The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-01

Manila Philippine Islands, Dec. %
/ l9G0.-ln what / have said Of the Chi
nese government. system Of education.
religion and superstitions, I have re-
fcrred 10 the nation as it has been for
~ entY centuries-chained to tradition.
. stagnant, asleep. Society was strait
ned, those in power seemed TO have
10 higher aspiration than 10 live uDOn
The labor of the masses and the
masses seemed to entertain no thought
or emancipation. The life Of the peO-
PIE was occupied with ceremony. but
tnere was 10 genuine fellowship or
sympathetic connection between them.
outside of the family tie, and even the
family was likely to be storm center
necause Of the conflicting interests col
iected under one roof. Education was
mcnopolized by a comparative few.
and there was no breadth to such in
struction as was given. Superstition
took the place Of religion and the pla-
eating Of the spirits of the deceased
outWelGhed the nurture and develop
ment Of those still ON earth.
But q change Is taking plac- ju Chi
n7 such as has revOlutionized Jap7n
Within the last half century. The
Sleeping giantesS. whose drowsy eyes
20 50 long shut out the rays of the
orning sun Is showing unmistakable
signs Of awakening. There was
even
Zoo years of political apathy could
not exhaust SturdineSs which CEN
turtles OF pOVertv and superstition
could not entirely destroy Increasing
contact with Europe and America is
having its influence. and the examine
of Japan is even more potent for the
people of Japan are not only neigh
bors, but are more like them in color
and race characteristics. Let me note
some of the evidences of this change.
The government, so long an absolute
despOtiSm. s about to become a con-
stitutional monarchy In 1895 the
emperor. nder the influence of some
radical r@formers, prepared a pro-
sramme almost revolutionary in its
character. Recognizing that his aunt,
the dowaSer empress, would oppose
MIN. he prepared to put her under
guard while the change was being
made, but the old lady. learning of his
plan, promptly took him in hand and
made him a prisoner in his own pal
ace Since that time she has been the /
cnquestioned ruler of the empire. the
Pominal emperor affiXing his signature
20 thS' papers which she prepares. But
Ser-Sapidly has the situation DEVELOPED
that she is now instituting the very
reforms for the suggestion of which
she so recently imprisoned her neph-
ew. A commission of prominent off
Gals is now abroad. some in EuroDe
scme in America, studying the consti- !
tuuons and governmental Institutions
of other countries. What a concession
when we remember the self sufficien-
Cy of China, the characterization of
surrounding nations as rude tribes
and the use of the term 'barbarians''
to designate even those with whom
she made treaties!
1t is reported that the dowager en-
press recently called her councillors
together and asked how long it would |
take TO establish constitutional gov
errment. When told that it would
probably require twelve or fifteen
years, she replied that it must be done
sooner than that as she could not
hope to live much longer and wanted
il in operation before she died. Wheth- /
el she appreciates the full importance
of the change may be doubted, but /
the fact that the great nations, with /
the exception of Russia, have constf- /
tutiOnS has doubtless made its i'm
preston upon her, and Russia's de-
feat al the hands of the Japanese /
coupled with the present internal dis
turbances in the cars domain, con-
tainS its lesson.
appointed to examine and report on all /
pre- posed measures affecting the or
ganization and administration of the |
government. and in 1904 a general as
sembly of the ministers Of the princi- |
pal boards was provided for. While |
these newly created bodies have no
legislative power, they indicate the {
trend toward more popular govern
ment. The constitution, when adopted, /
as it ultimately will be. will inaugu-
rate 4 parliamentary system. There /
Is. therefore. q distinct advance along /
governmental lines, and this in itself
means much for China and for the |
outside world.
a revision OF the criminal code is
also being perfected. The Hon. WI /
afra9= q he
United States, and now vice president /
of the board Of foreign affairs, has
been mace member Of the board Of |
DU1ishments. He and Shen Chat Pen. |
the vice president OF the board of pun /
iehmcntS, have by imperial decree /
Zen iutrusted with the revision and |
iifying OF the laws Of China. They /
AVE established a bureau With a |
II OF secretaries and translators, !
sd have spent two years in the eX-
animation of the civil and criminal |
codes of the different countries in or !
dor 70 select laws which are applica- |
ole to the conditions existing In China. !
IcX-AIinister WI has taken a deep in I
terest in the subject and kindly fur !
nished me with the following list of I
reforms TO which the imperial sane |
ton has been secured.
Ling Chi, slow death by sicing to 4
pieces. has been abolished. 1t was the /
punishment formerly prescribed to /
one found guilty of paracide. high /
reason, wilful murder Ct husband /
i1c murder Of husband by wife was /
ordinE TO Chinese law Il much {
israver offense than the murder OF
wife by husbaad)
2-The heads Of criminals were for
merly exposed 20 the public after exc
cution. This has been abolished.
3.--The bchcading of n corpse of a
criminal who died before execution is
no longer permitted.
According 20 the old law. parents.
relatives and friends of those convict
ed Of serious crimes were subject to
now the punishment is