The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-24
A QUEER SYSTEM.
The Chinese Mat-and- Bedquilt Theory of
Coz Anf

The Chinese Mat-and- Bedquilt Theory Of
Government.
The North China Herald of Shanghai,
in a recent leading article, describes
what it calls "the mat-and- bedquiit
theory of government" in that country.
1t says that the traveller who is strolling
about the principal thoroughfares Of
Pekin is liable at crossing of two main
streets, 20 find huge piece of patch
work cloth suspended from poles in
such way as to obstruct the view from
all sides. only narrow opening being
left Tor carts and pedestrians. Pursu-
ing his way, he notices that the en-
trance to all the many alleys is barri-
caded with rush-mats, and that the
same kind of screen is placed in front
of ruined temples and vacant lots which
have been used as the places of deposit
Of filth or rubbish. Whenever the en-
peror is about to make his exit from the
city or is about to return criers an
nounce that fact to the people who
then disappear not to emerge until the
invisible monarch has passed, when
things go on as usual until the next oc-
casion of like nature.
There are two main benefits supposed
to be attached to this Enthusiastically
oriental proceeding-it helps to pre-
serve the fiction of the sacredness of the
person of the emperor. and of his being
something other than an ordinary NOR
tai, and it is valuable check upon
reckless assassins of the Guiteau type,
whom China could easily furnish in I'M
limited numbers A third result is in
cidental AS the people see nothing OF
the emperor, so he sees nothing of the
people. He is probably the only man
in China who is unable to form any idea
OF what the Chinese are like or what
they are about. What is seen in the
imperial courts is no type either of
China or of the Chinese. but it must be
literal impossibilitv fer the emperor
to get anything else upon which to
base notion of his empire. What does
the emperor think. how much does he
know. what does he think that he
knows. does he think at all. what is the
specific gravity of the darkness in
which he perpetuallv abides, and how
many bent rays of light reach him
through the opaque oyster-shells known
as boards?
This mat-and- bedquilt theory OF gov
eminent is not confined to the emperor
but runs all the way through the ranks
of officialdom. The district magistrate.
Is supposed TO be the man that knows
his district. and the project the man
that knows his prefecture: but these are
mere figures of speech used in purely
ideal way. No one in district knows
less OF what is going on within It's
boundaries than the chief officials: no
one would have more trouble in finding
out what's going on. surprising he really
desired to know As rule there Is no
one who really cares less TO know. or
who considers it less his business TO
know. provided the taxes are paid and
the people are ..tran9uiilzed II -
very difficult for most Chinese officials
to come 10 any useful conclusion as 10
their duties. for the reason that they
generally have too little interest IN the
matter, and are in reality alnost as
much pinioned in ssiachles as the pris
oners at the doors OF their yarnens wear
ing wooden platforms about their
necks. but with this Difference. that the
sentence on the prisoner Is for def
nsie term and end. while that OF the Of