572
2
Tong meets the foreign diplomat on his own ground, points his arguments by illus- trations drawn from foreign countries, and in Treaty port questions especially shows a knowledge, based upon personal experience, which is often rather embarrassing. After Tong has finished his argument, the effect is not infrequently spoiled by the interven- tion of his colleague, who prides himself on being "a plain, honest man," with no special qualifications for his post. His manner of treating international questions is that of the Chinese statesman of half-a-century ago.
He scarcely disguises his belief that Treaties do not apply to Hunan, and in a question like the opening of the capital, Ch'ang-sha, he thinks it sufficient to say that the place is far too small to permit of the indiscriminate residence of foreigners. If you venture to doubt it, he invites you to pay his native city a visit and convince yourself by the evidence of your own eyesight.
Such are the two men who are the protagonists in the struggle that is now attracting the attention of the Empire, and for the moment the forces of reaction are decidedly in the ascendant.
I have, &c.
(Translation.)
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Peking Gazette.”
Imperial Decree, dated January 30, 1907.
J. N. JORDAN.
WHEREAS Ma Chi Chang, a sub-reader of the Hanlin College, has presented a Memorial impeaching a high official, let Ch'en Shao Chang, Chief Secretary, and Shih Chao Chi, Councillor of the Board of Communications, who have disappointed public expectation, vacate their posts. Tang Shao Yi, by introducing such men for employment as Chief Secretary and Councillor, has attracted much criticism. Let the above-named Vice-President tremblingly obey our former Edict, and carefully carry out the duties intrusted to him with zeal and energy. If he should again show himself self-opinionated he certainly will not be dealt with leniently.
As for the posts of Chief Secretary and Councillor in that Board, let the Ministers of the Board carefully select suitable officers and submit their names to the Throne.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the " Peking Gazette" February 1, 1907.
Memorial of Ma Chi Chang, a Reader of the Imperial Hanlin College and Expositor of
Literature, to His Majesty the Emperor, dated January 30, 1907.
(Translation.)
A HUMBLE Memorial, impeaching a high official for monopolizing powers, accepting bribes, forming a clique among his friends, and planning for his personal advantage.
Your Memorialist has read the Decree of the 13th January censuring the President and Vice-President of the Board of Communications, which showed that it is the intention of your Imperial Majesty to purify the circles of officialdom by leniency, if possible, or by severity if needs be. All your officers and people are filled with profound respect for such a course. But, from what your Memorialist has heard recently, the Vice-President of the Board of Communications, Tang Shao Yi, is an exception to this rule.
When the appointment of Chief Secretaries and Councillors to the Board was being considered Tang Shao Yi, who never possessed any considerable degree of Chinese education, employed a fellow provincial of his to draw up a Memorial for him, and only on the day before this was to be presented did he inform Chang Po Hsi that he would have to join in presenting it to the Throne.
* A native of Honan, Metropolitan graduate (Chin Shib) of the year 1880.
3
When the Decree of Censure was issued commanding them to decide upon retaining or dismissing their Chief Secretaries and Councillors, I hear that Chang Po Hsi was fully conscious of his error, and ashamed; but that Tang Shao Yi was only afraid of having to get rid of his henchmen, which would involve. refunding the bribes he had taken from them, and expose his whole position. Such a contemptuous view as this of the Chinese Government and such self-seeking obstinacy leave us at a loss to fully imagine the conditions to which the affairs of that Board have come.
Now Tang Shao Yi was originally a penniless Cantonese who travelled abroad and picked up a certain knowledge of foreign languages. Starting as a petty official, he raised himself by protection to the rank of Tantai. He received repeated evidences of Imperial favour, until he finally reached his present standing. He should indeed have cleansed his heart of evil thoughts and have made every endeavour to prove himself worthy of such gracious confidence. Yet, since his appointment as Vice-President to the Board of Communications, the Chief Secretaries and Councillors employed by him have been his fellow provincials, relations, or connections, who got their posts by bribes. Even the officials transferred from other appointments to his Board had to arrange their transfers by bribery. It is no wonder that the public began to call the Board of Communications the "Joint Stock Company" and "the Cantonese Club."
His nominee for one of the posts of Chief Secretary, Ch'en Shao Ch'ang, is one of his fellow provincials, and an old boon companion in dissolute amusements.
This man accompanied the subsequently cashiered Minister, Chang Yin Huan, to foreign countries, and was afterwards nominated Taotai to the Province of Kuangsi. But as he feared the severe supervision of the Viceroy Ts'en, he made a pretext for coming to Peking at the time when Tang Shao Yi was Customs Taotai at Tien-tsin, Ch'en, by various devices and after much beseeching, then got himself transferred to the Pei Yang establishment. While in Tien-tsin his name was a by-word for debauchery and intemperance, and owing to the proximity of Tien-tsin to the capital every one here heard of this.
The Acting Junior Councillor, Shih Chao Chi, is merely a recently graduated student from abroad, who bought himself a Taotai's rank a few months ago. What experience can be possess of official affairs and conduct? Yet Tang Shao Yi, because Shih is his nephew by marriage, deceived your Majesty in recommending him to this post.
But this is not all. As soon as Tang Shao Yi took over the Director-Generalship of Railways he removed the superintendents on the north and south sections of the line, and appointed in their place Shib Chao-Chi as Chief Superintendent over the whole railway. The whole staff and the finances thus were placed in the hands of Shil; from appointing the personnel to inspecting the tickets thus depended upon this one man. The employés on the trains mostly got their posts by bribery, and Shih became a man to look upon askance, with fear and trembling.
and
Now, railways are one of the most important elements in the reforms of your Majesty's Government. The Peking-Hankow Railway is the most important of Chinese trunk lines. The newly established Board of Communications was intended to foster progress. But if this Vice-President, in his arrogance, and with his lust for monopolizing control, is to take the most important interests of the State under his own wing, for the purpose of hatching out results beneficial to himself and the friends with whom he has surrounded himself for treasonable will not be slight.
purposes, the consequences
Furthermore, your memorialist would be inexpressibly distressed to think that the State sets up officials for the sake of, as it were, expressly providing them with a means of making careful provision for their relations and connections, and for looking after their own personal advantage.
Tang Shao Yi, Vice-President of the Board of Communications, has proved himself ungrateful for your Majesty's gracious treatment. He has raised a storm of eriticism by his behaviour. Ch'en Shao Ch'ang and Shih Chao-Chi have been relying upon him in their scheme for self-advancement. It is absolutely impossible that they should be regarded as fit for office. But it rests with your Majesty to say what severe measures should be taken. Your memorialist is only actuate i by a desire to aid your policy, and having heard these things could not remain silent and hold his peace.
A respectful Memorial.
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