I am not bitter or sarcastic, but I do contend that there are yet many things
that the white races have to learn from their colored brethren.
In India, in China, and in Japan there are institutions which have a stability
unknown outside Asia. Religion has apparently little influence
on Western civilization; it is the corner-stone of society
in all Asiatic civilizations. The result is that the colored races
place morality in the place assigned by their more practical white confreres
to economic propositions. We think, as we contemplate the West,
that white people do not understand comfort because they have no leisure
to enjoy contentment; THEY measure life by accumulation, WE by morality.
Family ties are stronger with the so-called colored races
than they are among the more irresponsible white races;
consequently the social sense is keener among the former
and much individual suffering is avoided. We have our vices,
but these are not peculiar to US; and, at least, we have the merit
of being easily governed. Wherever there are Chinese colonies
the general verdict is: "The Chinese make good citizens."
This is what the late Sir Robert Hart, to whom China owes
her Customs organization, said about us:
"They (the Chinese) are well-behaved, law-abiding, intelligent,
economical, and industrious; they can learn anything and do anything;
they are punctiliously polite, they worship talent,
and they believe in right so firmly that they scorn to think
it requires to be supported or enforced by might; they delight in literature,
and everywhere they have their literary clubs and coteries
for learning and discussing each other's essays and verses;
they possess and practise an admirable system of ethics,
and they are generous, charitable, and fond of good work;
they never forget a favor, they make rich return for any kindness,
and though they know money will buy service, a man must be more than wealthy
to win esteem and respect; they are practical, teachable,
and wonderfully gifted with common sense; they are excellent artisans,
reliable workmen, and of a good faith that everyone acknowledges and admires
in their commercial dealings; in no country that is or was,
has the commandment `Honor thy father and thy mother',
been so religiously obeyed, or so fully and without exception given effect to,
and it is in fact the keynote of their family, social,
official and national life, and because it is so their days are long
in the land God has given them.
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