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K'UNG FU-TSZE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[June 12, 1905.
applying introspective discoveries when in their saying "what is suce for the goose estimating fellow men that may perhaps is sauce for the gander." In ethics, as in explain this shrewd analysis of the character religions, he knew that " one man's meat is of KUNG FU-TSZE. So much for the Bishop, another man's poison." Missionaries, and who could thus, before Chinese, insult the these Singapore clerics, have yet to learn memory of one whom some of them reverence. this.
What in the Christian's but a tactless word is from the heathen rankest blasphemy." Perhaps that is it. In the case of Mr. MURRAT, who, so far as we know, has never opened his mouth except to echo the opinions of greater men than himself, it is amusing that he should accuse CONFUCIUS of want of
WILL JAPAN ABOLISH LIKIN ?
(Daily Press, 5th June).
Nothing more clearly shows the aptitude of the Chinese for Commerce than that
originality, of being a mere transmitter of they contrive to carry on an enormous the wisdom of sages who preceded him. trade under the vexatious restrictions SHAKESPEARE was nothing more. SOLOMON which are placed upon business of all kinds
put in order
many platitudes. It is the by their own Government. They contrive way these great men transmitted what they to traffic successfully under restrictions had mentally digested that makes them such as would be sufficient to crush trade great. Mr. MURRAY has not digested, entirely with any less energetic and less therefore, he transınits badly. He considers adaptable people. The cumbrous system of that K'UNG FU-TSZE's exhortation to his internal duties which, despite all remon- disciples, never to do to others what they strances, continues to prevail, is sufficient to would not like others to do to them, to "very restrict trade to its lowest limit. This has closely approach the Christian's golden been for years past recognised, but no one rule." It doesn't. The latter is a positive has yet been able to find a means of putting injunction, a "hard saying," disobeyed an end to the system, which is as much part daily by nine hundred and ninety nine out
of the fiscal policy of China of every thousand who profess to accept its imports are considered to be of that of principle. The other, by CONFUCIOs, is a Great Britain. Mr. BYRON BRENAN, who prohibition, whose justice and practicable-gave a lecture some time back at the ness are immediately apparent; and it is Society of Arta on our commercial prospects obeyed by millions who never even heard in the Far East, dealt fully with this vexed of CONFUCIUS. The laws of the most question, which was, of course, familiar to civilised societies in no case contain anything him from his experience 83 Consul at like the missionary version of the golden Shanghai. His view was that our chief rule. They are practicable and practised. hope for the future rested Many professing Christians really act
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(Daily Press 3rd June.) Confucius, like the Teacher of the nearer East, and, very probably, like all the teachers that ever taught, was occasionally annoyed by misunderstanding disciples, who asked silly questions, and Hurt the great intellect by these demonstrations that some of the seed was falling on stony ground. To a man of the village of Ta-heang," who sapiently observed that the learning of the philosopher K'UNG was extensive, and won- dered that he did not "render his name famous by any particular thing," the Chinese MASTER retorted: "What shall I practise? charioteering, or archery! I will practise charioteering." If his time had been now, and his place England, be would have said: I will win the pingpong championship." Or, more aptly illustrative perhaps, he might have said: "I will start a revival in Wales, see visions, and perform miracles." If Con- FUCIUS had been an Englishman, BERNARD SHA would
have been happy, for SHAKESPEARE, if remembered at all, would be remembered a8 an
obscure minor poet. CONFUCIUS, who "had no foregone conclusions, no arbitrary predeterminations, no obstinacy, and no egoism," was perhaps the wisest man who ever lived. He was certainly the sanest. No reasonable person, studying DE LEGGE's edition of the Classics, can doubt that, however familiar with other philosophers. Missionaries unwillingly and sometimes unconsciously bear witness to his pre-eminence and semi-ompiscience. They grow hotly angry sometimes when they
"not on our Government obtaining for British encounter some casual advocatus diaboli;
25 if the Chinese version
subjects more facilities or so-called privileges but they grow cold with rage, and grind | orthodox one. They manage to refrain
than they already enjoyed under existing treaties, but rather their teeth, in their constant encounters from injuring their neighbour; they seldom
on utilising every with the great aftermath of the Chinese go out-of their way to do him good. That
