Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 498

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· Fruits of Chinese Character

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ART. III.

Observations on Traits of Chinese national character. By a Correspondent.

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you ask some people what they think about the Chinese, they will tell you that they are a set of villains, to whom no quarter ought to be given; that they are the most infamous people in the world, and so degraded as to be below the level of the basest of mankind; that they have not one redeeming quality, and are the veriest repro- bates to be met with. One person, who wished to distil all his oppro- brium into one sentence, averred, 'that they were worse than the Greeks.' But ask the opinion of another, and he will tell you, that the sons of Hán are most excellent people; that they are honest and prompt in their dealings; anxious to oblige foreigners, industrious and nice in their habits; in short, a paragon among nations. Their government is paternal, and admits great liberty to the subject. Judging by own servant, he maintains that the people are well dress- ed; and looking at his coolie, he concludes that they are a well fed, stout and athletic race. The reason for this disparity of opinion must be sought in the different circumstances under which he sees the individuals with whom he is connected. It is not desirable to dissemi- nate bitterness and hatred, and to rouse that spirit of hostility which can only be quenched in blood. If we expect too much from a pagan nation, we shall be disappointed; yet if we deny the existence of every good quality, we wrong the Chinese as a people.

The national virtues and vices of a son of Hán naturally take their impress from his circumstances. He is less the master of his move- ments than others are, and to a great degree, he spends his life in mental as well as bodily thralldom. As soon as he comes into the world, he is subject to rules, which are never dispensed with. If a boy, it is well and good, the father may undertake to rear his off spring; but a little girl, how lovely soever in appearance, sometimes runs the chance of being instantly drowned. We do not here refer alone to people that are pinched by poverty, but also to the better classes, who hate the trouble of educating a daughter. The remark made that such cases are rare is hardly founded on fact, though we have no idea of the proportion it is true that infanticide is coinmit- red in the dark, for even a Chimese heart feels shame for such a crime The extent of child murder can only be known to Him before whom darknew is light, but there is one circumstance which proves that