The Washington herald., 1906-10-21


Enlistment Of n constitutional govern
ment for the Chinese empire. has been
sent TO the State Department by w. W.
Rockhill. the American Minister in
Picking. The ediet is one OF the most
important ever forthcoming from PeBing,
and, If It is faithfully followed. which.
In the minds of those familiar with the
situation, is somewhat doubtful, it will
create a considerable change in internal
China. bringing the people and the gov
eminent together, and making China
more of unit than Il now is.
The decision Of the imperial government
which brought about the edict was tho
result of the reports OF the missions
which China early this year sent through
out the world.
The full text Of the edict follows:
China Must Broaden.
From the founding Of our dynasty 90
the present time the wise measures
adopted by the holy mOnarehA who have
succeeded one another upon the throne
have always without exception been taken
with due regard to the exigencies Of the
times and have been embodied in the
statutes of the empire.
AT present All nations are in free com
municatiOn with each other. and in their
methods Of government and their laws
are Influenced one by another. Our po-
litical institutions, however. remain as of
Old and conditions OF affairs which
threaten danger and disaster. day by day
become more imminent Unless we broaden
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 viii be no hope OF securing that
just administration which the welfare Of
ministers and people alike demand.
Some time ago. therefore, we appoint
ed certain ministers to visit foreign coun-
tries to inquire into their methods OF gov
eminent, and Duke Tsai-Tse and his as
sociates have now returned and made
their reports. All are agreed that the
lack OF prosperity in the state is due
TO the separation between the officials
and the people and the lack Of co-opera-
ton between the capital and provinces.
The officials are ignorant Of the needs Of
the people. and the people do not I'M
Gerstand what is necessary to the safety
of the state.
What the World Teaches.
THE wealth and strength Of other coun-
tries are due to their practice of consti-
tutional government. in which public
questions are determined by consultation
with the people. The ruler and his people
are as one body, animated b. one spirit,
as result of which comprehensive con-
sideration IS given to the general welfare,
and the limits Of authority are clearly
4
priating funds for the public use. as well
IS IL All political measures. there is noth-
ing which is not made the public concern
Of the people Moreover. these nations
all learn one from another, and are con
stanuy improving their methods so az
10 attain TO the highest degree OF pros
pcrity The success Of government and
the concord Of the people have their
origin here.
Under these circumstances we can
but consider carefully the form OF gov
crnment best suited TO the needs of tho
times and adopt a constitutional policy
IN which the supreme authority snail be
vested in the crown, but an questions
Of government shah De considered by
popular assembly.
These are the foundation principles
upon which the perDetuity OF the State
is to rest AS vet. however, a constitu-
ton is not prepared. ana the people, too,
are not properly equipped with the neces-
s9ry knowledge. If we adopt hasty meas
tres and simply issue speeches and pre-
tentious documents, how can we secure
the confidence OF the people?
Outlines First Reforms.
"If, therefore, we would get rid of ac-
cunulated evils and fix responsibility, We
Irust first of all begin with the official
organization. The first thing impera-
lively necessary is that the regulations
relating 10 official functions be taken up
and considered one by one and success
fully amended, and that the various
classes of laws likewise be carefully ar
ranged.
we must extend education; put the
finances in order; improve the military
system: establish a police organization
throughout the empire; cause the gentry
and people 10 thoroughly understand po-
litical affairs. and thus by such prepara-
tons lay the foundations of cOnstitu-
tional government.
let the ministers and officials i'm the
capital and the provinces give thorough
attention To these matters. and exert
themselves to secure success.
In a few years, when the system shall
nave bFSh roughly eNlitlSNt We chls after
due consideration Of the circumstances.
cOllate and compare the methods OF other
nations and adopt a satisfactory form OF
constitutional government. as well as fix
a date for putting It into operation. That
date will depend upon the rate OF prog
ress being made and will be proclaimed
according to the empire.
Let the Tartar generals, viceroys. and
governors of the provinces Instruct the
literary classes and the common people
TO arouse themselves to earnest efforts
in behalf Of education, in the hope that
every one may come 90 understand the
real meaning of patriotism, and compre-
bend those principles by which the ma
ton Is TO be united for the promotion
of civilization: that private interests are
not to be pursued to the injury of the
public welfare: that petty jealOusies must
not be allowed to defeat national policies
and that respect for authority is the
preservative of peace.
PHILIPPINES FOR PERsHING.