The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13

required for the government, and every OPP
rortunity should be given to bring to light
their experience and knowledge"
Then follows a command for proper ex-
aminasions and for the discovery of men Of
the type here mentioned. The edict con-
cludes: Let this be known to all through
out the empire"
Many of these edicts. it should be men,
toned, are based on the recommendations
OF officials in various observation-disclosures,
governors, secretaries. censors and the
hke-so that ii would appear that the En-
peror had the support of many mandarins.
1t is noticeable, too, that the Empress dow
or the death Of Prince Kung and on many
other occasions. the Emperor dutifully fol-
lowing such decree by others of his own in
NEWSPAPER ORGAN
One curious episode in connection with
the Emperors reforms was his attempt to
establish in Shanghai a journal which
should explain and support his policy. 1t
was to be edited by Kang Yu Wei. his Can
tonese adviser, who is now a fugitive. An
existing native journal was purchased; the
Viceroy of Kiang-su, the province in which
Shanghai is situated, was ordered to con-
tribute a certain sum monthly for it's sup
port; and it was ordered that all public
Offices should take copies, while Kang was
directed to translate Western laws relating
TO the press and generally to write the truth
about abuses. The Emperor ordered also
that copies of the paper should be regular
~ sent to himself while copies of all the
journals published in China were to be sent
by the local authorities to a certain office
IN Pektng, where they were to be studied,
and any remarks made therein concern
ing the progress of public affairs should be
presented for our perusal." His Majesty
also grants freedom of the press in these
terms: All the papers should be strict and
forward in commenting on public affairs
without shrinking: They are allowed to say
N " 4TaOr hn1 nV16 iCrr1
affairs, so as to help the imperial court to
bring the public affairs to perfection"
In these and many other recent imperial
DEGREES and edicts the young Emperor has
gone to the root of the causes of the deca-
dence of China. The reverence for antiqui-
ty, for obsolete customs, for exploded pre-
cedent, and the all-prevailing corruption
are the topics Of his denuncation, the OBJ
Jects of his reforms. In one instance he or
saw cause to abolish it. Thereupon he n
sued an edict. which he ordered to be pub
lshed in every town and village, saying he
was quite sure that the officials would pub
lish the edict levying the tax and conceal
that aboishing it, so that the people might
pay the tax, which the officials would put
in their own pockets, and accordingly he
takes special measures that every one
should know of the abolition. The policy
adopted in regard to ancient customs, the
classics and Chinese education generally is
sufficiently evident from the extracts given
above There can be no question that the
Emperor is himself an ardent refOrmer; he
others, but he evidently assimilated his
teaching rapidly. Further, it is clear from
the memorials on which many of the edicts
are based that there is a party in the Off
cial world favorable to reform. Possibly
the Emperor went too fast and thereby
aroused the antagonism to which he has
China had a chance of recovering herself;
under those now in power she has none
Hence friends of China, as well as friends
of human progress, may lament the tal OF
the reforming Emperor.