第2章
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  Butitisnotonlythemenwhogoabroad;inmanycasesladiesalsotravelbythemselves。OnseveraloccasionsladyfriendsfromWashington,Philadelphia,andNewYorkhavevisitedmeinPeking。

  ThisisoneoftheAmericans\'strongpoints。Isitnotwiserandmuchmoreusefultodisburseafewhundreddollarsorsointravellingandgainingknowledge,comingincontactwithotherpeoplesandenlargingthemind,thantospendlargesumsofmoneyingaudydresses,preciousstones,trinkets,andotherluxuries?

  InalargecountrylikeAmericawhereaconsiderableportionofthelandstillremainspracticallyuncultivatedorundeveloped,hardy,industrious,andpatientworkmenareanecessity。

  Butthealmostuncheckedinfluxofimmigrantswhoarenotdesirablecitizenscannotbutharmthecountry。Inthesedaysofinternationaltradeitisrightthatingressandegressfromonecountrytoanothershouldbeunhampered,butpersonswhohavecommittedcrimesathome,orwhoareignorantandilliterate,cannotbecomedesirablecitizensanywhere。

  TheyshouldbebarredoutoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。Itiswellknownthatforeignerstakepartinthemunicipalandfederalaffairsofthecountryassoonastheybecomecitizens。Nowifsuchpersonsreallyworkedforthegoodoftheiradoptedcountry,therecouldbenoobjectiontothis,butitisnosecretthatmanyhavenosuchmotives。Thatbeingso,itisaquestionwhetherstepsshouldnotbetakentolimittheirfreedom。

  Ontheotherhand,asmanyfarmssufferfromlackofworkmen,peoplefromwhatevercountrywhoareindustrious,patient,andperseveringoughttobeadmittedaslaborers。Theywouldbeagreatboontothenation。

  Thefearofcompetitionbycheaplaboriscauseless;regulationsmightbedrawnupforthecontroloftheseforeignlaborers,andontheirarrivaltheycouldbedraftedtothoseplaceswheretheirservicesmightbemosturgentlyneeded。SolongashonestandsteadyworkmenareexcludedfornoreasonotherthanthattheyareAsiatics,whilewhitemenareindiscriminatelyadmitted,Ifearthattheprosperityofthecountrycannotbeconsideredpermanent,foragricultureisthebackboneofstablewealth。Yetatpresentitisthecountry\'swealthwhichisoneoftheimportantfactorsofAmerica\'sgreatness。

  IntheUnitedStatestherearethousandsofindividualswhosefortunesarecountedbysevenoreightfiguresingolddollars。

  Andmuchofthismoneyhasbeenusedtobuildrailways,ortodevelopmanufactoriesandotherusefulindustries。

  Thecountryhasgrowngreatthroughusefulwork,andnotonaccountofthearmyandnavy。

  In1881America\'sarmynumberedonly26,622men,andhernavyconsistedofonly24iron-clads,2torpedo-boats,and25tugs,butin1910thepeacestrengthofherarmywas96,628andthenavyboasted33battleshipsand120armoredcruisersofdifferentsizes。

  WithinthelastfewyearsithasbeenthepolicyofmanynationstoincreasethearmyandtobuildasmanyDreadnaughtsandsuper-dreadnaughtsaspossible。ManystatesmenhavebeeninfectedbythisDreadnaughtfever。

  Theirpolicyseemstobebasedontheideathatthesafetyofanationdependsonthenumberofitsbattleships。Evenpeacefulandmoderatemenarecarriedawaybythishobby,andsupportit。Itisforgottenthatgreatchangeshavetakenplaceduringthelasttwentyorthirtyyears;

  thatanationcannowbeattackedbymeansquitebeyondthereachofDreadnaughts。Theenormoussumsspentonthesefrightfulmonsters,ifappliedtomoreworthyobjects,wouldhaveagreatereffectinpreservingthenations\'heritagesthananythingthesemonstrositiescando。

