21st Sept. Tue author of this book. is resolute in the defence of the present dynasty. It is, he represents, much less oppressive than former dynasties. When money was wanted in the olden times a tax was levied on the people; this was the case both under the Han and Tang dynasties and later, At the present time the hereditary chiefs of the Lolo tribes in Szechuan who are called Tusze, support their dignity by taxing their people in the same way. In the Sung dynasty, about A, D. 1120, the people were required to pay a tax amounting to sixty million strings of cash for exemption from military service. After this the court removed, from Honan to Chekiang. About A. D. 1300 four new taxes were levied and several millions of strings were thus raised for government expenditure, Rewards were not thought of to the givers. When the sovereigns of the Ming dynasty were at war they also levied new taxes; they wore of three kinds and they thus succeeded in raising twenty million strings. The support of the army was an easy matter when they employed this mode of obtaining money. 'I'he Viceroy adds that the present dynasty when arranging for the expense of Yellow River embankments and outlay in time of war has found other ways of raising money. Rich men have paid large sums and they have received titles of honour in return, Besides this the number of Masters of Arts and Doctors admissible at the examinations has been increased in provinces giving aid to the Government, Pho present dynasty in obtaining money without pressing on the poor has, says the~Viceroy, given a ninth proof of benevolence in administration. In the old times izheu fifteen shillings of silver were worth a, pound in gold, taxes amounting to twenty million strings of copper cash would be equivalent to thirteen' millions and one third pounds sterling, 'Chis amount the Sovereigns of the Ming' dynasty did not hesitate to levy when the population was sixty millions, The present dynasty, when the population has become three, four, and five times greater, has avoided heavy taxation. 'I'he Viceroy ascribes the cause to greater benevolence, But the increase of population: has brought poverty on the nation and the country farmer is less able to pay now than he was three centuries ago. 'There is no doubt that the Emperors have been kind-hearted in not levying' heavier taxes," It is algo true that heavy' taxation causes local insurrections. 'This has happened' more than once during the present year in Chekiang province, while' there is a more serious rebellion in Kuangsi which can only be adequately. explained by including extra taxa nas one of the causes.
The Viceroy says that when, under Manchu Sovereigns, the Yellow River has overflowed, the expenditure for repairing the breach lias been met by money otherwise obtained. he rich have paid instead of the poor. The salt and other monopolists have out of their gains been able to bear the expenditure required. Titles of honour have been bestowed on them asa reward and this generosity has induced rich men to pay the large sums required of them without murmuring.
Another instance of benevolence in the Manchu administration is the lightness of punishments. In the Han dynasty there were four hundred executions of criminals in a year. At present, in China, says the Viceroy, there are not more than two or three hundred. This comparatively small number is owing to the lightness of punishments. Panishments of one hundred strokes of the bamboo have been reduced to forty. So it has been with other punishments, Mercy rules in the criminal code if a comparison be made between Manchu punishments and those of preceding dynasties in china, Judges are punished if they condemn any accused person to death who is not really guilty. An-her fault for which they are punished is the condemnation of a guilty man to suffer a much lighter penalty than that which he deserves. Beyond this should also be considered the benevolent cate taken by the present dynasty for the welfare of oppressed Chinese in Cuba, and the Gaited States. Such a thing, says the distinguished author, was never thought of in former times as to send a special ambassador abroad to protect emigrants subj: to cruel treatment in foreign lands. The twelfth instance of benevolent action on the part of the Manchu government ig their so readily malting treaties of peace with foreigners on various occa sions during the last half-century. Foreigners came to stir up strife and China yielded to their wishes out of love to her people. China might have taken Corea and longking on occasions which occurred, but out of pity for her subjects she preferred peace to war. The thirteenth instance of benevolent government action on the part of the present dynasty is in the. generous treatment of scholars, In this respect the Manchus have equalled the Sung dynasty. 'I'he Han dynasty gave power to relatives. The 'liang dynasty raised musicians: and market brokers to high rank. The Yuen dynasty gave positions of influence only to Mongols. The Ming dynasty showed favour to "Paoist priests and carpenters. The Emperors of the present dynasty have given honour to many a poor scholar eminent for his. talents. They read themselves the examination essays, successful scholars are elevated by them to the same rank as members of their own family: The Ming dynasty is, by the author, particularised for. ill-treatment of Court Ministers however just and loyal they might be. The present dynasty has acted on a better principle. As a fourteenth instance of benevolence the Viceroy mentions that eunuchs and other unworthy favourites have never in the present dynasty been allowed to oppress the people. He then proceeds to the fifteenth instance of kind and conside rate government, which consists in rewarding all loyal and faithful servants, During the last fifty years there have been hundreds of cases where special favour has been shown to the families of those who died in the Emperor's service. the Viceroy says this kindness is unique in Chinese history.
The Viceroy in bringing to a close this section of his book compares Chine with Western countries. Western history during the Inst fifty years, he thinks, reflects much less honour on Government than has been the case in China, Western nations are rich and powerful but the people are unhappy. Vhey wait eagerly for an opportunity to assassinate their Sovereigns and chief Ministers of State. We should not hear every few months as we do of assassinations taking place of persons high in station in Europe and America if the people were as Kindly and considerately governed as the Chinese are by their emperors. On this ground be appeals to all scholars to maintain a loyal regard to the Chinese government of the present time. They should diligently tuse all their influence to repress seditious ideas, and check rebellion in the bud. He has given fifteen proofs of good government. These should be carefully considered with a loyal mind, the principle of faithfulness and loyalty 4 should, operate powerfully, and sya pathetic obedience be gladly rendered a dynasty so gracious and conside rate as he has explained in this lengthened argument.
The Viceroy wrote this early in the year with a special purpose, namely, to stir the scholars of Hupeh and Honan to diligence in study. When recently the Emperor directed his Mivisters to report on the propriety or not of grauting to the people parliamentary representation like Japan they recommended this should not be done," Tothe Viceroy Chang Chih-tung's book they appealed as stating that the people are not fit. to receive power, What the Viceroy says in this book is that the people do not know enough; they are too contented in their ignorance. They have no knowledge of the great world, nor have they the capacity to rule the country. Only one in a hundred possesses the acquired wisdom fitting him to judge on the qua-of a legislator. It is too soon to give parliamentary representation to the people. Give it them and they. will use it to burn down churches and then the foreigner will come and tuke the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.