riand," vol. I. ("Les Soirees au
Chateau de Cambourg".)]

[Footnote 2210: In China, the moral principle is just the opposite. The
Chinese, amidst obstacles and embarrassments, always enjoin siao-sin,
which means, "abate thy affections." (Huc, "L'Empire Chinoise," I.,
204.)]

[Footnote 2211: In the United states the moral order of things reposes
chiefly on puritan ideas; nevertheless deep traces of feudal conceptions
are found there; for instance, the general deference for women which is
quite chivalric there, and even excessive.]

[Footnote 2212: Observe, from this point of view, in the woman of modern
times the defenses of female virtue. The (male) sentiment of duty is the
first safeguard of modesty, but this has a much more powerful auxiliary
in the sentiment of honor, or deep innate pride.]

[Footnote 2213: The moral standard varies, but according to a fixed law,
the same as a mathematical function. Each community has its own moral
elements, organization, history and surroundings, and necessarily its
peculiar conditions of vitality. When the queen been in a hive is chosen
and impregnated this condition involves the massacre of useless male
and female rivals (Darwin). In China, it consists of paternal authority,
literary education and ritual observances. In the antique city, it
consisted of the omnipotence of the State, gymnastic education, and
slavery. In each century, and in each country, these vital conditions
are expressed by more or less hereditary passwords which set forth or
interdict this or that class of actions. When the individual feels
the inward challenge he is conscious of obligation; the moral conflict
consists in the struggle within himself between the universal password
and personal desire. In our European society the vital condition, and
thus the general countersign, is self-respect coupled with respect for
others (including women and children). This countersign, new in history,
has a singular advantage over all preceding ones: each individual being
respected, each can develop himself according to his nature; he can
accordingly invent in every sense, bring forth every sort of production
and be useful to himself and others in every way, thus enabling society
to develop indefinitely.]

[Footnote 2214: Taine is probably speaking of the colonial wars in China
and the conquest of Madagascar. (SR).]

[Footnote 2215: Here Taine is seeing mankind as being male, strong and
hardy; however I feel that li