“The five commissioners have sent in a joint memorial dealing with what they have seen in foreign countries during the last three months.  They report that the wealthiest and strongest nations in the world to-day are governed by constitutional government.  They mention the proclamation of constitutional government in Russia, and remark that China is the only great country that has not adopted that principle.  As they have carefully studied the systems of England, the United States, Japan, etc., they earnestly request the Throne to issue a decree fixing on five years as the limit within which ‘China will adopt a constitutional form of government.’

“A rescript submits this recommendation to a council of state to advise on the action to be taken.”

If that venerable body, consisting of old men who hold office for life, does not take umbrage at the prospect of another tribunal infringing on their domain, we shall have at least the promise of a parliament.  And five years hence, if the conge d’elire goes forth, it will rend the veil of ages.  It implies the conferment on the people of power hitherto unknown in their history.  What a commotion will the ballot-box excite!  How suddenly will it arouse the dormant [Page 199] intellect of a brainy race!  But it is premature to speculate.

In 1868 the Mikado granted his subjects a charter of rights, the first article of which guarantees freedom of discussion, and engages that he will be guided by the will of the people.  In China does not the coming of a parliament involve the previous issue of a Magna Charta?

It is little more than eight years since the restoration, as the return of the Court in January, 1902, may be termed.  In this period, it is safe te assert that more sweeping reforms have been decreed in China than were ever enacted in a half-century by any other country, if one except Japan, whose example the Chinese profess to follow, and France, in the Revolution, of which Macaulay remarks that “they changed everything—­from the rites of religion to the fashion of a shoe-buckle.”

Reference will here be made to a few of the more important innovations or ameliorations which, taken together, made the reign of the Empress Dowager the most brilliant in the history of the Empire.  The last eight years have been uncommonly prolific of reforms; but the tide began to turn after the peace of Peking in 1860.  Since that date every step in the adoption of modern methods was taken during the reign or regency of that remarkable woman, which dated from 1861 to 1908.

As late as 1863 the Chinese Government did not possess a single fighting ship propelled by steam.  Steamers belonging to Chinese merchants were sometimes employed to chase pirates; but they were not [Page 200] the property of the state.  The first state-owned steamers, at least the first owned by the Central Government, was a flotilla of gunboats purchased that year in England by Mr. Lay, Inspector-General of Maritime Customs.  Dissatisfied with the terms he had made with the commander, whom he had bound not to act on any orders but such as the Inspector should approve, the Government dismissed the Inspector and sold the ships.