Evening star., 1900-08-18
Importance Of Vioeroys in the Gov
ernmental Machinery.
COLLECTION OF REVENUE THEIR DUTY
Functionaries Blamed for Vista
tions of Flood and Famine.
THE ANCIENT THEORIES S

Prof. Douglas, a recent writer on China,
says that. with the exception of Chihli and
Szechuan. the affairs Of which are admin
fstered solely by the viceroy, all the prov
inces have at their head a governor. who
is Immediately responsible to the crown
But emily in the case of three. namely,
.Shansi. Human and Shantung, out OF the
eighteen provinces does the governor stand
alone as the supreme authority. In all
other instances he has al his elbow vice
roy as his superior colleague, the latter
generally attending to the administration
of two provinces. An immense power is
delegated to the viceroys. Within the limit
of their sphere they are supreme. and can
raise armies or navies. All that is demand
ed Of them is that the revenues shall be
punctually collected and forwarded to Pc
kin, and, above everything else, that the
provinces under their control shall make as
little history as possible. In fact. it is
stated that the central government con-
siders that the viceroy of whom 1t hears
the least is the most successful.
In estimating the Importance of the vice
roys one must. not overlook the fact that
they cannot make themselves inconvenient-
ly powerful without mourning the danger
of dismissal The emperor preserves this
their offices at a moments notice by the
simple expedient Of an edict.
Degrading a viceroy.
And. as readers Of foreign intelligence
are well aware, it is no uncommon thing
to read Of the degradation Of q viceroy
whose influence has become irksome to the
central authorities. The fact that the en-
tire blame is thrown upon a viceroy or gov
ernor for anything that goes wrong In the
district under his control whether It be
the act OF subordinate or defect in the
| la1v sofr
him particularly careful. and he is apt to
come down heavily on an official who has
risked his position by some malfeasance.
1t often happens that the situation can be
saved by the instant dismissal Of the Of
Tending mandarin. and the viceroy who has
got into a screpe does not hesitate rightly
or wrongly, to offer up such sacrifice
with all possible speed. Viceroys are even
blamed for accidental visitations, such as
floods. famines and other misfortunes. On
these occasions 1t Is customary for them
to sue Tor punishment, and they eyen go SO
far sometimes to publish their contri-
tfon by placarding about an autographic
account Of their misdeeds
The administrative divisions Of each prov
ince are placed under the supervision of two
superior officers. who are the heads Of the
executive department., and are directly re-
sponsible to the vtceroy or governor These
commissioners, respectively hold the titles
of treasurer and Judge. The first named
superintends the civil service of the prov
ness Another important functionary is the
literary chancellor, who presides at the pre-
fectural examinations. and confers the sec
ondary degree which entities candidates to
go up to the capital for the final competi-
tion, which takes place every three wears
The four high officials who are next In rank
to the governor form an executive commit
tee, which administers the affairs ~ The
province.
This. in brief, is the system of eoyern
ment which Is established in each Of the
eighteen provinces. There are minute reg
ulations, laid down by the central authori-
ties at Pekin. for the guidance Of the vice
roys and governors. which prescribe ex-
actly what Is to be done under given cir
cumsfances, and censors are provided for
each province to see that these general in
structions are properly observed, But
as matter Of fact, the viceroys are NOT in
terfered with SO hong as they remit the
prominence.
The Theory Of Government.
It is doubtful II a moro perfect theorv n,
government could be devised than tha,
which has been invented by the sap.. and
statesmen Of ancient China Nothing has
been omitted for the maintenance of an alb
soiuee balance Of the scales of Justice. The
aaminfseratfve system is a lore but sinn,e
caath. IN which every link is fitted corn
tts. paeay IN us place; and II the necessary mo-
i've power were there to reyolye the wheel
OF government in the manner intended hv
lts projectors q more admirable piece Of
naGninsry I1n,dr.s could .n3 not be imagined.
ontorlunately. the motive power In not
there The theories. the beautiful rrecen,.
the lofty sentiments, all remain as tbs
originators CT the scheme conceived thew
6ut tney mean nothing. The entire spirit
OF former generations seems to have nass.
ed away. and to have left in its MIA an
empty shell, which preserves a kind ~
mockery OF what 1t once really signtfed
The whole system of government hes d.
o.
and plunder the governed. Justice is a
commodity to be bought or sold: ana the
mandartns wiring out Of industry and COM
meree by imprcvised duties and other
methods OF squeeze. the uttermost farthine
brioery clogs the public service from
start to finish Even in the case of an
all the examinations on his own merits
the chance of obtaining the employment
Tor which he has qualified is largely in
creased oy, II 1t is not chiefly dependent
on. the transmission Of q bribe to those
by whom the patronage Is exercised. For
many poor students this would be innos-
siole, were 1t not for the existence of peo-
pie only too eager to advance To a nron
ising candidate the necessary money at on
exorbltant rate OF interest. But the tra MS
action brings a train of evils in its yale
when the successful candidate has at last
succeeded In obtaining the desired appoint-
ment, he finds himself compelled to iob his
creditors into all kinds Of inferior nosts
about his person. the result being that he
hammered "
a crowd OF parasites and blackmaiIers
whose object is to settle down comfortabiy
and fatten on what they can secure out
Of their victims position.
There Is regulation which forbids the
mandarins to employ any OF their own rels
tives in the subordinate offices. But II any-
thing. this rule, which sounds so excellent
in theory, aggravates the evil which n I.
Intended to remedy. No more sacred obli.
CATION rests upon the individual In Chine
than the care OF his family, which fncIudes
all who are related to him by ties of blood
This is one Of the maxims which. althonch
very beautiful and ideal In concept5r,n does
not work well in this world Of material IN.
terests. II a man grows rich In china
through his own talents or industry he
hnds himself compelled, instead OF ENJOYING
the fruits OF his labor. to keep a number Of
lazy or thriftless relatives In idleness ana
luxury simply on account of their kinshin
The newly appointed official also f,nda thai
besides satisfying the greed Of his para
sites there is hungry army of INDECENT
relatives to be provided for. The mandartns
are largely recruited from the masses of the
population. 1t may therefore be taken for
granted that the financial calls of this de-
scripdon represent large sum OF money.
The Salaries Inadequate.
On the other hand, the salaries paid IN