CHINA
REIGNING SOVEREIGN AND FAMILY.
Kuang Sü, Emperor of China, is the son of Prince Ch'un, the seventh son of the Emperor Tao Kuang; hence he is cousin to the late Emperor Tung Chi, who died withor: issue on the 12th January, 1875, from small-pox.
The proclamation announcing the accession of the present sovereign was a follows: "Whereas His Majesty the Emperer has ascended upon the Dragon to be guest on high, without offspring born to his inheritance, no course has been open im that of causing Tsai Tien, son of the Prince of Ch'un, to become adopted as the son the Emperor Wêng Tsung Hien (Hien Fung) and to enter upon the inheritance of the great dynastic line as Emperor by succession. Therefore, let Tsai Tien, son of Yih Huar the Prince of Ch'un, become adopted as the son of the Emperor Wên Tsung Hien, and }} The enter upon the inheritance of the great dynastic line as Emperor by succession. present sovereign is the ninth Emperor of China of the Tartar dynasty of Ta-tsing (Sublime Purity), which succeeded the native dynasty of Ming in the year 1644. Ther exists no law of hereditary succession to the throne, but it is left to each sovereign appoint his successor from among the members of his family. The late Emperor, dying suddenly, in the eighteenth year of his age, did not designate a successor, and it w in consequence of palace intrigue, directed by the Empresses Dowager, in concert with Prince Ch'un, that the infant son of the latter was declared Emperor. The Emperor Kuang Su, now in his twenty-second year, assumed the reins of Government in February 1887, was married, on the 26th February, 1889, to Yeh-ho-na-la, niece of the Empres Dowager, and his enthronement took place on the 4th March following.
GOVERNMENT and REVENUE.
The fundamental laws of the empire are laid down in the Ta-tsing Huei-tien, Collected Regulations of the Great Pure Dynasty, which prescribe the government the State as based upon the government of the family. The Emperor is spiritual well as temporal sovereign, and, as high priest of the Empire, can alone, with b immediate representatives and ministers, perform the great religious ceremonies. Y ecclesiastical hierarchy is maintained at the public expense, nor any priesthood attachemi to the Confucian or State religion.
The administration of the empire is under the supreme direction of the Interi Council Chamber, comprising four members, two of Manchu and two of Chinese origin, besides two assistants from the Han-lin, or Great College, who have to see that nothing is done contrary to the civil and religious laws of the empire, contained in the Ta-tsing Huei-tien, and in the sacred books of Confucius. These members are denomina ed Ta Hsio-sz, or Ministers of State. Under their orders are the Li Pu or seven boasig of government, each of which is presided over by a Manchu and Chinese. They are:-- The board of civil appointment, which takes cognisance of the conduct and administrati of all civil officers; (2) The board of revenue, regulating all financial affairs; (3) The board of rites and ceremonies, which enforces the laws and customs to be observed s the people; (4) The military board, superintending the administration of the army (5) The board of public works; (6) The high tribunal of criminal jurisdiction; and The board of admiralty, recently formed to govern the infant navy of China. To love must be added the Tsung-li Yamên, or board of foreign affairs. Independent of the Government and theoretically above the central administration, is the Tu-cha Yuan, zər board of public censors. It consists of from 40 to 50 members, under two presiden the one of Manchu and the other of Chinese birth. By the ancient custom of the empire, all the members of this board are privileged to present any remonstrance to sovereign. One censor must be present at the meeting of each of the six governm÷IT" boards.
The estimates of the public revenue of China vary greatly, and, while they stated by some to exceed 100 millions sterling, are held by others not to come up to h that amount. Official returns of the Chinese Government, published in 1844, stated annual revenue at that time at Tls. 191,803,139, or £63,931,713. According to the memorials from officials published in the Peking Gazette, it would appear that there are almost constant deficits, which the governors and high officials of provinces must o
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.