The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-02-06
She Albanp Regjster.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1860.
China a Democratic Nation.

her Government, which are CLEANED from
series of articles written by Rev. Will
liam Speer, Corresponding Secretary of
the Presbyterian Board of Education at
Philadelphia. These statements are very
interesting, containing much information
In regard to the administration of Gov
ornamental affairs in China coming as they
do from gentleman who, by personal
observation and experience, is we'll ac-
quainted with his subject. Mr. Speer
claims that the Chinese are the most
democratic of nations, and that they have
perhaps risen as high as possible in the
two great objects of human government
security of life and property to the
the individual restraints of law.that
there are few nations of the world among
whom the freedom of the people is more
large, more squarely founded upon their
intelligence, or more carefully guarded
against despotism, than the Chinese.
He takes up the three leading features of
their Goyernment-the theory of Impe
rial power, the principles on which the
General Government is administered and
the forms Of local popular government
which universally exist. He says that
the theory of the Imperial power is.
that the people are not subjects, to be
ruled by fear, but children, to be inspired
and controlled by affection and gratitude
toward father, who with unceasing
anxiety, watches over and cares for them
all. To prove the comparative freedom
of the people he cites the fact that all
preferment is planted upon education.
He was at Canton upon the occasion Of
great triennial examination of candidates
for the second degree, which entitled to
the best offices of the cities and districts
of the province of twenty-one millions of
people. Seventytwo were to be select
ed. The number of candidates amount
ed to between seven and eight thousand.
Two Imperial Commissioners from Pekin
presided. The contestants were all shut
up in close rooms in a range of buildings
provided for these occasions and could
not come out until their essays on the
Eve themes given were completed. The
whole city and province were in fer
ment of interest. Heralds were in wait
ing, who, by swift boats, horses and run
ing, conveyed tidings of the result to
every part of the province, and in their
native towns the successful ones were
welcomed with banners and music aud
feasts of joy. It appears that no man is
allowed to hold Office in the General Gov
ernment in the province of which he is
native. The officials are what our poll
ticians call carpet-baggers. This is
custom centuries old and its object is to
detatch them from local influences, and,
further to guard against the growth of
such influences, the term of holding
Office is limited to three years. A Board
Of Review at Pekin is appointed to re-
wise all documents sent to the Court and
inspect the conduct Of the officers, from
the humblest of them even to the Emp
eror upon the throne. Officers connect
ed with this department report in
every part of the Empire acts of official
misconduct. The courage with which
this Board expose and rebuke even the
most wealthy and powerful and secure
their punishment is often surprising and
worthy Of admiration. They do not spare
even the Emperor when the welfare of
his subjects seems to require his vices to
be sternly reproved and some of them
have suffered death in consequence.
Thezhistories of the Empire hand down
with language of praise the names and !
actions of those who have been most
faithful. This remarkable feature of the
Government has attracted the attention
of the monarchial Powers of the world. |
Another of the methods by which the
welfare Of the people is secured is the
system of official reports to the six
Boards or Departments of the Govern
ment, which reports virtually appeal to
the popular sentiment of the nation for its |
support through the Pekin Gazette and
other means of universal publication. This /
Gazette is distributed over the whole en-
pire in limited number of comics to |
leading points, which are there reprint |
ed by various means SO that the mass of |
the population are made acquainted with |
its contents. The officers of each nrov.
ince In turn publish their reports or snh. |
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