The evening times., 1900-08-01

who is the lowest Official in the provincial
scale, is at once collector CT revenue, judge,
coroner, head OF police, and public prose-
eutor, and he may on occasions be re-
/ quifed TO take the field in person against
rebels. The same functions may fall to
the lot of any Official in the scale up 10 the
/ Viceroy himself. Any officer is supposed
| TO be capable Of undertaking any public
I duty whatsoever. Death sentences require
I in ordinary circumstances TO be ratified
from Pekin but each Niceroy or Governor
Is armed with extraordinary powers which
he may use at discretion in times o. pub
lie danger, ana which enable him TO deal
QUA summary justice at the shortest notice.
he IS invested, in fact, with a share Of
that absolute and autocratlc power which
IS inherent in the central Government to
whom, however. he remains responsible.
The charge Of eacn Governor is to main
tain peace and order within his own
bounds. So long as he does that and car
ries on the government in accordance with
The established rules. the central Govern
ment does not interfere with him. He is
not concerned with what may be going on
in neighbo-ing province. nor bound to
spend his resources in its defence. Special
orders, of course, may be sent from Pekin
directing him TO assist, but the safety of
his own province is his first charge. and
any steps he may take will be subordi-
mated to that paramount consideration.
The principal hold which the Pekin Gov
eminent has over the provincial officials
Is the right Of appointment and dismissal.
All officials hold the Office during the peas
ure Of the Crown, and can be dismissed
at any time with or without reason as
signed No instance has been known of
an official, however highly placed. -efus-
ing 10 hay down Office and hand over the
seals 10 his successor at the Bidding Of
20 ~.a~ -
should seem is sufficient 10 ensure prompt
obedience 10 any orders from the court,
bat IL is checked by the fact that the
successor 20 NiCerOy or governor so Te-
moved must be selected from among the
regular members OF the civil service.
who are all imbued with the same tradi-
tiOns OF government ard the same bureau
cratic spirit. The Crown has never ven
tured to put into high Office a mere crea-
ture CT its own, or one who has NOT regu-
l2rly entered the service by some recog-
nlZed channel and risen through the ranks
Such an attempt would undoubtedly raise
a storm Of Indignation throughout the
whole Of the country such as no Govern
ment could face.
This leads Us to say a word as 10 the
moGe in which the official ranks are re-
crUiteG-a system which has perhaps as
much as anything else contributed to the
general stability and moderation Of the
Government and prevented il from &c
generating into a military dictatorship
EI-rance TO CftiCe is obtained as is zen
orally known, by a system OF public ex-
aminations open 10 the humblest IS well
as ths highest. Within recent years a GER
tain number have been admitted by pur-
chase. but only to junior rank. All rrac-
tically have TO begin at the foot OF the lad
dei ard wC-N their way up and all the
high posts in the provinces and nearly ali
those in Pekin are flied with mn who
have 50 risen. Admission IS free 10 Man
cdus anC to Chinese alike. and until reeert
years there has been no preference shown
in selection.
The great body of officials thus forms
bureaucracy which stands in middle po-
siticn between the crown and the people.
Springing On the one hand from the null
ttUce and looking on the other hand to
the crown, they are friendly to both As
governing the people they are the recog-
nized medium for the redress Of griev-
enceS and for formulating fresh legislation.
As whole, they carry on the government
Of China both provincial and central. and
they constitute q check, and very efficient
check, on the vsgaries Of the autocratic
power OF the Emperor. At the same time
the relations between them and the i'm
pertzl house have for many years been
thoroughly cordial There is no question of
thelf loyalty 10 the dynasty, and on the
other hand advice rendered by the great
NicerOys and Governors has carried the
greatest weight with the central Govern
ment. Until the unhappy events Of the last
few years the distinction between Manchus
and Chiramen seemed to be disappearing.
and even yet II cannot be doubted that ~
the present mcmert a Manchu Emperor is
the Only one who would command general
recognition
The relations hefweop +ba ,o-,+r,r -
provincial! governments are well illustrated
by the system Of france. The Pekin Gov
eminent has no revenues peculiarly its
own. but Is dependent on the sums il can
draw from the provinces. TIE imperial
maritime customs revenue may be deemed
an exception, but even that is received in
the first instance by the provincial treas
uries, and in any case the whole Of it is
now pledged 10 foreign bondholders. The
money for the support of the Manchu
troops. as well as for the support of the
imperial household itself must be drawn
from the provinces. The customary prac-
tice has hitherto been for the board OF
revenue in Pekin, which has nominal con
troll over the finances Of the Empire, TO
indent annually for such SUNS as were re-
quired for the use OF the central Govern
ment. certain amount being assessed on
each province according to its supposed
means, and so long as the amount did not
vary srsaliy from year TO year II was paid
with reasonable -punctuality, but as more
and more was asked for, il was only got
with increasing difficulty
The expenses Of local government were
naturally the first charge on the provin-
cial exchequer, and Pekin demands could
only be met out of the surplus II there
was no surplus, demands could be met
only by increased taxation. with it's at
tendant unpopularity and risk Of rebellion
Finance hrfr- -.
the strength and weakness of the Imperial
Government So far as legislation goes
the central Government can impose taxes
to any extent An imperial decree being
the highest form Of Legislation. it has only
TO issue the decree and the law is com