The Principle of Reciprocity
AT a dinner recently in New York City, the Chinese minister to the United States, speaking of the principle of reciprocity as the rule of conduct in home and business and government, said: “It was to the same effect said by him,—whom shall I say? your Prophet, your Saviour,—‘What you would have others do to you, do the same to them.’ Whether it is a merchant, whether it is a tradesman, whether it is a benefactor, or whether it be a nation, if we follow this sound principle, we shall have no quarrel, no dispute, and no cause for war.” And upon this the New York Observer remarks: “It should certainly produce the effect of putting the Christian nations on their moral mettle to have a Chinese diplomat evince so clear an appreciation of their duty and opportunities, as judged out of their own Book, and by the example and precepts of their own Master.” Oh, no; that will not put them on their mettle. They are already on their mettle, as well as on their metal, in demonstrating their superiority to the “heathen” and “hermit nation” of China.