The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-18

$3.50 '" '"A
national parliament in 1917. soon
thereafter a royal commission of high
Manchu n Chinese dignitaries was
appointed to our Europe for the pur-
pose OF learning just what form of pro-
cedure would be adaptable to China's
peculiar needs. The royal commits
sioners junketed on the continent for
over a year, and returned with the
recommendation that the government
try a blending of the German and
Japanese systems, both of which
recognized in actual practice as we'll
as in theory the divine rights Of the
sovereign. About the same time a
constitutional bureau was formed in
the city of Pekin to work out the find
ings and recommendations of the COM
missioners.
China's awakened millions were
wholly dissatisfied with his half
hearted n easy-going program.
which the Manchus and entrenched
and b%arnacled Chinese officials deemed
a great, and even dangerous, departure
from the ways of their sacred ances-
tors. The Boxer movement and it's
sequel had convinced even the most
conservative and bitter of the gentry
that the foreign devils could not be
driven into the sea, but to sacrifice
their Incompatible and pristine gov
for the sake Of aping west
ern methods was entirely too much.
On the other hand, the progressive
element. waxing stronger and holder
every day, violently demanded real re-
form at once, and not paper promises
for the future. The native v~ernacular
press, always heretofore insignificant,
~disorsanized, cowed by the imperial
censorate, began to speak out estab-
lish itself in sections that never had
been blessed with and to
TEEN with translations of Rousseau
and Mazzini.
The crown, hurried along by the
rising storm, was compelled in 1909 to
promise that a national assembly or
parliament would be convened the fol-
lowing year, or sever years ahead of
the date originally set. 1t also con-
sented to the early foundation of pro-
vincial assemblies. These bodies were
given the right of petition and dis
cussion, but could not pass laws. They
met throughout China for the first
time on october IA, 1908, following this
warning from the royal court:
THE consultive council is an insti-
tuition in which public opinion will be
ascertained and from which the MEM
cruited. Let our people point out
clearly through the councils what are
the evils that should be abolished in
their respective provinces and what
are the reforms that they desire. But
let them also remember the duty
which they owe to the court and to the
country. Violent discussion should be
prevented, lest the order and safety
of society might be disturbed"
Membership in the provincial assem-
blies was limited to those who had
held public office above the minor
grades or who possessed property
worth at least $4,000 in silver. This
restriction was of no avail in suppress
ing outspoken speeches, however, and
the imperial mandate against violent
discussion was honored by the as
semblies more in the breach than in
the observance. Strong demands for
the adjustment of archaic forms and
the dismissal of national and provin-
cial corrupt officials were soon sent
to Pekin. On May 9, 1910, the court
announced hat the first national as
sembly could convene in Pekin on Oc-
tOber 3.
This new body came to order on the
day set, and there was great reioic-
ing throughout China. 1t was divided
into two cliques, a certain proportion
being composed of Manchu princes and
Chinese Of the privileged classes who
were appointed by the throne. The
majority of the members had been
elected by the several provincial as
semblies. Discussion of finances and
appropriation of a budget were the
principal rights of the new body.
1t was also empowered to draw up
new laws, but to be legal such meas
ures had to be %concurred in by the
grand council, an aristocratic body at
the beck of the crown, and finally re-
celVed imperial sanction. In ease of a
deadlock over an issue between the
national assembly and the grand coun-
ell the emperor was to decide. The
emperor was a baby, so decision rested
with his father, Prince Chun, the prince
regent. AS constituted, the national
assembly was only half progressive, an
influential element being ultra-conser-
VatlVe. From the first it was "a house
divided against ITSELF" a condition
which was quite satisfactory to the
Manchus.
The members who represented the
people were united in favor of drastic
measures. From the opening day they
featured, the sessions by making
heated speeches and presenting divers
suggestions and programs intended to
modcrnl2e the government. There was
INSTRUMENTATION and pickering at first,
everybody getting in everybody else's
way, and little cliques began to form.
lhcy got together, nevertheless, to
Such good effect that on October %,
or a short 20 days after converting,
they met in full session and amid
much enthusiasm succeeded in pass
ing a resolution which demanded the
PRONUNCIATION of a constitution n the
organization of a full Pledged and
properly endowed national parliament
once instead of waiting until 1917.
Princes raved and plutocrats hoWled,