The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-03-31
China and Japan at the Uni
versal Exposition of 1867.

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noticing the scanty variety Of objects laid
out in the Chinese Department, as COM
pared with the Japanese, and wondering
how the products of territory, occupying
one third Of the Continent of Asia and
having population of above 300, 100000
inhabitants according to official statistics
could be comprised within sueh narrow
limits as those in which they were exposed
for public inspection. The fact is that the
Chinese Government did not send any
thing to the Paris Exhibition, and has not
taken the slightest trouble to divulge to
the world the civilization or industry of its
subjects. What is the cause of this indif
ference? 1t is proper, in the first place, to
remark that certain countries, included by
geographers within the frontiers of China,
such as Thibet, Corea, and some Of the
western provinces, hardly recognize the
suzerainty Of the Emperor, and have at
least the direction of their internal admin
istration. Orders emanating from the
Court of Pekin are generally disobeyed,
while the treaties binding China with the
Foreign Powers are totally disregarded.
In relation to the provinces Of China
proper, we may be able to discover the
causes of their abstention by examining
the administrative organization of the En-
pire, and the state of Chinese society.
Notwithstanding a certain appearance Of
municipal organization, there is, in China,
neither a controlling influence of the ma
ton, legally resisting, through Represent
atives, the arbitrary will of the Sovereign,
nor hereditary aristocracy, whose indie
pendence, based on the holding of property,
might counterbalance the power of the
monarch. The publication of the Chinese
laws, copy of which might be found at
the Exposition, would furnish valuable
indications on the political state of the
Empire. 1t appears, however, from pc
rusal of them, that all power or authority
is vested and concentrated in the person
of the Emperor, but that it is so immense
that he can not apply it to all the details
of the government. He transfers, there
fore, the right of exercising it, in his name,
to functionaries - Mandarins appointed |
after more or less thorough examination,
and divided into nine classes, but he re-
tains the right of revoking their commits
sions.
Depending on the caprice of their CON-
mon master, the Mandarins have formed
among themselves kind Of tacit league
against the whims Of the Sovereign, in
mutual defense of their own interests, and
to prevent, by the mere force of inertia,
the execution of his orders. The Emperor,
who knows of nothing but through them,
can not be informed Of their disobedience
The nation itself has no organ through
which to expose its grievances there is
no press, and the Censorial Tribunal is
composed of functionaries also dependent.
on the Emperor's pleasure, who do not
like to act severely against their col
leagues, with whom they are intimately
connected by the bond of similarity Of
origin and interest. In more or less
limited sphere of authority, Mandarin
can abuse his power, being pretty certain
that he will not be blamed by his superior
in rank or station, who is, or has been,
guilty of the same arbitrary conduct, and
is, moreover, aided in his assumption of
arbitrary power by the most complete
system of rules and regulations that exists
on earth. At each step, individual indie
pendence is checked by law Or an ordi-
nance authorizing the interference of
and thus the spirit of initiative
and progress is effectually smothered. Un-
der such discipline, the Chinaman has
arrived at perfect indifference towards
foreign nations. The idea, nay, the religious
belief, that his ancestors had attained the
climax of perfection, makes him disregard
everything that takes place out Of China.
al congratulate myself every day." says
an old author, "that l was born in the
Middle Empire. My fate would have been
quite different, had / been born in some
remote corner of the world. Although
belonging to mankind, / would have been
similar to the brutes. But, luckily, WAS
born in China, and, verify, my happiness
is extreme"
This national vanity has been kept alive
by historical remembrances, and also by
the geographical position of China, the
frontiers of which have no other neighbors |
than the sea, the desert, or some half !
savage hordes. Whatever may have been
the race inhabiting China in early times,
it must have been conquering race.
From the northern to the southern extrem-
tiles of Oriental Asia, it has VIGOROUSLY !
invaded all countries, stopping only before
the ice of Siberia, the deserts and mount
aims of Central Asia, or the ocean. The !
great European conquerors have not touch t,
ed it, and the Mussulman invasions have {