22nd Sept. Ir is a familiar fact that the theory of the Chinese Government is to be met with in its undiluted form in the Chinese Classics. In the Buck of History, there is a great deal to show that " the people" were much in the thoughts of the writers, - Heaven to protect the inferior people made for them rulers, and made fur them instructors." "Heaven sees as my people see; Heaven hears as people hear." " What the people desire, Heaven will assuredly comply with." And perhaps not less significant than any- other passage, is' the memorable slying: "'he people are the root of a country; when the root is firm, the country is tranquil." When we.come to enquire bow this theory is reduced to practice, we ascer-troops there is throughout the dense tain that in all ordinary affairs, the populations of the Empire of China. Chinese Government does not meddle The District Magistrate is the local with "the people." The Empire con-Emperor, as already remarked, but his sists of a very moderate number of troops are but a handful, and are often cities, and of an innumerable number overpowered by a party of bandits, of villages. he cities are subdivided There are little camps scattered about into wards, as in Occidental lands, and over the land, but compared to the 80, too, are the towns, if they are of any vast masses of the peaceful population, size, The affairs of these wards, and they are almost less than nothing, villages, are managed by headmen When war or rebellion break out, thera whom the people not only choose for is indeed, in China as in other lands, themselves, but whom they are required an infinity of suffering, But in ordinary to choose in order that responsibility Years the Chinese suffers little or may be fixed. ''he medium through nothing from the soldiers about him, whom the District Magistrate works—but rather finds among them a good who for all practical purposes is the true market. Soldiers do not as a rule mix Emperor of his people—is the local themselves in. the affairs of the region constable, and this man again is not where they are stationed, unless there, only chosen by the people themselves, is some special disturbing force. Then but they are as responsible for him as he they who were "as mice before the is for them. Such legislation as is at enemy," are "tigers to the people." present creating a.social crisis in the All the Chinese people want, is to German Empire, would be an anomaly have the Book of History reduced to a in China. Of course, secret societies are uniform practice, If this were guaran-contraband, and, of course, the Govern-teed, there might not be a rebellion, ment keeps a firm hand on things in much less a revolution, in the Chinese general. Yet there is no restraint either Empire to the end of time, on public assemblages, nor any espionage on what is there said and done, The people might spend all their spare time 25rd Sept, holding parliaments, for all the officials One of the most conspicuous ways in care. Still there is the constant notice which the democracy of the Chinese in the tea-shops, "Do not talk about manifest itself, is in their combinations, public affairs." his serves well to especially those intended to resist what illustrate the union of indifference and they regard as aggressions, 'The em-potential interference. While the liberty pire is full of officials, each one of whom ig not abused, it remains, But every' has hada hard and a difficult road to one is aware that it might be instantly travel in getting to his post. He has withdrawn for no assigned reasons, been an "expectant" longer than he The people have the right of petition, can remember, and he has incurred Of this they constantly avail them-more obligations of a financial nature selves, and by this means they some-than it is convenient, or indeed possi-times get redress in a summary way. ble, for him to recall. 'I'o every one of If their petitions are persistently dis-these mandarins inevitably occurs the regarded, they have the right of appeal, happy thought to recoup himself by and this also is in incessant use, It his very first term of office, aye, even is true that the corruption of the in the first year of that term. As the Mandarinate renders this privilege adage runs: "When one is newly too often nugatory, but this evil is appointed to be a Superintendent of a by no means confined to the Far East, Granary, he sits up all night to boil It is not always remembered how rice to eat." Now if all the officials who much easier is the lot of the average entertain this "happy thought" wera to Chinese in the item of taxation, than carry it out, nothing else could be that of other Orientals. It is rare to carried out, he Chinese remedy is hear even the Chivese themselves com-the very negative, and yet very positive plain of the amount which they are one of refusing to do business at all, obliged to pay. to the Government, until the wrong is righted. Of this an The exactions of extortionate officials instance has recently been reported in in years of flood or famine, are indeed these columns from Canton, where the common topics of dissatisfaction, but jawushops had been bullied by the this is the abuse of a good theory.
Tartar soldiers and refused to open The Government levies for transporta-their doors, to the enormous iucontion, as boats, carts, etc, and for venience of a dense population, until materials, such as stalks for the repairs assurances were given that the grievance of breaches in the river-banks, can should not be repeated. In this they hardly be termed oppressive, especially were entirely successful, Many years for an Asiatic country, and under a ago a Customs Taotai in one of the tule which is classed as "absolute most important ports of the Empire un-despotism." It is seldom that one der took to enforce a tax which was so hears of military conscription itr China, plainly unjust, that all the leading for the Government can get all the shops on the main business street were men it wants, without such levi for the time completely closed up, It should be added that it is surpris: The traders carried their point, and ing, especially to one coming from the the tax was abandoned. Cases of this great military countries of Europe, to sort are occurring constantly all over see what an almost total absence of, Chins, for human nature is everywhere,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.