Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-22

Constitution making in China is quite as
thrilling as England's struggle for par
liamentary liberty or that fierce strife
which won the American colonies their
independence What's more, it's down to
date. The matter is being threshed out In
Picking as the American reader scans
this article. Wit@in six months China
will have modern constitution, and
with it a legally elected congress. presi-
dent supreme court and all other forms
of twentieth century republic 1nau-
guration day will be the browning
triumph of a seven-year struggle.
Reformers have been agitating for
popular government in China for more
than twenty years. Open appeals for a
less tyrannical system of administration
began to reach even to the Manchu throne
as far back as ten years ago. But it was
not until 1906 that the reform element
was rewarded with d glimmer of hope. In
that year memorial from the throne
suggested. with teasing vagueness
truly oriental that a modern constitution.
provided it did not encroach on the in
violate rights of the crown, might be d
good thing and would doubtless be
granted by imperial favor I'm due time
This cOncesS' on, however slight Amerl-
cans WOulO Regard IL, was udIicu dS
glowing promise in China, and instead of
having a quieting effect, as the old en-
press dOwager probably calculated, 1t
heightened unrest and emboldened the
ardent advocates of better things
October 10. 1907, All imperial DEGREES or
dered the royal advisers to draw up d
const tuition and submit 1T to the throne
a mandate in the name OF Emperor
Kuang Hsu to the same effect was issued
July o2, 1908 but no great progress was
,;,.xx five hnWaVQr
or twelve days after the death OF that
arch enemy of progress, the Empire IS
Dowager Til An. who passed out the day
following the emperors demise, Prince
Chun, now regent of the empire for his
infant son, the Emperor Pu VI, signed a
decree which provided for the organiZa-
ton of provincial assemblies and an i'm
perial national parliament in 1911. Soon
thereafter a royal commission of nigh
Manchu and Chinese dignitaries was
appointed to tour Europe for the purpose
of learning just what forms of procedure
would be adaptable to China peculiar
needs The royal commiss' oners Junket-
ed on the continent for over year, and
returned with the accommodation that
the government try a blending of the
German and Japanese systems, both OF
which recognized, in actual practlce as
well as in theory, the divine rights OF the
sovereign. About the same time con
stittuional bureau was formed in the
citv of Picking to work out the findings
and recommendations of the commission
| erS.
| Cbina's awakening millions were wholly
dissatisfied with this half-hearted ana
easy going
People Dissatisfied pro ram.
With Manchu Program. NJ an chus
and the intrenched and barnacled Chi
nese officials deemed a great, and even
dangerous, departure from the ways of
| their sacred ancestors. The Boxer move
ment and its 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 sacri-
flee their Incompatible and pristine gov
eminent for the sake of aping western
methods was entirely too much. On the
other hand, the progressive element.
waxing stronger and holder every day.
violently demanded real reform at once,
and not paper promises for the future.
| The native vernacular press, always
Heretofore insignificant, disorganized.
cowed by the imperial censorate. began
to speak out. establish 1tself In sections
that never had been blessed with news
papers and to teen with TRANSACTIONS of
Rousseau and Mazzinl-
The crown. hurried along by the rising
storm, was compelled in 1909 to promise
that national assembly parliament
| would be convened the following year, or
seven years ahead of the date originally
set 1t also consented to the early foun-
dation of provincial assemblies. These
| bodies were given the right of petition
| and discussion, but could not pass laws.
They met throughout China for the first
| time October IA. 1909, following this
warning from the royal court:
I 1.-The consultive council Is an institu-