!
146
Lai-chou-fu Ching-chou-fu.. Kiao-chou
Manchu Garrisons-
Ching-cbou
Te-chou
Total
:::
6
:::
::
:::
Electors.
Members.
3.337
4
10,2:0
9
4,972
4
204 24
2
1
119,549
103
Each Chinese member of the assembly thus represents 1,193 votes, while the three Manchus only represent 76 each.
First Election of Delegates --The lists of voters were ready by March 1909, and published in April. The revised lists were drawn up early in May, in which month they were sent to the polling stations, and the elections of the delegates commenced. For cach member ten delegates were elected, making 1,030 for the province. The polling was not heavy, probably not over 50 per cent. of the voting list, and supple- mentary elections were necessary in many cases.
Second Election of Members.-The second elections for the provincial assembly were held on the 27th and 29th June, all the delegates voting among themselves for The successful were duly the selection of one out of every ten of their number. declared elected members. Prominent notables beaded the list everywhere. The senior member for Chinan-fu is the chairman of the Grand Chamber of Commerce and formerly president of the local Tien-tsin-Pukow Railway Bureau.
President, Vice-Presidents, and Standing Committee.-The members assembled in Chinan-fu in the course of August, and proceeded to elect a president and two vice- presidents, and a standing committee of twenty members. The remaining members returned to their constituencies, there to start deliberative councils for the purpose of getting into touch with local public opinion. A voluminous programme had already been drawn up of subjects for discussion in the assembly, embracing every conceivable topic of public interest, including foreign relations. This last was divided into nine sections --
1. The leased territories.
2. The foreign settlements.
3. Foreign missions.
4. Foreign industrial undertakings in the interior.
5. Extra-territoriality.
6. Railways.
7. Mines.
8. Sea fisheries.
9. Articles of foreign manufacture in the interior.
Opening Ceremony on the 14th October.--The formal opening of the assembly took place, according to the rules of the 24th July, 1908, on the 1st day of the 9th moon In addition to the governor and (14th October), and was an impressive function. members, the chief provincial officials were all prescut, and special seats were reserved for metropolitan officials, foreigners, and officials from other provinces. Accommo- dation was also provided for the press and the public, and it is estimated that about 1,000 persons were present.
The president opened the proceedings by asking the governor to address the meeting. His Excellency read a formal speech, in which he dwelt on the fact that the desire of the court to associate the people with the government of the country had at last been carried out, and the president followed by reading a formal reply of thanks on behalf of the members. The governor then made a second address, which Not the least interesting has been widely published, and merits quotation in full.
feature of it is the outspoken commendation of Yuan Shih-k'ai's action during the Boxer outbreak, and it is difficult to believe that a governor whose touch with the central Government is so close would venture to express his views so openly on such an occasion without some knowledge that they were seasonable.
Governor's Speech. On the occasion of the opening of this assembly to-day there are two points to which I should like to direct your attention. The first is that Members in no case should the difficulties of any question be lightly underrated. elected for the first time must needs lack experience, and may act rashly without due consideration of the real facts of a case, and like lucky drawers in a lottery, rush into
* Text taken from press notice.
7
foolish courses which may overstep legal bounds. Such persons, though they appear to be merely over-enthusiastic, are really rash by nature, and do far more barm than good-let me warn you against them.
My second point is that there should be no fear of adverse criticism. In the conduct of affairs, once a definite policy has been determined on as essential-and without decision no achievement is possible--it should be strenuously adhered to in spite of all difficulties and faithfully pursued until the desired aim is reached, regardless of any adverse criticism that may be encountered meanwhile.
"Let me quote examples from among the eminent officials who have served the Empire since it recovered from the troublous times of the Great Rebellion-the glorious achievements of the Marquis Tseng Kuo-fan are known to young and old throughout the land, yet when he was Viceroy of Chihli he incurred such adverse criticism from the people of that province on account of his action in the Tien-tsin Missionary Riot case that he could not continue in office there, and was transferred to the Liangkiang province; the Marquis's own statements at the time showing the intensity of the feeling against him when he said, 'I have offended both my own conscience and public opinion.'
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Again, take the late Li Hung-chang, whose diplomatic skill may be said to have been almost unrivalled. He was stigmatised as servile to foreigners for advocating peace in the China-Japan war, and later public censure of him increased as foreign affairs multiplied; but it is only after death that the true verdict on a man is pronounced, and the name of Li Hung-chang, though censured during his lifetime, is now enshrined in the national history with a lustre that a myriad ages will not dim.
Or, again, look at Yuan Shih-k'ai, when he was governor of Shantung, at the time of the outbreak of the Boxer rebellion. At that period high officials both at the capital and in the province, believing in the Boxers, were following their lead, and Yuan alone regarded them as a heretic sect, and took measures against them. The ignorant people who also believed in the Boxers abused Yuan, but before long the Boxers were overthrown and the province of Shantung, thanks to his energy alone, was preserved in peace; this was a benefit experienced by yourselves as inhabitants of this province who can thus confirm my words.
"The public are capable of appreciating the benefits of an accomplished fact, but not of planning for its accomplishment. Men of ability do not need to be guided merely by public approval in their conduct of affairs; it is only necessary for them to consider the final results of action, and if these are good the adverse comment endured for a time is of no consequence.
"Just as it is necessary to remove the skin of a fruit in order to taste its sweetness, so in dealing with affairs it is necessary to weigh carefully the pros and cons of any measure, and in order to do this it is essential that there should be calin and dispassionate investigation.
C4
The assembly, in discussing any given subject, should first carefully examine all the surrounding circumstances and not act in any rash or hasty manner, in order that the true bearings of the matter may be discovered and action taken without subsequent hindrance.
**
Divergence of views there must be, but difference of opinion should be care- fully distinguished from obstinacy. Obstinacy is the greatest obstacle to all progress, and I would earnestly worn you against it."
President's Address.-The president then delivered an address in which he traced the development of parliamentary institutions in western countries from the earliest times down to the present day, dwelt on their recent extension to Japan, aud con- cluded by pointing out that China had at last taken the first step on the path of constitutional reform.
The rules of procedure and other regulations of the assembly have since been published. They are minute and detailed, but present no original features, being closely modelled on those of western countries. Every subject for debate has to pass three readings, and is to be discussed clause by clause, each individual motion or amendment being voted on separately. Provision is also made for special committees to which questions may be referred from the full assembly.
Programme of Government Business.--The governor has placed a variety of questions before the assembly for discussion, and it is evident that he intends to occupy their attention fully by matters of official suggestion. The following is a short list :-