The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-21
Government OF China.


China to take the place of the present
one, the powers now acting in concert
will make a serious mistake IL they at
tempt any radical change In form. Con-
sideration must be paid to the intense
conservatism OF the Chinese people, who
will never rest quiet under any change
in a system which has remained I'M
altered in its essential features since
the earliest dawn OF their history. While
the Chinese have been at different times
and are today, in fact, under the domi-
nation Of foreign people, they have
been acquiescent under such dornlna-
ton only when due adherence has been
given by their foreign rulers to their
ancient customs and forms. The sue
cessors OF Jenghz Khan and the pres
ent Manchu dynasty In China never at
tempted any structural changes in the
form Of government, but permitted
themselves to be bound in every re-
spect by the unbroken Chinese tradi-
Fundamentally the Chinese govern
ment ia one of the most primitive In
the world. The paternal idea Is para
mount, the emperor occupying. In the
DRY. the relation of father to his people.
All power is. theoretically, lodged in
his hands, and so far as the great mass
OF the Chinese people know. he person.
ally exercises absolute dominion. In
actual fact the life OF the emperor has
for generations been so hampered and
circumscribed by ceremonial laws ard
presidents that every act Is regulated
for him with unvarying minuteness. and
his actual exercise of power has been
limited simply to the designation Of the
particular executive officers on whom
is cast the real burden Of government.
These are divided into several boards.
OF which the privy council. composed o:
nine Manohus and seven Cinnamon, is
chief. The other boards are made up
In a similar manner. the Manchus as
a rule being In the majority on each.
The imperial government and its va
rious boards have really but little to DO
pire The provinces are semi-inde2en-
dent. and In each OF them the viceroy
reigns supreme, with power extending
10 life and death. Each province coll
lects its own taxes, pays Its own ex-
penses and supports Its own army and
navy. 1t pays annually a fixed sum 20
the imperial government. and this 10
practically the only interference by that
government with the provinces, save
in the appointment and removal OF the
yceroys. Each province In turn Is d.
,ided Into numerous procedures. the
| head officers OF which are appointed ny
| the viceroys. and so on down to the
lnnumerable horde Of petty officials.
While the Chinese have consorva-
| tive attachment TO the imperial idea.
and look up 10 the emperor as the ac-
tual father OF the race their attach
ment extends more 10 the imperial Of
| fee than to the occupant Of II. That
the right Of rebellion Is inherent In the
subject is recognized by all Of the clas-
SIC writer's Confucius taught that re-
| bcllicn was a sacred right. and Men-lus
asserts that ruler who by the prac-
ute Of injustice or oppression forfeited
! his right 80 rule. should not only be
| csthroned. but pa, to death. These writ
! ngs form the study OF every hooi-
boy, and familiarity with them is tAr
srlc test ct the competitive @Samlna-
| t"ns through which every one must
I1ss Who seeks an official career
The extinction u one dynasty and the
upoulldlng of another ia thus a familiar
( Idea q every Chinese. and there IS
rothlng in such "a change. ~ itseif. TO
/ rroHse his conservative opposition. =
/ di,e regard IS pald 20 Chinese opinions
aui grcjadlces on the subject. there Is
I some hope that the powers now acting
! !u copecr, can Institute fairly stable
/ government In Chins. which VIII main
/ tain order and protect the lives and
] property Of foreigners. II Niu be nee
essary. however. 30 preserve At leas;
the sxisting Actlon of a supreme era-
pvroF. and the actual work OF rehabili-
tauns the empire must be through he
machinery OF the existing boards and
The careful, selection II ruling vlceroys
| FOR the sex erai provinces.
I
\ correspondent wrote Mr.. Bryan re-
Gently asking him what he would do
in case ne was not elected this year.
| This Is a matter that NJ RrNan nnrht