Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-18

dcrstand the birthday honors paid to-
day to Confucius by the Chinese bv an
nopfcci;ition Of the national spirit which
uhdcril"s orr own celebration of Wash
ihstons birthday. II is quite true that,
while Confucius, like WASHINGTON nm;
lied his people, and may he said to hayo
embodied personally the nativity OF the
national spirit he was essentially tho
moral teacher. tho philosopher, the
sage. 80
For thousands of years" says Yuan
Shlh-kai. or Chlna-himself. n rreat
philosopher. as well as a soldier and n
Slhtesman-'the foundation of the
chinese nation has rested on ,conccp-
TONS OF true morality. All her laws
all government. family relations and
soclai customs are products OF the
teachings of the grea- master Dynas-
ties may rise and fall: cycles OF fat.
may be favorable or adverse: still tba
teachings OF Confucius have remained
ever torccful, ever new through sue
cessivc ages-cvcrlasting, as mature n,
self Is everlasting
Since the revolution however manv
'noushtless persons have misinterprcted
the doctrines of equality and liberty,
trcspasaeu the bounds Of morality ana
income wanion ana devoid of probltv
IN their character. Essentials OF moral
itN ana proper human relations have
bccn abandoned: liccntiousness has pre-
vailed; until China has been thrc.tened
WIN the danger OF becoming n nation
or reprobates ttufoo) and beasts.
Would Preserve Nations Ethfcs.
our president. realizing the heavy
weight OF responsibility which rests on
ms shoulders has thought over the sit
unt,oh through the day and through the
night, ann he has come to believe that
although tho form OF government must
chaHge in accordance with thu soirl, of
the times our Ii. our ethics and norai
habits must needs be preserved Every
nation In the world has Its own ma
tional spirit inherited from its anrient,
ana manifesting itself in the nation,I
character. China has followed her sage
knowing that the management of n
IaHlly. the government Of n state or
the paciilcation OF tho world must all
begin with the rectitude OF the indi-
vidual.
Therefore. the act of honoripr orr
greatest sage is merely i'm accordance,
WIN s!nlcrc sense OF reverence and
admiration on the part of millions OF
our people. and IS by no means com
parable. or TO be confused with any moi
ICY Of promoting any particular rc-
lligious sect.
Let IT he known to all citizena tho,
INC state desires TO emphasize the sm-
IRENE Importance OF morality and yir-
Tue. May We all be uplifted and he
, "nueu WIN inns spirit so that grad
uai'E we may arrive at the Contuc.an
'utai state OF perfect harmony"
How much in accord with the teach
ines or the great Galilean are these
iucas Enumerated by the Chinese prea
i"cnt! Is there not some comfort 70
DC derived 10y Christians from tho FACT
that on TINS Christmas Day, while tho
majority or the Christian powers Of
europe are arrayed against each other
~ Flanders. i'm the ReichsIand, and In
ioihh"s on the other side of the world
IN inc one nation, which was the con.
temporary OF ancient Judca, Baby-
ionfa, imperial Rome Greece m
ocr The Athenian philosophers. and
,.e!pt under the pharashs. The trend
is towards. and not away from f.hri.
, 'iahlty, and that there an orpaniza
non or religious worship which once
contested for pride of place with tho
priestcraft built upon the doctrines of
'autama. the Ruddha, is fast cxpirjnao