CHINA'S PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1761, 28 May 1913, Page 8

CHINA'S PARLIAMENT.

FUTURE FULL OF PROMISE. BY W. SHELDON RIDGE (Editor of "The National Review," China). London, April 8. I'lie opening, to-day, of China's first Parliament is an event of first-rato importance. Tho oldest Empire on earth lias become the youngest Republic. 'What does that mean? Ever since tho West has taken anything more than a commercial interest in tho East wo have been told that China was governed on democrat] 1 ! principles. Why change one democracy for another? Tho ansivor is simple: China to-day prefers active democracy to passive. Under the old democracy iho rulers issued edicts aud the people obeyed them—if they thought lit; 11 mo people did not think lit tno edict became a-dead letter. Under tho new democracy tho people will issuo their own edicts. Tho old system was that of an informal referendum tho new is that of a potential "initiative"; democracy in hot. 1 ! cases—formerly a passive democracy, now an active democracy. Parliament is tu bo tho vchiclo of democracy.

Constitution of Parliament. The details of tho Parliamentary conslilutipn are not yet linally Eettlcd, but same points aro quite clear. Parliament is to consist of two Houses, a lower Houso of Representatives, and a higher Souate. Tho Senators are clccted by tile Provincial Aswnnblie!/ tiio Representatives by popular election, tho franchise being based oil educational and property qualilications. Educational qualifacatious aro almost non-existent in England, and wo do not rcfuso tho -franchise to drunkards. In Ciyina tho corresponding degenerate, tliq oiiium smoker, is disqualified Ex Urionto lux! in another respect China sets tho West an example: sho allows representation to Chinese abroad, in such places as tho Straits, Sumatra, and Java, where there aro very many Chinese. "This," says Dr. Uugeno C'li'ou, an eminent Chinese authority, "I regard as the most vital contribution to political thought since tho establishment of representative government in the West. By this principle, China will bo ablo to bind her emigrant sons to (he itother country, instead of suffering, as dees Germany, for instance, the loss of her migrating population." .Jlonks, priests, preachers, the illiterate, and tho opium-smoker may neither vote for nor become members of Parliament; and no person under '15 years (if age may be a candidate for cicction.

Political Parties. There are four leading political parties: the Kuo-ming Tang, the Kung-lio Tang, th-2 Tung-yi 'fang, and tho Min-chu 'l'aug, the first and second being by far the n.ost important. Tho Tung-yi Tang holds principles differing but little from those of tho Kung-ho Tang, and in practice tho two parties will probably work l'juch together. The Min-chu Tang consists of tho followers of Kang Yu-wei and Liang Chi-chao, the -two great reformers who only managed to save their heads by flight in 1898.- They were constitutional monarchists then, and now hold a middle position between the Kung-ho Tang arid tho Kuo-ming Tang. Tho recent elections have shown that'the strongest party is tho Kuo-ming Tang, which.was formed by tho amalgamation of five political parlies in August last, the strongest of the five being the Tung-ming Hui, Dr. Sun's pclitical society. The party is strongly radi* cal, and stands for a strong central-gov-ernment, with a well-developed system of local government. It aims at tho reform of social conditions on sound economic lines, and is decidedly socialistic. Some of its leaders are keen students r.f Mill And Henry George. , Tho party seeks to break down tribal barriers, and make of

"tho fivo races" one nation. The Kvngho Tang, the second great party, is comparatively conservative. It believes in preserving -tho supremacy of the central government, and in the promotion r .,i national progress by the exerfcise of central governmental powers. The party is strongly pacificist. Tho_ Kuo-ming Tang is sometimes called the Nationalist pcrly, and the Kung-ho Tang the Democratic party; but one must beware of using theso terms except with their spocial connotation.

Pressing Problems. There arc many problems, tho solution of which tho new Parliament must devote its serious attention at once. Tho first problem is that of the Presidency, to which reference is made below. Tho next problem is that of the balance of power, for a long time past tlio most ditlicult problem in China. All other problems have really turned out whether Peking or the provinces should bo the repository of ultimata authority. The solution will not come with observation, but wijl be reached in tho settlement of many closely involved issues. Then there is tho financial "problem, on which depends the solution of the problems of development of means of communication, of river conservancy, of afforestation, of tho reorganisation of the army and the navv, and thus indirectly of the maintenance of the territorial integrity of China. What China's financial resources are no man knows, but tho words of Mr, Shellim at tho annual meeting of tho Hong-Kong and Shanghai Bank may well bo borne in mind: "Wo may safely trust to China's .industrious population and great natural resources'—two > very substantial national assets. It is probable that China is nothing like so near the end of her financial tether as some would have ns believe, fllld wo must 'let overlook the fact (hat immediately tile Goveminent nnuounccd that 1 . off negotiations with mon<\v , began to come in to Peking. trom the provinces more freely.

The Presidency. The greatest immediate problem for China is that of the Presidency. At one time there might have boon two likely candidates, Dr. Sun and Yuan Shih-k'ai. With magnificent unselfishness Dr. Snn has refused nomination, and as he has loyally supported Yuan Shih-k'ai hitherto thero'is every reason to believe that he will maintain tho ground he lias taken. Of outstanding political genius there remains no candidate but Yuan Shih-k ai. Ho is the one really great man in the rminin"-. Many of Dr. Sun's followers in the" Kuo-ming Tapg an). hostile to Yuan, but Dr. Sun's influence will probably prevent that hostility blocking Yunil's? Wav to the Presidency. Still, tho Ivlio-niing Tang might easily vote Yuan ,Shih-k'ai into oflice and then tie his h-uuk which would, as many think, be a* catastrophe only less than Yuan s defCWhat China needs at the .present moment is a clear-headed, strong President, and a Parliament determined to put first things first. Given these—both are witlun China's oasv reach-China's future is full of rich promise both for herself and tho whole world. _______