Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-15
CONFUClUs.

The following historical data concern
lng the great Chinese reformer. confu-
clus, are from lecture by Hon. Ches-
ter Holcomb, delivered In Boston the
other day;
Confucius was only twenty years old
when he opened a school-not for boys,
but for men OF mature age--t0 teach
social and political ethics Whatever
his source OF information and learning,
the more important portions Of what
he taught cannot be identified with the
work OF any OF the earlier writer's,
which makes II plain that II he obtained
his ideas from them he worked them
over In his own mind until they be-
came distinctly his own His school
continued through his life, Feudallsm
was then at It's height II was his am
bitlOn that some feudal chief should
employ him for stated term az a
teacher that he might inculcate his
ideas In the government But he
could not receive recognition. one of
these chiefs was not ayerse TO his APP
polntment, but was restrained by the
denunclatlons poured into his ears by
the ministers IL was trying time
for the great sage. He desired TO
teach and guide, and he travelled from
one province TO another In quest OF the
opportunity. Finally his return 10
his native province, or little kingdom
OF La, opened the way for him. lie
had become popular and now was civ
en- the reins OF government over his
own people lie was a model governor.
Under his administration crime Is said
to have ceased In the district, but his
good work was suddenly oyerthroWn
by an influx OF vice and intrigue
Death came at the age OF seventy.
lie was buried with great ceremonies.
Disciples remained three years at his
grave. which Is the official period OF
mourning, and II Is said that some OF
them stayed there another term OF
| three years. HIS death was n shock
10 the whole country. His followers
became active in the dissemination OF
| his doctrine. One ruler ordered the
| destruction OF his books and some Of
| his disciples were buried alive In the
| hope OF crushing the doctrine, He had
| been dead 900 years when the llrst em-
peror recognized him and sacrificed TO
| him. II was 500 years after his death
before a Confuolan temple was erected
| In China Many Of his utterances re-
| main Chinese puzzles TO scholars OF all
languages. While books contain ut
terances Of Confuclus he wrote very
| little himself lie claimed no divine
origin and insisted that he was not
born with any knowledge
Strange enough, the teachings Of
Confuclus which have excited such
wonderful influence upon millions OF
Aslatics and throughout many centu-
rIes embraced more particularly min
ute rules for the nurture and educa-
ton of children, for the paying Of hom-
age to ancestors, for etiquette and in
tercourge between all classes and ranks
OF society one would naturally sup
pose that a philosophy with no wider
horizon should be short-liyed But the
rulers found in Il excellent arguments
for the maintenance OF their authority,
ard they embraced It,
II also appears that to the teachings
Of Confucius can be traced the doctrine
that the people constitute the most i'm
portant element in the nation, and that
the sovereign, though Gods represen-
tatlve, holds his power only for the
good OF the people, and that. conse-
quently, Il he abuses this power he can
be removed by the people, This Is
really remarkable advance OF 3he mo-
ton prevalent in other ancient en-
pires, that the people are merely
slaves.
II Is charged that Confucius has done
his people an irreparable injury By ste