Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01

tempted to coerce the imperial govern
1,nent-usually with Indifferent results.
vice the assemblies have held con-
stresses in Peking. and lately the congress
Urged on the government the organiza-
ION or civil guards in the provinces. OPP
posed the NATURALIZATION of railways and
asked a change of the law that the pre-
Iiier must be either a prince or noble
lhaliy the members in the way OF COM
promise. agreed TO favor an increase of
taxes provided that their wishes were
granted as to civil guards and the pre-
mier
Modern China may be said to date from
the imperial edict of September ], 1905,
"hlch promised written constitution IN
l'i'' enlarged public instruction. stable
financial system. an imperial police ana
the reorganization of the army. Public
opinion persistently expressed; influential
men. public officials. the provincial as
semblles and the advisory parliament
hnaily wrung from the imperial govern
ment reluctant promise to adopt con-
sttutiOn i'm l.o13
The first really national and representa-
tive nody that ever met in China under
authority of an imperial edict convened
october >, 1910. 1t has been variously
called senate, an advisory assembly
ana provisional parliament: the last
the body had no legislative powers, its
functions being confined to petitions and
reports to the throne on matters pertain
ing to the formation of institutions and
enactment OF laws in accord with the
age
From its manner of organization it is
clear that it was intended to be gov
ernmental body with undue Manchu in
fuence. The prince regent man of
high character appointed ninety-six men,
berS. selected from the ranks of imperial
and other princes. from Chinese and
Manchu peers and imperial clansmen,
with certain eminent scholars, wealthy
landowners and influential men of af-
fairs The various imperial councils and
administrative bureaus We're represented
by siXtysiX expert officials. The en-
pire at large sent ninety-eight members
chosen by the provincial assemblies. 1t is
thought that not more than one-fourth of
the members were free from potent i'm
peral Influences
Independent body. equal to the situation
broad-mnded in its views. and realizing
its responsibilities. It's debates We're
marked by freedom of speech and bold
ness of opinion along lines of modern
thought and in public Interests. Its pro-
ceedings are most instructive, disclosing
political aptitudes and knowledge of
worldwide affairs beyond general antic-
patton.
The most persistent and far-reaching of
its debates and recommendations to the
throne bore on the vital necessity of
responsible government, the major drift
being toward cabinet of the British
type, responsible to parliament. while the
imperial adherents favored entire control
by the emperor.
While the recommendations of the par
lament were often too progressive to
meet with acceptance by the throne, yet
in manv important matters they were
productive of imperial edicts of even
tenor, but of more conservative changes.
Among such subjects We're the following:
a responsible cabinet, modification of cos
tunes. first financial imperial budget,
judicial code and procedure. eliminate
of the opium habit protection of literary
property, the pardon IF nationalists, the
freedom of the press and the permanent
relief of famine in central China. II also
censured the viceroy of Marking for
making an unauthorized loan and the
viceroy of Canton for not suppressing
gambling.
On demand of it's members. owing to
disturbed conditions, the provisional par
lament has been convoked in second
session by an edict of May 13. on Oc-
tober y, 1911. to consider questions re-
lating to % Budget difficulties: CD for
eign loans, which it's members declare
cannot be made without parliamentary
consent: CD prevention of recurrence of
Russo-Chinese complications fD notion
alization of railways; 90 dissolution of
the provincial assembly of kiang-Sou;
90 discussion of the new code.
Rarely does single act mark the up
ward turn of a decadent nation, but in
China il was the signing by the emperor,