  Thenationwhichhasalargearmyandastrongnavymaybecalledpowerful,butitcannotbeconsideredgreatwithoutothergoodrequisites。

  Iconsideranationasgreatwhensheispeacefully,justly,andhumanelygoverned,andwhenshepossessesalargenumberofbenevolentandgoodmenwhohaveavoiceintheadministration。

  Thegreaterthenumberofgoodmenthatanationpossessesthegreatershebecomes。Americaisknowntohavealargenumberofsuchmenandwomen,menandwomenwhodevotetheirtimeandmoneytopreachingpeaceamongthenations。Mr。AndrewCarnegieisworthahundredDreadnaughts。HeandotherslikehimarethechieffactorsinsafeguardingtheinterestsandwelfareofAmerica。TheterritoryoftheUnitedStatesisseparatedfromEuropeandothercountriesbyvastoceans;sothatitwouldbedifficult,ifnotimpossible,forafoetosuccessfullyattackanyportionofthatcountry。

  Butwhowishestoattackher?Shehasscarcelyanenemy。

  Nocountryisinvadedbyanotherwithoutcause,andastheUnitedStatesisinfriendlyrelationswithallthePowers,thereisnoreasontofearforeigninvasion。Evenshouldaforeignpowersuccessfullyattackherandusurpaportionofherterritories,asuppositionwhichismostimprobable,wouldtheenemybeabletoholdwhatheseized?Historyshowsthatnoconqueredcountryhaseverbeensuccessfullyandpermanentlykeptwithoutthepeople\'sconsent,andthereisnottheleastchancethattheAmericanswilleverconsenttotheruleofaforeigngovernment。

  ItistobehopedthattheUnitedStateswillnotfollowtheexampleofothernationsandundulyincreaseherarmaments,butthatshewilltaketheleadintheuniversalpeacemovementandshowtheworldthatagreatpowercanexistandmaintainherpositionwithoutforceofarms。Iamawarethatgeneraldisarmamentisnotpopularamongstatesmen,thatithasbeendenouncedbyaneminentauthorityasa\"will-o\'-thewisp\",thatarbitrationhasbeenstyleda\"Jack-o\'-lantern\",butthisisnotthefirsttimeagoodandworkableschemehasbeenbrandedwithopprobriousnames。Theabolitionofslaverywasatonetimeconsideredtobeaninsaneman\'sdream;nowallpeoplebelieveinit。

  Willthetwentiethcenturywitnessthecollapseofourpresentcivilization?

  Whyaretheworld\'sarmamentsconstantlyincreasing?

  Tomyminditisduetotwocauses,oneofwhichismistrust。

  OnenationbeginstobuildDreadnaughts,anotherdoesthesamethroughfearandmistrust。Thesecondcauseisthatitisthefashionofsomenationstofollowtheexampleofothersthattheymaypreservetheirpositionasgreatnavalpowers。

  ButitisunnecessaryfortheUnitedStatestoshowsuchmistrustortofollowsuchfashion。Sheshouldrather,asbecomesagreatandpowerfulnation,takeanindependentcourseofherown。Ifshesetstheexampleothernationsinduetimewillfollowher。Thepeaceoftheworldwillbemoresurelyguarded,andAmericawillwintheapprobation,therespect,andthegratitudeofallpeace-lovingpeople。

  Chapter3。AmericanGovernmentDemocraticprincipleswereenunciatedbyChinesephilosophersaslongagoas4,500years,andfromtimetotimevariousemperorsandstatesmenhaveendeavoredtoapplythemtothegovernmentofChina,buttheseprinciplesinalltheirminutedetailshavebeenexemplifiedonlybythewisdomofthestatesmenintheWest。IntheUnitedStatestheyareinfullswing。AsChinahasnowbecomeaRepublic,notinnameonlybutinfact,itwillbewellforherstatesmenandpoliticianstoexaminetheAmericanconstitution,andtostudyitsworkings。

