Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-27

mon people to arouse themselves to earn
est efforts In behalf Of education. Thus
late the stores of wisdom necessary for the
acceptance and observance of constitu-
tional form of government"
Another Travelling Commission.
This marks an epoch in Chinese history.
1t is the adoption of a new principle in ORR
entail politics. The leading men In China.
those whose opinion Is Of the highest value,
expect that this change from. despotic
autocracy to a parliamentary, constitutional
government will take place in, about five
years. In the meantime. her majesty has
decided to send another commission abroad
to observe more closely the workings. the
strength and the weaknesses. the virtues
and the faults Of the various systems Of
government among the civilized nations.
This commission will consist of the Duke
Tsai-chi-tse. chairman Of the former COM
mission; Prince Chun, younger brother Of
the emperor (who went to Germany a few
years ago to apologize for the murder Of
Baron Kettler). and other eminent Chi
nese statesmen. They are to follow the
example of the Japanese and select such
features of the different administrations
they may observe as are especially ap-
plicable to China.
Reorganization Commission.
On the day following her proclamation
promising a parliament and a constitution.
the empress dowager startled the court and
the official community Of Picking by issuing
another edict appointing a commission to
reorganize the government of China from
top to bottom, or, as she declared, Ito re-
wise the laws and rules Of the present dy
nasty" ito harmonize ancient forms and
practices with modern conditions" and ito
introduce the best features of the customs
and regulations of other countries" The
fourteen commissioners named in the de-
cree are the greatest statesmen and the
highest officials in the empire, all Of them
viceroys, grand secretaries. presidents of
boards of governors or heads Of depart
ments. 1t includes the presidents Of the
boards Of foreign affairs, education, COM
merce civil affairs, revenue. rites, punish
ments, police. public works. the censorate,
and Yuan Shih-kai, viceroy Of the metro
politan province and successor of Ii Hung
Chang, who is regarded as the ablest and
most influential man in China.
Prince Ching. the prime minister; Sun
Chia-nai, minister OF foreign relations, and
Chu Hung-chi, president of the Imperial
University, are appointed as a revising COM
mittee to pass upon the plans proposed and
the regulations recommended by the board.
While the commission has not yet taken
any action, and, so far as we know, has
pected that 1t will recommend an organiza-
ton similar to that Of Japan. which is based
upon the German, with a prime minister, q
vice prime minister. and cabinet of ten
or twelve members.
Useless Offices Abolished.
. The most important object is to fix re-
sponsibility, to divide the work Of the
various departments and promote economy
by abolishing innumerable sinecures held by
the poor relations OF the emperor, the
princess and high officials Of the court. I'm
mediately after this decree was proclaimed.
as II to show an evidence of good faith. the
empress dowager abolished twenty-eight
very high but useless and expensive Offices
at Picking, which, OF course. created a ire
mendous sensation, because the incumbents
are all mobiles of rank and many Of them
are related to the imperial family. Before
his overthrow in 1898 the emperor at
tempted to do this very same thing, and it
was q fatal mistake. He offended nearly
every powerful parsonage around the throne
by" depriving his poor relations of the In
comes they had been receiving from the
ager- has committed similar offense, and
will have to overcome serious opposition
from the old fogies malcontents, the con-
sentative element generally. and political
aEitatOrs who are quite as numerous in
China as anywhere else. q
The revolution is moving very rapidly,
perhaps too rapidly; the reforms that are
being adopted are perhaps too radical; the
edicts from the throne these days are all
for progress. urging upon the people the
Importance of adopting modern methods
and modern ideas. The spirit of progress Is
almost, universal, but the Chinese are the
most conservative OF all races. and institu-
lions cannot be created in moment-they
must grow.