The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02

have II in mo TO tcocine a good ruler?'
Menclus replied; y am told that. seeing the
extreme terror Of an OK that was being led
to tho altar, you released 1t and commanded
q sheep TO be offerej in it's stead, The OK
was before your eyes, and you pitied 1t;
the sheep was not before your eyes, and you
had no pity on it. Now. with such a heart,
II you would only think Of your people,
20 as 10 bring them before your eyes, you
might become the best OF rulers
In the anne chapter will be found
thing about Lao-tse, the founder Of Taoism.
He bore the family name OF Ii. "Pfum-
Tree either from the fact hat his cottage
was In a garden. or possibly because, like
the Academies. he placed his school in a
grove Of plum trees. The name by which
he Is now known signifies "Old Master
probably because he was older than Con-
fucius. The latter Is said to have paid
him a visit TO inquire about rites and cere-
monies; but Lao-tse, with his love Of solitude
and abstract speculation, seems not to
have exerted much influence on the mind
Of the rising philosopher. In allusion to
him Confuoius said: Away from men there
is nc philosophy-no tao" DR.. Martin
directs attention to the fact that although
less honored by the official class, Lao-tse's
influence with the masses Of Chinese popu-
lation has been scarcely less h that of
his younger rival" Like the other two
sages above mentioned. he too has to-day
a representative who enjoys en- official
status as high priest OF the Tao sect and
who dwells in a stately palace in kiangsi
as the head Of one Of the three religions
authorized by the State. The truth is,
however. that the sublime teachings of
the founder Of Taoism have degener-
ated into a contemplate mixture OF tugglery
and witchcraft. Not till Ave centuries
later did Buddhism enter China and COM
plete the triad Of recognized religions.
During the first half Of the regime Of the
Chou dynasty the feudal machinery oper-
ated with such regularity that Confucius
could think OF no form Of government more
admirable. declaring that "the policy Of
the future may be foretold for a hundred
generations-it will be to follow the House
OF Chou The latter half Of this dynastic
epoch, however, wa a period OF misrule
and anarchy. When the House Of Chou
was overthrown the old feudal divisions
disappeared forever. In 24o B. c. b 10 whole
OF China was brought under the direct
sway Of one Emperor. who for the first time
in the history Of the people built up q do
minion worthy Of that august title. This
wa the achievement Of Yin Chung, the
Prince Of Ts'in. Four imperishable monu-
ments perpetuate his memory-the Great
Wall, the centralized monarchy, the title
Hwang-ti, and the name of China itself
the last being derived from the principality
which under him expanded until it embraced
the empire. Where 10 there, asks DR.
Martin, another %conqueror in the annals
Of the world who has such solid claims
to everlasting renowni Alexander over
threw many nations, but he set up nothing
permanent. Julius Caesar instituted he
Roman Empire, but it's duration was ephem-
eral in comparison with that of the vast
centralized dominion founded by Shi-
hwanR-ti, the builder of the Wall. This
man was the real founder of China as we
know it to-day. He Is one of the foremost
heroes OF history: yet no sovereign in Tire
long list OF dynasties is go misrepresented
and viliied by Chinese writer's. They
make Of him a bastard, q debauohee and
a fool. To this day he is the object OF
undying hatred to every one who car hold
q pen. Why, it may be asked. DR.. Martin
nswers because he burned the books and
prosecuted the disciples Of Confucius,
firmly believing that the welding together
OF the feudal States into a compact unified
empire could never be accomplished 30
long as the books OF Confucius should be
studied in the schools. seeing that in them
feudalism was consecrated as a divine
institution.