Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-07-03
DEMOCRACY IN CHINESE
CLASSICS.

Mercury on Representative Gov
eminent for China" 1t closed
with statement of the certainty
of Russian influence being strong
ly arrayed against any move
ment in behalf of popular govern
ing institutions in China. As evil
dence of such a movements COM
ing into life the Mercury cites the
memorial to the Emperor, present
ed last summer by thirteen hun
dred graduates, in which among
other things request for a ma
tional parliament was distinctly
made. On this the Mercury COM
ments as follows:
The memorialists are perhaps
hattering themselves that they
have done we'll not to lose their
heads, since they have seen the
treatment accorded the enter
prisirg Reform Club of Peking;
hut they must not lose heart or
lessen their endeavors to cultivate
a patriotic spirit and seek the
highest good of their people.
Only by persistent agitation and
through much tribulation can re-
form be accomplished. But evo-
luton is better than violent
change. The most lasting reforms
are those accomplished by the
slow process of growth. This is a
vital process. Any movement
toward the improvement of a
people should find its roots in the
past history of that people, it it
would win success. In no country
is this more true than in China,
for in no other land is there so
much reverence for the old.
Pursuing this suggestion the
Mercury advises that "those who
would see Western ideas flourish
in China must endeavor to graft
them on that body of teaching
which already furnishes the Chin
aman with his ethical and politi-
cal ideals. 1t is pointed out that,
although popular representation
in government is western insti-
tuition, the rights of the people are
set forth very clearly in the Chin
csc classics. To rescue from OBJ
security the texts that emphasize
these rights, and expound and
apply their principles to present |
conditions, would, it is commended,
ensure a ready appreciation by |
the Chinese people of at least the
theory of representation.
Confucius is thus reported: SIN
the practice of government in an
tiquity the love of men was the
great point" On which the Mer-
curry comments: "And, although |
more or less corruption has al
ways existed in Chinese political
circles, their scriptures are not |
sparing in their denunciation of
it. The well-known incident, also
recorded in the Book'o Rites, of |
the poor widow, who, though the |
tigers had devoursd her husband,
her father in-law and her son,
would not leave the dangerous
district because free from the OPP
preston of the officials. gave Con-
fucius occasion to say to his dis
eiples: Remember this, my little
oppressive government |
is more terrible than tigers"
Again, although the Chinese scrip
lures seem in places to emphasize
too much the "divine right of |
kings" Mencius, the author of one
of the sacred books, teaches that
the will of heaven is revealed |
the voice of the people,
thus: Heaven sees as
my people see; heaven
hears as my people hear" This
is closely analogous to the ancient
proverb, so often quot
ed in Western republican express
sions: "Vox populi, yox Del"
The Mercury proceeds;
Mencius was something OF de-
- o,1 ,,,;Ib N hnllnacu ra