Wuen the late Empress Dowager gave her assent to the formal auguration under Imperial of a constitutional regime in Ohina, it must be supposed that she! entertained no doubt regarding her ability or that of the Government of the day to keep the movement' well under control. The march of events, however, has been rapid since the promulgation of the Edict of September 1, 1906, and it would have been difficult to foresee with what assurance and vigour the Provincial Assemblies would exercise their somewhat limited functions. China is not the first country in which a popular movement once started has quickly freed itself from all the trammels that had been devised for its adequate restraint. The late Empress-Dowager in her wisdom bad ordained that nine years must elapse before the country could consider itself fitted, either intellectually or by constitutional experience, for a parliament, and in theory there is mach to be said in favour of a gradual development of fa constitutional system. Bat, as was claimed at the opening of the National Assembly, the pani mentary idea is not altogether strange to China, and by a process of sub-conscious atavism the Provincial Assemblies and the National Assembly spring into existence fally St Zeus." Certainly none of these ped, ¢ Athene from the head bodies. have expended much time in fooling their way or testing their powers. first session of the Provincial Assemblies was followed by a joint meeting in Shanghai of Assembly delegates from a large number of provinees, and a depatntion was sent to Peking fo ange the speed: ning of Parliament. have hitherto been firmly rejected by the Prince Regent, but popular pertinacity bids fair to win the day. Various methods have been resorted to with the object of imposing a final negative upon the importunate demands; and as a last resort the subject has been submitted to the National Assembly.
This body, it has to be remembered, is far from being constituted on fa strictly popular basis, Half its
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.