ing away with the
other; and so perhaps it would work out in more than one nation of the
West. But those who know the Chinese at home know that when they offer
political advice they mean it to be taken. The great democracy of China,
living in the greatest republic the world has ever seen, would never
tolerate any paltering with national liberties in the present or in the
future, any more than has been the case in the past. Those who sit in
the seats of authority at the capital are far too well acquainted with
the temper of their countrymen to believe for a moment that, where such
vital interests are concerned, there can be anything contemplated save
steady and satisfactory progress towards the goal proposed. If the
ruling Manchus seize the opportunity now offered them, then, in spite of
simmering sedition here and there over the empire, they may succeed
in continuing a line which in its early days had a glorious record of
achievement, to the great advantage of the Chinese nation. If, on the
other hand, they neglect this chance, there may result one of those
frightful upheavals from which the empire has so often suffered. China
will pass again through the melting-pot, to emerge once more, as on all
previous occasions, purified and strengthened by the process.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. _The Chinese Classics_, by James Legge, D.D., late Professor of
Chinese at Oxford.

A translation of the whole of the Confucian Canon, comprising the Four
Books in which are given the discourses of Confucius and Mencius, the
Book of History, the Odes, the Annals of Confucius' native State, the
Book of Rites, and the Book of Changes.

2. _The Ancient History of China_, by F. Hirth, Ph.D., Professor of
Chinese at Columbia University, New York.

A sketch of Chinese history from fabulous ages down to 221 B.C.,
containing a good deal of information of an antiquarian character, and
altogether placing in its most attractive light what must necessarily be
rather a dull period for the general reader.

3. _China_, by E. H. Parker, Professor of Chinese at Victoria
University, Manchester.

A general account of China, chiefly valuable for commercial and
statistical information, sketch-maps of ancient trade-routes, etc.

4. _A Chinese Biographical Dictionary_, by H. A. Giles, LL.D., Professor
of Chinese at the University of Cambridge.

This work contains 2579 short lives of Chinese Emperors, statesmen,
generals, scholars, priests, and other clas