The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-10
HIS, WILL IS ABSOLUTE.
After the Emperor the Authority is,
Vested in the Grand
Council

AS are all Eastern monarchies. the,
Chinese government is essentially des-
potlc. in theory everything hinges on
the personality Of the Emperor His will
is absolute. not merely in affairs of state
but in the smallest details of private life
The highest form Of legislation is an I'M
Wrlal decree, whether promulgated in
general terms. or conveying orders on Il;
particular point. in all matters judicial.
administrative or executive. The per-
sons and property of all his subjects are
at. his disposal and he can behead, inl-
prison or contiscate without form OF trial
or reason assigned. In ordinary circum-
conducted according to recognized forms.
Dut when occasion arises the government
does not scruple to use its despotic power
TO- the utmost. But, although the CON
stltutlon provides no checks on the arbi-
trary will Of the Emperor, his power is
rii en- :! i'll practice by the ncces-
*lty OF 'lndlng capable and willing agents
70 c2yry out his DEGREES, The part that
the emperor personally plays in the mat
yer Q'pends on his character. \ strong
E;lhocror can be in fact as Well as in
theorE absolutely desrotic. u weak En-
peror Is simply Il tool in the hands Of
.llose VINO are strong enough and united
en- to seize his power and WELD it,
!. = ne power OF the sword is III either case
the instrument by which DEGREES and or
oerS are enforced. and the limitation OF
;authorlty Is the extent to which it may
pe uSed without provoking Il successful
rebellion
The Grand Council.
!. After the Emperor himself the func-
council of which we have already spoken.
Inc number of this council is un,lete:-
mined, but usually does not exceed tiyt.
or SIX. They are nominated by the SOW
erelgn and can be changed at his pleas
'ure; or, If the Emperor is none1ity.
bers are selected from among the highest
o1hcers OF state and include both Man
cnus and Chinese. In recent years ono
or more of the princes of the blood havt:
always been included. who are at the
same time commanders-in-chie Of som"
group which wielus the real authority CT
government. All business is transacted
IN secret and in ordinary circumstances
III the presence Of the sovereign. DEGREES
and orders are issued in his name and
greeted either to the executive boards iii
1.ekln or direct to the provincial authori
ties The Emperor is not constitutionally
hound to consult his council, but in prac-
tlre he cannot dispense with their assist
ance or act in cOntravention to their
Wishes
The TsunG Ii Yamen.
Next to the grand council. the depart
ment with which we are most concerned
~ the tSnnE-ll-yamen, which many p>o-
PIE take to be- SYNONYMOUS with the Chi
OF quite recent creation. Prior to the.
war OF 1850 there was no foreign depart
ment at pekin. Foreign affairs were.
trInS;'rteI by the vicrroy of Canton and
on; reached Ptlin as filtered through
his dispatches. After the war and The.
something more was needed and board
was then created TO deal with foreign
questions. At first the men appointed
to 1t were OF II" great standing, except
illnrr kun@. who ably presided over it
and WAS probably intended to be. a sort t
OF bnter between the foreign ministers
ana the real government. Il body to re-
celVr the hard knocks and transmit them
III Il modified form to those who held the.
power. Its function never was to facili-
tate business. but only to stayc off i'm
rortunate demands as long as possible.
and when things became too inlportunatt
70 yield the minimum hat would keep
tie peace. La1terly it has included
HmrnE ITS members officials who also be-
lollSed TO the grand council. and to that
extent ITS authority has been strength
power everything it may agree to being
Subjected to- the approval of the Enper-
o: and grand council. The other de-
lartnientS Of the central government.
comprising six principal boards and sev-
eral MINISTRIES of state fulfill :, two
1ol1 office Of rendering advice to the SOW
crel@n and carrying on the administrative
work OF the country.
No Popular Representations.
will 1,o
there anything iii the nature of uouu,:.
representation. The constitution, how
ever. cndeavorS to provide Il sort Of sub
Stltute: IN the cenSorate which deserves
il word or two. The ccnsors ar, y n3;T
houy OF pubic servants whose duty it is
to keel, the Emperor informed of any
ellhS mat may b'A transporting III any
t" keep an eye on malfeasanc,. or o,;-
preston on the part Of his officers In
some respects they may be compared to-
tl1brne> of the people who are cxpr,tt>l
to stand up for the popular cause
against tho officials. But. however ex-
ce'Icnt the theory may have been. in
practice the cenSorate has Income si,np]v
q huge matchmaking office. its function
beng to dcnounce officials. II anyone
| wants to ruin another he has only to
trump mp story. bride a censor and TIL.
thing is fone. Or. as villainy is usually
Hcuhle-dyed, private notice will he. given
to the accused that the blow may b,
avertcd by bigger bride on his side.
There is no court to which a man thus
WronGed can appeal for justice and.
however clean handed he may be. it is
usually wisdom for him to submit and
pay the squeeze demanded
No provision is made for fresh lesis-
lation as such. The penal code. which is
the only body of statutory law in exist
ence, is supposed to contain enactmentS
to meet every possible case. but if by
chance some difficulty occurs for which,
there is no precedent it is referred to the
board concerned which i'm turn reports
to the throne. 4 decree or resclipt is
thereupon issued which settles the case.
Periodically the code is revised and these
various DEGREES are consolidated or in
corporated and become part of the statute
lqW.-L6ndon Saturday Review
Hints for Cleaning Day.
n Sprhkllng Of COARSE salt on the Sixlo-