El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-03
CONF UCIUS IS =
ISSUE IN CHINA
Ancient Religion Looms Up
Large in Controversy
Over Monarchy.

Pekin. China, Nov. 5-Confucius
looms large in the controversy
which is being hOtly waged in
China over the monarchial plan Presi-
dent Yuan Shi-kai and his supporters
are constantly quoting the ancient sage
Advocates Of the republic are also
using COnfucius freely, and urging that
the change TO monarchy would be
violation OF - Confucian oath and
consequently would discredit the teach
ings of the great moral leader IN the
eyes OF the world.
Plans are now in preparation by gov
eminent officials for the erection Of a
great bronze statue Of COnfucius in
Pekin- At present the ancient sage IS
represented in the various temples only
by pictorial images or sacred tablets
These do not create the vivid impress
sion Of the great teacher which the
Chinese officials desire, and the move
ment is under way TO place bronze
statues Of him in Confucian temples
throughout the republic
Mandates have recently been issued
by president Yuan Shi-kai strength
ening the position OF COn1ucius teach
ings in Chinese schools, and the society
for the preservation OF peace has con-
stantly quoted the sayings Of Con1u-
cius concerning loyalty TO the emperor
in support Of the restoration OF the
monarchy.
-Four Confucian canonfcaI books are
taught in Chinese shcools and no stu
dents who are not thoroughly versed IN
them are regarded as well educated
Quotations from these books, written
nearly 25Q0 years ago, are frequently
used in nearly all governmental com
muuicaIions- The advocates OF aDso-
lutte concentration Of government IN
an emperor are especially fond OF such
Confucian excerpts as this To no one
but the supreme head OF the empire
does IL belong 70 disturb the estao-
lished religious and social Institutions
to introduce new forms OF government,
- Los
guage- AT the present day throughout
the empire carriage wheels all nave
the same standard size, all writing IS
written with the same characters, and
in all the relations Of life ali recognize
the same established principles"
Public speeches concerning the mon
archial movement letters to the news
papers and editorials in support OF the
restoration Of the empire are 1lleu
with quotations concerning the i've
duties OF universal obligation outlined
by Confucius and the three moral quail
tiles by which the sage said these
duties must be carried out The first
of these duties are those between ruler
and subject. Next are the duties be
tWene father and SON Then the duties
between husband and wife. The fourth
duties are between elder brothers ana
young ger. and the nth duties are those
i'm the intercourse between friends. In
telligence. moral character and cour-
age. in the order named. are the three
moral QuanueS upon Wllcu 0QuLUClus
( laid great stress. OF these he says
They are the three universally recOg-
nized moral qualities~of men, II mat
tiers not in what way men come to the
exercise Of these moral qualities, the
result is one and the same
Some men are born with the knOwl-
edge OF these moral qualities; some
T acquire it as the result of education,
some acquire il as the result Of hard
! experience. But when the knowledge
] is acquired. 10 comes to one and the
same thing. Some exercise these moral
qualities naturally and easily some be
cause they find it advantageous to do
so: some with effort and difficulty
I But when the achievement is made 1t
comes to one and the same thing"
The effort to strengthen the interest
I In COnfucianism is apparent through
out the vernacular press Of China
/ Scholars are urged to visit his tomb at
ChufOu. and a more careful reading OF
his classics is advised Young men are
l told that COnfucius began gathering
disciples around him and teaching the
principles of good government at the
early age Of p. His services as minis
| ter of crimes are reviewed. and the
marvellous abolition of crime under his
direction is emphasized His great sue
/ cess as a teacher in the later years OF
/ his life. when he gathered 5000 discl-
| pies around him. is stressed. and read
ers are constantly reminded Of the en-
| during fame OF this teacher who had
the proper ideals Of government