The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-26
MUST NOT
BIND FEET.
Edict Declares the
Custom a
Crime.
MANCHUS LEVEL
WITH ALL OTHERS
Emperor Makes Changes in Long
Established Rules of
Action.

- Diets proclaiming reforms in
China are following thick and
- fast, and the court journals of Pc
kin, and the vernacular press of the
treaty ports are full of the changes in
the methods of doing business, the al
terations in the customs of the coun-
try and lastly the naming of men who
have been known as reform leaders. to
places in the privy council of the ma
ton.
1t has been noticeable since the re-
turn of the court to. Pekin that there
has been a more liberal tone given to
the doings of the court, and the intelli-
gence received here all agrees with the
theory that the power of the Empress
Dowager is growing less, as the era of
reform advances.
BY the last mail from the Orient
there were received journals which tell
of two great reforms, which have been
iraugurated recently, and which more
than any others show the tendency of
the times in the Orient. The papers
received give the stories in the Chinese
and the information comes from one of
the interpreters to the consulate. The
reports are in advance and indicate
the prospect of entire reform in the
administration of the empire
The most important of the DEGREES,
according to this information, is that
which relates to the ancient custom or
the binding of the feet. 1t has been
the plan for generations, to so bind the
feet of female children that locomotion
is difficult and the lilies" are the pride
of the young girl and her entire fam
ily. The edict makes it an offense pun
ishable by heavy fine and long impris-
onment to bind the feet of any girl
This is the first step in the direction or
the adoption of Western customs in
personal matters and dress, and 1t Is
regarded as certain that there Will be
within few years cutting of or the
distinctive cues, which has been made
one of the tenets of the Reform Party.
The second of the edicts relates more
closely perhaps to the administrative
powers of the ruling race. For gener-
atoms the Manchus, or Tartars, have
ruled China, often with hand of iron.
and the present emperor is the first to
look for good to come from any other
course. Under the provisions of the
edict, which is now being promulgated,
it is directed that the Manchus shall
not be any better in rank or station
than the representatives of any other
race in China. This will open all the
administrative places of the empire 10
the representatives of all the races
which commonly are grouped under the
generic name Chinese. This is expect
ed to increase the patriotic feeling OF
the natives and to bring the govern
ment closer to all the people, which
NAV result in an attachment to it.
There is a decided hint in the corre-
spondence received by the principal
Chinese that the day Of the Empress
Dowager has passed. This has been
limited at often recently, but the last
papers of an official tone indicate very
strongly that the time has come for
her to retire and that she has decided
to do so, and in consequence will not
take any further part in governmental
affairs except as to counsel. All these
events give great hope to the Chinese
who have been working and writing for
reform. as they believe there should be
such changes as these effective IN the
empire. to make possible the future Tor
which the students of modern poiltlcs
r a We wished