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


AS arc all Eastern monarchie>. the
Chinese government is essentially DIES
pntlr. IN theory everything hinges on
the personality OF the Emperor His will
is absolute. not merely in affairs Of stat,
bit in the smallest details Of private life.
The highest form Of Legislation is an inn
prrlal decree, whether promulgated in
general terms. or conveying orders on Il:
particular point. i'll all matters judicial.
administrative or executive. The per
sons and property OF all his subjects are.
ut his disposal and he can behta. i'm
prison or 'ontscate without form OF trial
or reason assigned. In ordinary circ,lm-
stances the rule is lenient enough and
conduteu according to recognized FORMS
Dut When occasion arises the government
doeS not S>rupe to use its despOtic poWei.
to- the utmost But, although the CON
S'ltutlun provides no checks on the arhi-
t!ary VIII OF the Emperor. his power i
rir'unS.ribHd in pra. ticc by the ne'.es-
:lty OF finding capable and willing agents
TO rIrr! out his derreeS. The part tina,
the emperor personally plays III the mat
ter depends on his character. \ strong
t1l1ot r"1 can be in fact as we'll as in
'h'"rH absolutely drsIotic. \ weak En-
l"r"f Is simply tool in the hands OF
'A'Se YIN" are strong enough and united
ui"'Sh [" SelZt his power and WELD it.
ne power OF the sword is IN either case
the instrument by which DEGREES and or
"'iS are enforced. and the limitation Of
auth"rl;y Is the extent to which it may
rebellion
The Grand Council.
After the Emperor himself the func-
lions OF government vest in the grand
G ecu of which we have already SPOKEN.
he number of this council is un;ett:-
mined put usually does not exceed tv,.
or SIX. 1hey are nominated by the soy
erelSn and can be changed ut his pleas
''lre; or, If the Emperor is IL nontnitv.
they nominate one another The Nom
bers are selected from among the highest
o1hrers Of state and include both Man
cnnS ana ChlnrSe: In recent years one
always. been included. who are ut tn.
same time rommanderS-in-chitf of som"
or the Banner forces. 1t is this small
group which wiedS the real authority CT
government. All business is transacted
IN secret and in ordinary circumstances
III me presence Of the sovereign. DEGREES
ana orders are issued in his name ;,n,!
ulrtcttd either to the executive boards in
1'tkln or direct to the provincial authnri
ties. The Emperor is not constitutiuna!lv
hound t" consult his council. but in prar-
tlrr he cannot dispense with their assist
antt or act in rnntravtntun to their
Wishes
The TsunS Ii lnn,en.
Next to the grand council. the DEPART
mrnt with which we are most concerned
Is the 1Snn=-li-yalrn. which many 1s,,-
PIE tax" to be- Synonymous with the Chi
nt>e government. 1t is, however, !; body
OF quite recent creation. Prior to the
war of 1860 there was III, foreign ,,,nart
lnrnt Il: Itk:1l. Foreign affairs were,
tr:tNSa"tt'l by the vicrrry Of Canton AMI
",n]: r"achrd ptkin as filtered through,
ms dispatches. After the war and the
establishment " the foreign legations.
sonnet ing more WAS needed and Il board
was hen created ,n deal with foreign
questions. At first the men appointed
| 10 II We're O.! no great >tandiny cXcenl
Prince Knh=. who ably presided over it
'"i' many years: 1t WAS regarded as.
ana WAS .prohabIy intended to be. Il sort
Ut bnt1rr between the foreign ministers
and the real government. Il body to re-
c'iVe the hard knocks and transmit them
| III Il mrulflcu form to those who held The.
power ITS function never was to facili-
tate business. bat only to Stuvr off i'm
l"r'''al ; HclnantiS as Ion" as possible.
ana When things became too inlp'rtunat,.
to yield the minimum hat would keen,
! TIE peace laltprly it has included
'hrn% its members officials who also be-
l"'l@'l I" the grand council, anL to that
extent ITS authority has been <trvuy1ll-
n''l. ''o even so. il has no independent
power rvrrHtl in" i, may agree to bs.in"
SUBJECTED t. he approval of tin, Empcr-
o.: and grand council. The other de-
lmrtlntnt> Of tho, central vurr,1,r,r,,1
&c uprising six principal ir:,r,,~ and sew
rr ;'i n M Ut state fulfill a two
1"l' once of rendering ;',lvic.' to the soy
cielTA AND rarIIlnC on TIN. administrative
| work Of the country
40 Popular Representation.
1t will he noticed that novh,~r i
there anything iii the nature Of lulu,ir
! r'r:r>' htatlnn The constitution. how
ever 'h'ravnl> I" provide Il sort ct >,ll-
S'fn1' III the rrn>oratr. which deserves
Il WORT or two. The crn>ur< are i paid
''"; OF p,lh!r servants whose dirty it is
~ KEEP the Emprror informed Of any
thln$ tlat may h'' TRANSMITTING in any
part Of his drniniun<. and in narticu),r
| I" Keep an eye on lnAlfeaS,!lcr ,;r o.
preston on the part Of his officers. j.;
some respects they ma: he COMPARED ~
tr!hrnr> OF the people who are. ted
~ stand up for the popular cause.
against tn" officials. But. hnvevrr cx
ce]r'!t the theory may have been, in
l'r' tlce the ctll>orats' has i,rrulnt simply
| Il huge Matchmaking office. it's function
| being to drncullre officials. II auvon,
wants to ruin another he has only t.,
trump up a story. bride crn>,r and ill.,.
thing is doAr. Or. As villainy is usually
!"'hl'-d!'d' private notice will NJ. given
to the accused that the blow may ~,
Avertcd by a bigger hribe OH his side
| There is no court to which :; man thus
Wr"nGrd can appeal for Justice and.
however clean handed he may be. it is
usually wisdom for him to submit, am!
| pay the squeeze demanded
No provision is made for fresh leci~-
| latlon as such. The penal codr which is
the only body Of statutory law in exist
| rnce, is supposed to contain rn;ctmen,>
to meet every possible case. but if bv
chance some difficulty occurs for Which,
there is no precedent it is referred to thu.
board concerned, which in turn reports
to the throne. \ decree or reScrpt is
thereupon issued which settles the ease.
Periodically the code is revised and thes..
various DEGREES are consolidated or in
cornorated and become part of the statute
! llW.-l 4hndon Saturday Review
Hints for Cleaning Day.
| y Sprinkling OF, coarse salt on the side
WA ks and driycway> will destroy grass
! j nd woods