The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-28
! The Globes ss smss5'4ay /
The Storm Center Of the SOorld
BY DIR. R. WARREN eoNANr.

ne was in favor of putting China abreast
of the world in all things This was
hereSy which the empress would not
tolerate for a moment. Although sixty
years of age she understood perfectly
what to do and she did it. In September
of 1898 Fwang su resigned the royal
power to the empress.
Since that time the dowager has ruin
things to suit herself. Jan. "a. 1900 a
decree issued proclaiming Pu Using
son of Prince Tuan, as emperor. This
practically deposed Kwang-Su, but it re-
mains to be seen whether he will stay
deposed for back of him is a strong re-
form party, which has been greatly
strengthened by the victories of the al
lies and the defeat of the Conservative
party of the empire. This last puppet
emperor, Pu Using, is only fourteen years
Old
To a foreigner the political status of
the Chinese government is difficult to
understand. 1t rests partly on fear part
ly on religious reverence The emperor
is at the same time the all-powerful
sovereign and the high priest of his
people. He has many titles-The August
and Lofty one, The Wise and August
One, The Son of Heaven, and so on. He
claims to be the chosen vicegerent of
heaven to govern not only the Chinese,
but all peoples of the earth--a sort or
Oriental pope. He is the head of all
religion the source of all power, the dis
penSer of all mercy, and his divine au-
thority is delegated to all his officers.
The whole empire is his property, and
whatever he does is right. The people
have nc rights, and their language con-
tains no word meaning liberty.
On the other hand, this infallible ON
nfpotent despot has his limitations, and
very we'll marked. The most important
parsonage in the palace is always the
dowager empress, when there is one, and
to her the great Son of Heaven must
frequently do homage by nine prostrations
before her. Besides that the board or
censors has the right, either individually
or collectively, of telling the emperor just
what they think of him-a right which
they have frequently exercised, some
times to be sure, at the cost of their
heads.
All through the Chinese system of gov
ernme ut runs this strange contradictory
mixture of absolutism and limitation.
Thus the provincial governors appear to
enjoy a power almost as despotic as that
Of the emperor, and are often guilty of
Eigh-handed violations of law; yet, in the
end, they are generally punished. The in
diyidual Chinanian will submit stolidly to
any persecution or robbery by officials,
because alone he is helpless; but let
whole village be oppressed, and the case
is different. The whole community will
combine against the oppressor and defeat
him.
The explanation of all this is found
in certain peculiarities of the Chinamans
character which have been ground into
him and transmitted to him through CEN
turtles. In the first place the political
ethics of Confucius nave been Incorporates
ed into the laws to a large extent, thus
lending to the government that special
power which a theocracy always pos
sesses over an ignorant and superstitious
populace. Secondly, the government cum
ningly exploits the hereditary enmity be-
tween the Chinese and Manchu races to
its own advantage. 1t is for this reason,
and not from any love of impartiality,
that every Manchu official finds o Chinese
coadjutor by his side, in order that such
may act as spy and check upon the
other.
This principle of espionage ramifies
through the Whole system from top 10
bottom there are spies everywhere, no
man knows whom to trust. The object
is to isolate every man as completely as
possible, and make combinations against
the government impossible. Consequence
ly. nothing short of an outrage which af-
fects the whole community will impet
Gilman Ell to self-pretection.
In line with this policy of isolation
are the regulations governing tie life of
officials. They are forbidden to hold Of
flee in their native province, to marry or
hold land where they hold jurisdiction,
or to have son, brother or near relative
In office under them The time of most
offices is limited to three or four ears;
OF course, the effect of all these con-
ditions in land where the only roa1 to
affiuence and influence is this Office
holding, is to bind the whole class of
officials to- the government by band; OF
steel and to promote every species of Pc
lltlcal intrigue and trea - cry betw .e1 the,
aspirants for favor. A man who incura
the in-wil of the Sovt rrlr ent had D. tr
strange himself promptly. Even # lie
succeeds in running ,w2v the sew .'es:
punishment will be meted out to his fam
lily, his relatives, even his village and
any property which they may possess
VIII be promptly bounced upon and par
celed out. He will never dare to return
or to show himself where the plundered
ones can catch him, for fear of their
vengeance. They are like wolves, VINO
rail- upon and devour any one of the pack ,
which becomes disabled
OF course. all this is very heathenish.
yet is not some of the same woIfsh sell
hshness to be seen even among CHRIS
tlans, when they have become well in
oculated with the political bacillus? Fad
as the Chinese system is it is far ST.
per1or to any other native Asiattc gov
eminent, and, in man, respects, it /,
equal to the best Of Europe That if is
suited to the peopte, we have prcsamptive
evidence in the pretty general content
ment and the fact tkat for centuries
they have lived their system of govern
1nent But once let enhance he gwen to
1ofe n ideas OF indi vi lHallty, of cduoa-
ITO l, OF organization, of :he f;tllibiity of
rulers, of separation of church and state
Oh the sovereignty of the people. ~
mohaer the Chinese government holds the
ooor smut with desperate determination!
Copyright, 1907