  TodothisatcloserangeitwillbenecessaryforthestudenttovisitWashington,theCapitaloftheUnitedStatesofAmerica。

  HerehewillfindthePresident,orthechiefofthenation。

  Withtheco-operationofhisCabinetandalargestaffofassistants,thePresidentadministerstheaffairsoftheFederalGovernment。

  Hemaybeanewmanandhavehadnoprevioustrainingindiplomacy,andlittleadministrativeexperience,butinallprobabilityheisamanofresourceandadaptability,whohasmasteredeverydetailofhishighoffice。Allimportantmattersarereferredtohim,sothathisdailyworktaxeshiswholestrengthandenergy。

  AnotherpartofhisfunctionistoseetheCongressmen,Senators,orRepresentatives,andotherswhocalltoseehimonbusiness,andthistakesupagreatpartofhistime。Infact,heisexpectedtobe,andgenerallyis,`Suaviterinmodo,fortiterinre\'。

  InWashingtontheNationalCongress,whichiscomposedoftheSenateandoftheHouseofRepresentatives,holdsitssittingsintheCapitol,andpassesbillssubjecttotheapprovalofthePresident。

  Ifhesignsabillitbecomeslaw,andbindsthenation。

  Thebasicprincipleofdemocracyisthesovereigntyofthepeople,butasthepeoplecannotofthemselvesgovernthecountry,theymustdelegatetheirpowertoagentswhoactforthem。

  ThustheyelecttheChiefMagistratetogovernthecountry,andlegislatorstomakethelaws。Thepowersgiventotheseagentsareirrevocableduringtheirrespectivetermsofoffice。Theelectorsareabsolutelyboundbytheiractions。WhateverlawsCongressmaypass,thepeoplemuststrictlyobey;thustheservantsofthepeoplereallybecometheirmasters。Thereisnofear,however,thattheirmastersprotemporewillbetraytheirtrust,asanyneglectofdutyontheirpart,ordisregardofthewishesoftheirconstituents,wouldmostlikelydestroytheirchancesofre-election。

  AccordingtothetermsoftheConstitution,thesenatorsandrepresentativesmustberesidentsofthestatesforwhichtheyarechosen。

  Thisisanexcellentprovision,insuringthatthepeople\'sdelegatespossesslocalknowledgeandknowhowtosafeguardtheinterestsandwelfareofthestateswhichsentthemtoWashington。Ontheotherhand,aseachstate,irrespectiveofitssize,isentitledtoelectonlytwoSenators,andtosendonlyalimitednumberofRepresentativestotheHouse,proportionallytoitspopulation,unfortunatelyitfrequentlyhappensthateminent,capable,andwell-knownpublicmen,oflargeexperience,aredeprivedofanopportunitytoservetheircountry。InEngland,andinsomeotherlands,theelectorsmaychooseastheirrepresentativearesidentofanycity,borough,orcountyastheyplease,anditonlyoccasionallyhappensthatthememberofParliamentactuallylivesinthedistrictwhichherepresents。IsitadvisabletoadoptasimilarsystemintheUnitedStates?ItcouldnotbedonewithoutamendingtheConstitution,andthiswouldnotbeeasy;

  buteverynation,aswellaseachindividual,shouldbeprepared,atalltimes,toreceivefreshlight,andbewillingtochangeoldcustomstosuitnewconditions,andsoImakethesuggestion。

  ThefixingoffouryearsasthetermofofficeforthePresidentwasanexcellentidea,intendednodoubttopreventanunpopularorbadPresidentfromremainingtoolonginpower。Itis,however,graduallydawningonthemindsofintelligentpeoplethatthislimitedterm,thoughexcellentintheory,isveryinconvenientinpractice。

