New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-22
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
HOW THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
is CONSTITUTIONAL OLIGARCHY
THAT OVERRIDES THE
TITULAR DESPOT.
TITULAR DESPOT.
From The satur ay Review.

From The Saturday Review.
The constitution of the Chinese Government
can perhaps best be understood by short ref
crence TO its origin. Two hundred and sixty
years ago the Manchu dynasty came TO the
throne at the head of d conquering army COM
posed mainly of Manchu troops but including
also certain corps of Chinese and Monaghan
origin The victorious army, divided into eight
banners. permanently quartered in and
around PekinS and converted into here tary
force Tor the support of the throne, minor de
tachments being settled at Canton, Marking and
other large cities as permanent garrisOns TO
oVeraWe the native population. The chiefs of
the army were created princes. dukes, and so on
and their commands were made hereditary in
their respective families
The machinery of government left by the out
gong Ming dynasty was, speaking generally,
taken over bloc. The six boards between
which the administrative business of the ma
ton was divided were retained but the higher
offices, such president and vice preside
were duplicated by the addition of a Manchu
colleague to each Chinese official, and it has
continued TO this day. The principal change
made was in the constitution of the advisory
council of the sovereign. Under the MingS this
had been purely a civilian body termed the
Grand Secretariat. The latter was not formally
abolished, but all business was transferred to a
much smaller body termed the Chun Chi Chu or
Military Council. This body, which was orig
inaly, as its name implies, the war council of
the Manchu army is still the grand council of
the Emperor and though no longer exclusively
military, it keeps in touch with the Manchu
force and can set the troops in motion The
Manchu soldier is not what he was two hun
dred and fifty years ago, nevertheless an armed
force of 10000 men, the estimated number of
the Manchu troops. counts for something and
is a ready weapon in the hands of the Council
AS are all Eastern mOnarchies. the Chinese
Government is essentially deSpOtic. In theory
everything hinges on the personality of the EN-
peror. 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
perial decree, whether promulgated in general
terms or conveying orders a particular point
in all matters judicial administrative or execu-
tive. The persons and property of all his sub
Jects are at his disposal and he can behead
lmprlson or confscate without form OF trial or
reason assigned. In ordinary circumstances the
rule is lenient enough and conducted according
10 recognized FORMS but when occasion arises
the Government does not sCruple to use its
deSpotic power to the utmost. But although
the constitution provides checks on the arbi-
trary will of the Emperor, his power is circum-
scr1bed In practice by the necessity of finding
capable and willing agents to carry out his de-
crees. The part that the Emperor personally
plays in the matter depends on his character
strong Emperor can be in fact as we'll as in
theory absolutely deSpOtic. A weak Emperor is
simply a tool in the hands of those who are
strong enough and united enough to seize his
power and WELD il. The power of the sword
is in either the instrument by which de-
crees and orders are enforced and the Imita-
ton of authority is the extent to which il may
be used without provoking successful rebellion.
THE GRAND COUNCIL
After the Emperor himself the functions Of
government rest in the Grand Council of which
we have already spoken. The number of this
Council is undetermined. but usually does not
exceed five or six. They nominated by the
sovereign and can be changed at his pleasure
or, if the Emperor is nOnentity they nominate
one another. The members are selected from
among the highest officers of State. and include
both Manchus and Chinese. In recent years one
or more of the princes of the blood have Al
ways been included, who are at the sanna ttn,a
commanders-in-c chief Of some of the banner
forces. 1t is this small group which Yields the
real authority OF government All business 10
transacted In secret, and in ordinary circum-