The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-03-16
ChINA In PATH CT PROGRESS
IMPERIAL E0lCT FROM THE DOW
AGER EMPRESS.

forts to Educate the People and
Prepare Them for a constitutional
Government.
An official translation OF the text
OF an imperial edict issued in Pekin,
looking toward the establishment OF
constitutional government for the
Chinese Empire has been sent to the
State Department, Washington, D. g.,
by w. w. Rockhill, the American
Minister in Pekin. The edict is one
of the most important ever coming
from Pekin, and if it is faithfully fol
! lowed, which is somewhat doubtful IN
the minds of those familiar with the
situation, it will create great change
! in China bringing the people and the
Government together and making
China more of a unit than it now is.
, The decision of the Imperial Gov
eminent which brought about the
edict was the result of the reports OF
the missions which China early this
year sent throughout the world. One
of these missions, composed of the
most prominent men in the Chinese
Empire, came to the United States.
Others went to Europe. All devoted
their time to study of conditions,
looking especially for ideas which 1t
might be possible to introduce into
China
The edict came from her Imperial
Majesty Tzu Hal, who evidently
thinks it is high time for change IN
the conditions of her realm. The full
text follows:
From the founding of our dynasty
to the present time the wise measures
adopted by the holy monarchs VINO
have succeeded enc another upon the
throne have always, without eXcep-
ton, 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 in free COM
munication with each other, in their
methods Of government and their
laws, are Influenced one hy another.
Our political institutions, however, re-
main as Of old, and conditions OF al
fairs which threaten danger and cls'
aster day by day become more lmml-
nent Unless we broaden our kno"l-
edge by more comprehensive study or
the institutions of other lands, and
improve our laws accordingly, we
shall fail to keep the path OF prog
ress marked out by our imperial an
cestors, and there VIII be no hope OF
securing that just ADMINISTRATION
which the welfare Of ministers ana
people alike demand.
Some time ago. therefore, we APP
pointed certain ministers to visit tor
eign countries to inquire into their
methods of government. and Duke
Tsai-Tse and his associates have no"
returned and made their reports. All
are agreed that the lack CT prosperity IN
the state is due to the separation De-
tween the officials and the people, ana
the lack Of cooperation between the
capital and the provinces. Inc OF
ficials are ignorant CT the needs OF
the people and the people do not I'M
derstand what is necessary TO tAe
safety of the State.
The wealth and strength OF other
countries are due to their practlce oi
constitutional government, in which
public questions are determined by
consultation with the people. The ruler
and his people are as one body, AMI
mated by one spirit, as & result OF
which comprehensive consideration is
given to the general welfare and the
limits of authority are clearly de-
fined Even in securing and appro-
priating funds for the public use, as
well as in al political measures, there
is nothing which is not made the
public concern of the people. More
over. these nations all learn enc IRON
another, and are constantly lmproV-
ing their methods so as to attain TO
the highest degree of prosperity. Inc
success of government and the con-
cord of the people have their origin
here
Under these circumstances we can
but consider carefully the form or
government best suited to the needs
of the times and adopt a constitutional
policy in which the supreme author
ity shall be vested in the crown, bat |
all questions OF government shall be
considered by 4 popular assembly
These are the Foundation principles
upon which the perpetuity of the
State is to rest. AS yet however, a
constitution is not prepared and the
people, too, are not properly equipped
with the necessary knowledge. If we
adopt hasty measures and simply is
sue speeches and pretentious docu-
ments, how can we secure the con-
fdence OF the people?
If. therefore, we would get rid OF