Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-14
Growth of Progressive Party.


New York, where he will await his call TO
duty.
Growth of Progressive Party.
Sir Chentung, the Chinese minister at
Washington: Mr.. Sun, the minister to Paris
and the ministers to England and Germany
are also members of the commission, and
understand that its appointment was very
largely due to the representations of ST.
Chentung and Mr.. Sun. A constitutional
government was first suggested during the
reform episodes of 1893, when the emperor
was deposed and the empress dowager took
charge of the government because of his
progressive tendencies. Then came the
Boxer troubles, and 1t was not until last
winter that Sir Chentung, Mr.. Sun, Tuan
Fong and other patriotic officials considered
1t exped ent to propose SO radical a meas
ure But they have received the cordial
support of the three great viceroys of Tien-
ism. Hankow and Canton and the empress
has become convinced of the wisdom OF
their advice.
There are several political parties in
China. One is organized for the purpose of
overthrowing the present dynasty; another
Is working to overthrow the power of the
empress dowager and restore the emperor
to authority. There is strong anti-foreign
party-a relic of the Boxer organization
and various other factions of more or less
numerical strength and influence The most
powerful, however, is the progressive party
which advocates the education of the peo-
PIE, Inc OF tDe government
the introduction OF modern methods and
legislative bodies for the enactment of laws
which now all come In the form of edicts
or commands from the throne.
When the empress dowager became con-
WINGED that the progressive party could not
be resisted, she accepted the recommends
lions contained in several memorials to
give the people a share In the government
in order to counteraCt the anti-dynaSty
movement and other hostile influences. At
ter a consultation with her ministers she
appointed the commission to go abroad
and directed her ministers at Washington
and the European capitals to cooperate
with il in preparing plan for the reorgan-
iZation of the government at Picking
Three of the commission have sailed for
Europe via the Suez canal-Prince Tsai
Chi, Hsu Chih-chang and Shao-ying; while
Ii Hung-chi and Tuan Fong are now In
Japan and will arrive in this country early
In December. Together with SIR Chentung
they will prepare report with recommen-.
dations for the guidance of the remarkable
woman who governs the Chinese empire.
A Limited Suffrage
While 1t is too soon to anticipate the
action of the commission, 1t Is no secret in
Picking, as Mr.. Cheshire and others tell me,
that 1t is expected to submit the draught
of constitution and plan for an i'm
perial parliament and a limited suffrage.
Everybody realizes that the people of
China, as a mass, are far from capable Of
self-government; but there are now $500
students in Japan, $50 In the United States
and more than 400 in Europe, preparing
themselves for political. commercial and
industrial leadership; and they represent
5000 of the most influential families in
China. The craze for foreign education
Is so great that ii is estimated that not
less than 10000 students will go abroad next
year The system of examinations for ap-
pointments to office and the promotion of
officials undergoes a radical change in jan
H.
rules that were framed in the second CEN
fury of the Christian era will be abolished,
and candidates for office Will be required to
show a knowledge of foreign methods of
government and foreign affairs, instead of
writing essays upon the maxims OF Con-
fucius Hereafter, therefore, In order to
get an office to be promoted, man must
have a foreign education. Schools have
been established all over China for this pur-
pose, and they are filled with ambitious
young men, but people realize that they
can get the real thing" quicker and more
thoroughly in foreign country than at
home; hence every family that can afford
1t is sending its sons to Japan, Europe and
the United States to schools and colleges.
These foreign-educated men will be the
leaders of public opinion In the next gen
Grafton; they will be the ruling officials of
the government; and they will compose the
legislatures, national and provincial, which
will hereafter make the laws.
It is not proposed to extend the right of
suffrage to the coolie class, which COM
poses the mass of the Chinese population.
but only to the taxpayers; and 1t Is prob
able that the japanese system of govern
ment will be recommended as the most
suitable and appropriate. 1t has met the
requirements of a people whose conditions
were similar to those of the Chinese at the
time of its adoption.
In Japan the parliament makes the laws,
subject to the approval of the emperor.
He appoints one-third of the members; an
other third are elected by the taxpayers;
while the remainder belong to the perma-
nent nobility. The Japanese ministry IS
appointed by the emperor and is responsible
to him, although this Is not entirely salts
factory. There has been q powerful move
ment for years to amend the constitution
and make the ministry responsible to the
parliament, Instead of to the mikado.
Current events in Russia will have
powerful influence upon the future of
China; and although conditions there are
not so much like those in China were
those of Japan, the statesmen of the
Chinese empire will study the evolution of
a constitutional government in Russia with
great interest and anxiety. 1t Is probable
that the entire commission Will meet in
Washington before its return to Picking.