THE MORALITY OF THE CHINESE

LET us now see what kind of moral character has been created in China by these native religious and ethical agencies. Here it would be possible to fill a volume with testimony by competent authorities as to the general excellence of the Chinese character. The notion propagated by many missionaries, that the Christian Gospel must be spread in China in order to raise the moral tone of the population, is seen to be founded on ignorance or malice. To say the least, the average Chinese character compares favourably with the average character of any nation in Europe; indeed, the quotations herein presented will probably persuade the reader that it is superior to the European character. Without for a moment ignoring the faults of the Chinese, we may say that they have been cruelly slandered in missionary literature, and by superficial observers whose travels have been brief and restricted. It must, moreover, be borne in mind that the Chinese have not passed through such a morass as the Middle Ages of European life. The tenacious conservatism of its people applies also to its moral culture. Such as we find it to-day it was when Europe was wallowing in the ignorance and squalor of the Middle Ages. Its moral system has been remarkably effective, and it is a strange proposal to substitute for that native moral culture a religion which has been far less efficient in Europe-as the Japanese Government officially concluded after sending a large body of men to Europe, about forty years ago, to study Christianity in its own home.

A work written in 1876 by a British Consul in China, Mr. H. A. Giles, gives the candid impressions of a careful observer; and a few passages from this unbiassed work (Chinese Sketches) will serve to introduce the subject of Chinese morality :

"Now the working classes in China are singularly "sober; opium is beyond their means, and few are "addicted to the use of Chinese wine. Both men and "women smoke, and enjoy their pipe of tobacco in the "intervals of work; but this seems to be almost their "only luxury. Hence it follows that every cash "earned either by the man or woman goes towards "procuring food and clothes instead of enriching the "keepers of grog-shops, besides which the percentage "of quarrels and fights is thus very materially les"sened" (pp. 11-12).

"The relative number of human beings who suffer "from cold and hunger in China is far smaller than "in England, and in this all-important respect the "women of the working classes are far better off than "their European sisters. Wife-beating is unknown" (p. 12).

"The truth is, that these poor women are, on the "whole, very well treated by their husbands, whom "they not unfrequently rule with as harsh a tongue "as that of any western shrew" (p. 13).

"And truly, if national greatness may be gauged "by the mien and carriage of its people, China is "without doubt entitled to a high place among the "children of men. An official in full costume is a "most imposing figure, and carries himself with great dignity and self-possession" (p. 16).

The same author, in speaking of foreigners in China, says, among other things: "They see the "unrestricted sale of spirituous liquors, unaccom

Mansion of a Chinese Merchant near

Canton.

There are many similar mansions in China.

To face p. 208.