Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-27
CHINA GOING AHEAD
Great Awakening of the En-
press DoWager.
SHE OUTSKIRTS KUANG HSU
Far Ahead Of Where the Young EN-
peror Walked.
CONSTITUTION FOR THE PEOPLE
Report Of the Commission That Has
Been Visiting the Principal
Countries.
SHE OUTSKIRTS KUANG HSU
CONSTITUTION FOR THE PEOPLE
BIZ WILLIAM e. CURTIS

4 W
| Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
| wonderful revolution is going on In
China, and that conservative old empire,
| which has been 50 often compared to a
| jellyfsh and has frequently been called IAN
| inert mass Of humanity" is gradually being
| transformed into q modern nation. The most
surprising events have recently taken place
| there and they are all the more remarkable
because they have been undertaken by the
| empress dowager. who dethroned her
| nephew a few years ago for attempting less
| than half as much as she is doing In the
way Of reform.
For Illustration, on June %. 1898. the EN-
peror Kuang Hsu issued an edict to the
| board Of rights ordering its members to
revise the system Of examinations for ap-
pointments under the government-"to re-
| ject empty and useless knowledge" as he
| said in the decree, (which has no practi-
| cal value In the crisis We are passing
| through, in order to allow the expansion
of modern systems Of education tbs
edict shook Chinese society, as Minister
Rockhill has observed, to Its very founda-
| tons. There was CONSERVATION through
out the empire because the maxfms OF Con-
fucius and the other sages of ancient times
have always been considered sufficient to
qualify any official to perform any duties,
civil, military or naval, under the govern
ment. Because he issued that decree the
emperor was dethroned. deprived OF power,
and has since, even unto today, been
discredited prisoner in his own palace.
But strange a 8 1t may seem, his aunt, the
most extraordinary woman IN all the worla,
in September 1905, issued an even more
sweeping edict on the same subject, which
abolished the ancient competitive examina-
lions and substituted modern competitive
tests of a practical character. F.
,ino
system took place in September last, and
were remarkably successful, while the
popular verdict, which was serious
feared, was favorable. During the past
to obtain employment under the govern
ment have been crowding the missionary
schools and have gone to Japan to OBJ
tain the greatest amount n,'a o OF %;iein
that time Among the contestants were
thirty-eight graduates of American col
leges whose diplomas were accepted In
lieu Of an examination upon genera SUD
jects; but they were put through ordi-
nary tests to ascertain their knowledge
Of Chinese matters.
Constitution Freely offered.
This is considered the most radical re-
form that has ever taken place in the
Chinese empire. 1t marks an entirely
new departure in the policy of the gov
eminent; the abandonment Of the old
and the Introduction Of a new system.
But It is only one Of many startling de-
partures from the sacred traditions OF
the ancient empire. the Oldest government
on earth. We cannot appreciate the tire.
mendous significance of the rejection OF
the wisdom Of Confucius and the other
ancient sages, but we can realize more
wildly the Importance Of another decree
which was issued on the LIST OF last Sep.
TENDER offering the people of China con-
stitution and parliament. They have
not been forced from an unwilling SOW
ereign, but are voluntarily given to their
subjects by the empress dowager and tho
emperor as a right to which they are en-
titled. Perhaps the Car of Russia might
find it profitable and conducive to his
peace Of mind If he would follow their
example.
Every reform in Russia is made as
moral and political blackmail, exacted by
the explosion Of bombs. the mutinies Of
soldiers, labor strikes. the destruction of
Thirty years ago the Emperor of Japan
voluntarily relinquished his autocratic
power and offered his people a constitn-
ton and a parliament. There was no
was purely an act of grace. an acknowl-
edgement of the right Of the people to
share In the government, and the EN-
press of China is merely initiating the
example Of her neighbor.
In her edict dated September l. 1906. that
wonderful old woman referred to the fact
that she had appointed commission Ito
visit various foreign countries. east and
eminent. in the hope that we may thus be
able to select and adopt the best" That
mission, which was sent in response to
memorial signed by Sir Chen-Tung, the
his colleagues in the diplomatic service ex-
cept one was composed of Duke Tsai-tse.
Tai Hung-tzu. Hsu Shih-chang and Tuan
Fang. who, accompanied by large suite.
,fctt To T1Dffad States and
Of the European countries. You will re-
member that they were here last winter.
Their report was submitted last summer
and recommended the adoption OF consti-
tuition similar to that Of Japan. with some
features Of the German imperial constitu-
ton, modified to meet the peculiar condi-
lions OF China. The commissioners review
ed the fundamental laws and systems OF
government in all the nations they visited
and this was their verdict.
Report Of the Commissioners
The empress dowager in her decree of
September 1, 1908, says: THE Duke Tsai-
tse and his associates have made their re-
port All are agreed that the lack Of pros
perity in the state is due to the separation
between the officials and the people and
the lack Of cooperation between the impe-
rial capital and the provinces. The officials
are ignorant of the needs of the people, and
the people do not understand what is neces-
sary for the welfare OF the state. The
wealth and strength of other countries are
due to their practice of constitutional gov
ernment in which public questions are de-
termned by consultation with the people,"
In the introduction to the decree her
majesty wisely observes: 'Unless we broad
en- our knowledge by more comprehensive
study Of the Institutions Of other lands and
improve our laws accordingly we shall
fail to keep the path Of progress marked
out by our imperial ancestors. and there
will be no hope Of securing that just admin
istratlon which the. welfare OF ministers and
people alike demands. -, - $500
...z.- What China Must Do.
Under these circumstances" continues
this wise old woman, I'VE can but consider
carefully the form of government best suit
ed to the needs of; the time: and adopt a
constitutional policy in. which the supreme
authority shall be vested in the crown and
all questions Of government shall be con-
sidered by a popular assembly. 49,.
These are the foundation principles,
yet the people are not properly equipped
with the necessary knowledge.
I'VE must extend education;
I'VE must improve our military system:
I'VE must establish a police force
throughout the empire: =
I'VE must cause the gentry and the peo-
pie to thoroughly understand political af-
fairs and thus. by such preparation. lay the