Whether China's venerated side Confucius, were he to come to life again, would throw in his lot with the modes Reform Party in China, is a point which we are not called upon to decide. But that the anti-Reform Party is in reali high ing, against all the nobler lessons of antiquity, and virtually a st Confucius himself, is a int upon which there can be no' two ions. Sitch things as gagging the populace, closing schools, prohibiting the Circulation of news, and hunting down rs to the death, are already discussed Jenmmed in the writings of Confucius or of hiis contemporaries.
Thi the "Narrative of fo Chriu-ming." (FEAMIEZS A462) is related the A man of Cheng rambled into a village school, and fell discoursing about the conduct of the government.
In consequence of this Jen-ming proposed to Tze-chan (prime minister of the State of Cheng) to destroy all the village schools. But that minister said: "Why do so?" If the people congregate together morning and evening, and pass their judgment on the conduct of the government, I will do whut they commend, and alter What they condemn, using them as my advisers. On what ground should we destroy these schools, pray? [have heard that enmity is diminished by loyalty and goodness, but I have not heard that it can be prevented by acts of violence. It may be temporarily restrained thus, just as a stream may be temporarily dammed up. But let there be hole in the dam, and irreparable ry will accrue. Far better to allow the water a small channel wherein to flow forth. In the present case, let us hear what folks have to say, and use it as we should use medicine. That is the best plan."
Phe other replied: "From this time forth I shall acknowledge that you are well worthy of the post of administrator, and fea to my own lack of ability. Tf you act in accend with what you have said, the whole State will be benefited by it."
When Confucius heard of these words, he exclaimed: Let no one say that Tz chan (with all his firmness) is Iscking in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.