We were taught, in those summaries of all human knowledge or ignorance, which were placed in our bands in ly youth, that China was a despotism. The Czar of all the Russias, the Grand Turk, and the Brother of the Son and Moon were three personages whom the Mangoalls and Pinnocks, and other writers of manuals for the young, taught us to regard as potentates alike hostile to individual and constitutional liberty and opposed to the most cherished interests of those races who prize freedom above everything. We may have outlived some of these beliefs, but still there is probably a very erroneous impression existing to this day, amongst instructed Furopeans, as to the abso-Juteness of the Chinese Emperor's sway. We believe that even men who have read and: thought and talked about China and Chinese affairs, and spent many years in the country, misapprehend the nature of the authority exercised by the Lord of the Dragon Throne.
At first, of course, a hurried survey of the forms prevalent in this country leads us to believe that the Emperor is all in all. He is, if contemplated from one point of view, a semi-divine personage, surrounded by mystery and addressed by titles that exhibit the'awfal majesty of his dignity and the profound servility of those whom he is supposed to rule. The mere titles of honour. that he bears, and the insignia of pomp that girdle him round, are enough to convey this notion to the casual observer. The manifestoes and decrees from the Throne, with their commands to "tremble and obey " and " to respect this," all seem to bear out the idea of the Sovereign of China which was first stamped on our minds. But if we look a little more closely at the matter, we shall see that China is not an abso-Into and unrestricted Despotism.
The fact is that an Emperor who desires to remain long on the Throne must respect precedent to an extraor-diary extent. He is confined, from the day he ascends the Throne to the day he dies, by ancient law and custom, The power that holds him in check is not the "constitution" in our sense of that word—it is the traditions of ancient days. He has to be careful, every day, that he is not violating some immemorial practice of the great and good princes who are the nation's models. He has to walk circumspectly, dreading every hour lest he overstep some line laid down.by rigorous etiquette, Besides this, it must be borne in mind that the people, specially in the central and southern provinces, are accustomed to exercise a remarkable amount of personal liberty of speech and action. The late Mr. Meadows observes that "there isa large amount of local self-government, to which no one who visits China can shut his eyes, and which is problem to those who po: in the government a despotis: the people slaves." We may make some allowances for the peculiar pro-Chinese bias of the late Consul at Newchwang, but yet there is " considerable resi-drum of truth in this remark, In the agricultural districts there are many plifications of the self-governing power of the people. The inhabitants of each village elect members of their own community to perform the important duties of elders; the mon thus ly owners of land and i lo men with some literary abilities above their fellows. Whenever questions of local importance arise, these men meet in the ancestral halls and discuss the matter. There is an absolute freedom of discussion at these meetings, which resemble closely the institutions of our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, and the most varied topics are talked over and commented upon and argued, If there is a grievance, the mandarin of the district is appealed to.
These facts are roughly known to most of us, but we do not Iny sufficient stress upon them as signs of the ability of this singular people to manage their own affairs and of the independent, we had almost written democratic, char acter of some of their institutions. Were the Emperor to promulgate an edict of an obnoxious character tomorrow, all these little cliques would discuss it. The literary men would compare notes and see if the new law hada precedent. The Classics would be searched; the examples of the ancient Kings cited; and gradually, but at first imperceptibly, a great wave of opposition would rise that would ai last wash the steps of the Throne self, The advisers of the Prince would see the gathering peril and entreat the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.