  HoweverintelligentandcapableanewPresidentmaybe,severalmonthsmustelapsebeforehecanthoroughlyunderstandallthedetailsincidentaltohisexaltedposition,involving,inadditiontounavoidablesocialfunctions,thedailyreceptionofcallers,andmanyothermultifariousduties。Bythetimehehasbecomefamiliarwiththesematters,andtheworkoftheofficeisrunningsmoothly,halfofhistermhasgone;andshouldheaspiretoasecondterm,whichisquitenatural,hemustdevoteagreatdealoftimeandattentiontoelectioneering。FouryearsisplainlytooshortaperiodtogiveanyPresidentachancetodojusticeeithertohimselfortothenationwhichentrustedhimwithhisheavyresponsibilities。

  Presidentialelectionsarenationalnecessities,butthelessfrequentlytheyoccurthebetterforthegeneralwelfareofthecountry。

  ThosewhohavebeenintheUnitedStatesduringcampaignyears,andhaveseenthecomplicatedworkingofthepoliticalmachinery,andallitsseriousconsequences,will,Ifeelconvinced,agreewithwhatIsay。DuringthegreaterpartoftheyearinwhichaPresidenthastobeelectedtheentirenationisabsorbedintheevent,allthepeople,bothhighandlow,beingmoreorlesskeenlyinterestedintheissue,andthepreparationsleadinguptoit。

  Theyseemtoputeverythingelseintheshade,andtogivemoreattentiontothisthantoanythingelse。Politiciansandofficialswhohaveapersonalinterestintheresult,willdevotetheirwholetimeandenergytothework。Otherswhoarelessactive,still,directlyorindirectly,taketheirshareintheelectioneering。Campaignfundshavetoberaisedandlargesumsofmoneyaredisbursedinmanydirections。

  Allthissadlyinterruptsbusiness;itnotonlytakesmanybusinessmenfromtheirmorelegitimateduties,butitpreventsmerchantsandlargecorporationsfromembarkinginnewenterprises,andsoincidentallylimitsthedemandforlabor。Inshort,thewholenationispracticallyhurledintoastateofbustleandexcitement,andthegeneraltradeofthecountryisseriouslyaffected。

  AyoungmaninWashington,whowasengagedtobemarried,oncetoldmethathewastoobusytothinkofmarriageuntiltheelectionwasover。

  IftheFrenchsystemwerefollowed,andthePresidentwereelectedbyamajorityofthecombinedvotesoftheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentatives,theinconveniences,theexcitementsandexpenseaboveenumeratedmightbeavoided,butIthinkthepeopleofAmericawouldratherenduretheseevilsthanbedeprivedofthepleasureofelectingtheirPresidentthemselves。Thealternateremedy,sofarasIcansee,istoextendthepresidentialtermto,say,sixorsevenyears,withoutanychanceofare-election。

  Ifthisproposalwereadopted,thePresidentwouldbemorefreeandindependent,hewouldnotbehauntedbythebugbearoflosinghispositionbytemporarilydispleasinghispoliticalfriends,hecouldgivehisundividedattention,ashecannotdonow,tofederalaffairs,andworkwithoutbiasorfear,andwithoutinterruption,forthewelfareofhisnation。Hewouldhavemorechanceofreallydoingsomethingforhiscountrywhichwasworthwhile。

  Afurtheradvantageisthatthecountrywouldnotbesofrequentlytroubledwiththeturmoilandexcitementarisingfromthepresidentialelection。

  IfIwereallowedtoprophecy,IshouldsaythattheyoungRepublicofChina,profitingbytheexperiencesofFranceandAmerica,willmostlikelyadopttheFrenchsystemofelectingitsPresident,ordevelopasystemsomewhatsimilartoit。

  OneofthedefectsintheAmericanwayofgovernmentisthespoilssystem,inaccordancewiththemaxim,\"Tothevictorbelongsthespoils。\"

  ThenewPresidenthastherightofdismissingalargenumberoftheholdersofFederalOffices,andtoappointintheirplaceshisfriends,ormenofhispartywhohaverendereditservices,orwhohaveotherwisebeeninstrumentalingettinghimelected。