opportunity that presented its If for inducing the Chinese Government to give it Sage. Hateful admissions have to be made, is why we so often quarrel with missionaries "subjects a fair chance. by granting them full and odorous comparisons faced. These of the temper of these Singapore speech-liberty to improve their position and grow conditions we suppose to prevail, at any makers. Nominally trying to do good to rate, when it is a case of united intelligence the Chinese, their actual behaviour follows and earnestness, when the prejudiced critic the line of injury, by disrespectful attacks of CONFUCIUS has some perception of logic, on matters sacred to their hearers. It is and is able to see the pitfalls surrounding delightful to find in this case a Chinaman, his ad captandum exhortations. The Mr. TONG TIAN-CHENG, remarking in the Chinese are quick to see them, too. But subsequent discussion that CONFUCIUS, if there are the less wise who rush in he had been living, would doubtless have where others tread diffidently. Of such been most ready to thank Mr. MURRAY for We are inclined to number the Rev. pointing out his weaknesses. This China- W. MURRAY of Singapore, who has
man pretended to have noticed that even in just been challenging us with an objection. Christian countries morality was not all it able comparison in a lecture, entitled, should be. For this impertinence he was, "Where .CONFUCIUS Fails." Of auch, very properly, snubbed by succeeding also, we may number Bishop OLDHAM, speakers. Our comparison of the golden who countenanced the lecture, which, rules" compels us to agree with Mr. MURRAY it is unctuously recorded, was listened that the ethical teaching of CONFUCIUS to by a number of Chinese young is not on a level with his own. In that men. Mr. MURRAY, who, like most other particular, it is not. It stands much higher, people, depends upon Dr. LEGGE for the for it is practicable, while all human authorised version of the Chinese scriptures, experience is against the other. Finally, supplies his own commentaries. So, too, the Rev. Mr. MURRAY, in complaining that Bishop OLDHAM, for there are indications CONFUCIUS returned evasive answers to in each of au original point of view. Both unanswerable questions, puts himself in read LEGGE's translation of the Analects; peril. There are questious asked regularly both read them differently, although both by Sunday-school scholars that teachers come triumphantly to the arbitrary pre- and preachers in the West as regularly determination that CONFUCIUS was a evade; aud evade in a way that often failure. Their respective originality was ap- leaves the intelligent child, who is curiosity parent, we suggest, when on the same night, iucarnate, gravely dissatisfied. Every at the self same meeting, Mr. MURRAY said foreign parent experiences the need of such CONFUCIUS was "conspicuous for the humil- evasions as are probably never requisite in ity of his bearing," while Bishop OLDHAM Chiua, for what he knows, CONFUCIUS declared his conviction that the Teacher happily explains, and what he does not "walked with a pedantic strut, and know, he frankly confesses. It was no peeped from the corner of his eye to Chinese child who defined
"faith as взе what impression he was making" believing what you know aint so." The upon his neighbours." Who ever saw a MASTER said: "Those whose courses are pedant strut?
But that is irrelevant. Rather let us ask how the Bishop acquired his conviction that CONFUCIUS was a vain poseur. Certainly not from Dr. LEGGE. How then? There is a common method of
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different cannot lay plans for one another." He would never have dreame of sending missionaries to England, for in his parable of TaZE-LOO and YEN YEw he recognised the damnable fallacy that foreigners express
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rich. Of the measures that would have the greatest effect on the material prosperity of China, he thought the first would be the total abolition of every form of internal taxation on merchandise, while the second "would be improved means of communication." That this view of the subject is sound, China will be disposed to deny. The question, very few who are practically acquainted with
however, is how is this to be done There are unfortunately only too many opportunities of representing to the Chinese Government that they should give their people a chance, but it is quite another thing to
"induce them to do so. The attempt has been made in a number of ways over and over again, but it has always failed; and it is to be feared this will continue to be the state of things until some great financier can devise means of doing away with the internal dues, footing. The problem, however, is one that. or at least placing them upon a reasonable is by no means easy of solution. The Provincial Revenues are pendent upon this form of taxation that to so largely de- do away with it suddenly would be mani- festly an injustice to the Governors or Vice- roys of the Provinces, who may be pardoned if they exert all their influence to prevent any such measures being taken. high officials are responsible for the conduct of affairs within their own Provinces and it would be a very severe step to interfere with the most important matter connected with their administration, namely, the re- cognised sources of their revenue. This could only be done by the Imperial authorities; and it is a difficult problem how it can be effected by them
conflict of interest between the Imperial moment the subject is touched, direct
and the Provincial Authorities has to be faced; and it is not to be expected that oñe side can absolutely dictate to the other upon
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