New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
CH[NA'S GOVERN MENT.
Grant of a Constitution after Forty
Centuries.

The PRONUNCIATION on September of an i'm
peral decree in which the idea of constltu-
tional government is allowed by their imperial
majesties is regarded by intelligent Chinese
a valuable concession by the throne which pre-
figures, sooner or later, the granting of const
tuition. The reform party consider that vic
tory of very great importance has been achieved,
and q movement has been set foot among
number of the gentry and merchants of Shang
hal TO celebrate the occasion in befittng man
ner. The issue of this decree may be looked
upon as the initial step i'm the line Of action
which when completed will bring about the dis
appearance OF that form Of government which
for more than forty centuries. amid all the
dynastic changes and revolutions during that
long period of time, has controlled the destinies
and governed the interests of such a large por-
tion of the human race. While many of the
great Kingdoms of antiquity have passed into
oblivion, the fact of the continued existence of
the Chinese empire must be due I'm no small
measure to the form of government under which
she has fourShed these many centuries. 1t
has always evidenced shreWd understanding
on the part of the originators of the system of
what was needed TO govern successfully the Chi
nese people That better results have not been
produced is due to the fact that corruption and
bribery not TO mention other evils have always
been so much In evidence in connection with the
administration of the law in China that the peo-
pie have failed TO large extent TO reap the full
benefit of their system of government. No
government. however perfect IT may be. could in
such circumstances hope to produce satisfactory
results. To speak thus enthusiastically of the sys-
tenn of government existent long in China
does not imply failure to perceive that the time
when change is desirable has arrived,
ual awakening and enlightenment of the peo-
pie The old form of patriarcha government
mas served its purpose and must give place to
the new. And this would be the case even If il
were possible to get rid of all the corruption and
abuses which seem to be so inseparably
hecteu with the government in its present form.
and which have done so much to hinder the true
progress and advancement of the people. DR..
Wells Williams, in common with other students
OF the subject has left on record his apprecia-
tlon or the Chinese government. which, he SAYS
"has maintained democratic habits. has respect
hIrr anfp
under the protection of law and makes the SOW
ereign amenable to higher power able to pun
lSn MIN, and has prevented the domination of
all feudal hereditary and prestly classes 1t
has even been claimed. and we think with jus-
tice too. that. though the form in which the gov
ernnent IN China is administered differs very
materially from that in the United States vet
the principles recognized by the Chinese gov
eThlent are str1kingy similar 10 those
pressed by the representatives Of the American
colonies who drew uD the Declaration Of indie
pendenCe in 1875.
1t is often enormously supposed that the gov
ernment of China is a despotism pure and
simple. Nothing could be further from the truth
The people have vast power in their hands as
their rulers have found to their cost over and
over again. In this they present striking con-
trast with the Russian people, who suffer under
the despotic rule of the Car. A despot acts
according to his own will pleasure: the En-
peror or China. on the contrary. Is under the
obligation of governing his people according TO
the statutes of the empire. and one of the grav-
est charges that be brought against him is
that he has failed to do so. EmDerors in the
past have been dethroned for this reason
The Emperor moreover. is required TO select
only good and competent men to assist in the
onerOus task Of governing the people The
philosophers and classics of China refer not in
frequently to this important matter ConfIcius
himself said: Good government depends upon
obtaining proper men, Justice is what is right
in the nature of things its highest exercise is to
honor men of virtue and talents, while Mencius
has the following striking passage: when the
Virtuous occupy official stations. and Of
talent are in office, then. when the members Of
government have leisure. they will illustrate the
laws that even extensive country will fear
and respect them.' 1t would be easy to adduce
a number of passages from the Chinese classic
bearing the subject. but the emphatic dec
laration of the "Shu King that the sovereign
should share his government with none but
worthy ministers will suffice. The right to
remove unworthy rulers has been claimed and
exercised from the earliest times. and the de-
thrOnement of tyrauts has always been ap-
proved of by all classes of the people.
1t is a remarkable fact that the division of
offices which dates back more than two thou
sand years is almost Identical with that found in
the cabinets of the most enlightened and pro
gressive nations of the present day. One of the
principal causes Of the perpetuity of the Chinese
In this wise principle of selecting suitable men
To undertake the administration of affairs and
the placing of these men respectively at the head
of each department The proposed amalgama-
tion of metropolitan departments referred to in
a recent teIegraphr dispatch from Pekins does
not. it would seem, express any desire to change
the system. but rather TO simplify and cOnsoi-
date ito get rid of abuses which have grad
ually crept in. All who desire to China
advancing in the path OF progress will
with satisfaction the proposed amalgamatioH. Il
is also raging 10 note by the Toxic tele-
gram recently published in columns that
movement for constitutional government in
China. AS the count justly remarks. the Chi
nese are a democratic people, and a change in
the administration on democratic lines must ul-
TINA tely be brought ah0ut.-North China Herald. !