C,,al,