  Iamtoldthatthousandsofofficialsareturnedoutinthiswayeveryfouryears。PresidentJacksonintroducedthepractice,andalmosteverysucceedingPresidenthascontinuedit。

  Thisspoilssystemhasbeenadoptedbyalmosteverystateandmunicipality;

  itformsindeedthecorner-stoneofpracticalpoliticsintheUnitedStates。

  Ineverycountry,allovertheworld,therearecaseswherepositionsandplacesofemolumenthavebeenobtainedthroughinfluentialfriends,buttodismisspublicservantswhoaredoingusefulwork,fornobetterreasonthansimplytomakeroomforothers,isverybadforthecivilservice,andforthecountryitserves。

  Attemptstoremedytheseevilshavebeenmadewithinrecentyearsbytheintroductionofwhatiscalled\"CivilServiceReform\",bywhichacandidateisappointedtoapostafteranexamination,andthetermofhisserviceisfixed。Ifthisistobestrictlyadheredtoinallcases,thePresidentwillbe,toagreatextent,deprivedofthemeansofrewardinghispoliticalfriends。

  InthatcaseIdoubtiftheprofessionalpoliticiansandwirepullerswillbesoactiveandarduousastheyhavehithertobeen,asthechiefaiminsecuringtheelectionofthenomineewillhavebeentakenaway。

  GreatcreditisduetoPresidentTaftforhiscourageandimpartiality,inthatafterassumingthedutiesofthehighofficetowhichhewaselected,hegaveappointmentstomenaccordingtotheirability,irrespectiveofpartyclaims,andevenwentsofarastoinviteoneortwogentlemenofknownability,whobelongedtotheoppositeparty,tobecomemembersofhisCabinet。

  InAmericamenarenotanxiousforofficialoffices。

  Menpossessingtalentandability,withbusinessacumen,areingreatdemand,andcandistinguishthemselvesintheirseveralprofessionsinvariousways;

  theycaneasilyattainapositionofwealthandinfluence,andsosuchmenkeepoutofpolitics。Itmustnot,however,beinferredfromthisthatthegovernmentofficialsinAmericaareincompetent。

  OnthecontraryIgladlytestifyfrommypersonalexperiencethattheworkdonebythemisnotonlyefficient,butthat,takenasawhole,theycomparemostfavorablywithanyotherbodyofgovernmentofficialsinEurope。Still,onaccountofthesmallsalariespaid,itisnottobewonderedatthatexceptionallygoodmencannotbeinducedtoacceptofficialpositions。IhaveknownseveralCabinetMinisterswho,afterholdingtheirofficesfortwoorthreeyears,wereobligedtoresignandresumetheirformerbusiness,andaPresidenthasbeenknowntoexperiencegreatdifficultyingettinggoodandcompetentmentosucceedthem。

  TheseremarksdonotapplytothePresident,notbecausethePresident\'ssalaryislarge,forcomparedwithwhatEuropeanKingsandEmperorsreceiveitisverysmall,butbecausethepositionis,farandaboveanyother,thelargestgiftthepeoplecanbestow。Noonehaseverbeenknowntorefuseapresidentialnomination。Ibelieveanyonetowhomitwasofferedwouldalwaysgladlyacceptit。IhaveconversedwithsomeinAmericawhotoldmethattheywereheirsapparenttotheWhiteHouse,andsotheyare,fortheyarejustaseligiblecandidatesfortheposition,asistheCrownPrincetosucceedtoathroneinanyEuropeancountry。

  Evenaladywasoncenominatedasapresidentialcandidate,althoughshedidnotobtainmanyvotes。

  OneofthethingswhicharousesmyadmirationisthedueobservancebythepeopleoftheexistinglawsandtheConstitution。

  Everyoneobeysthem,fromthePresidenttothepedler,withoutanyexception。

  Sometimes,however,byatoostrictandtechnicalinterpretationofthelaw,itworksahardship。Letmequoteacase。AccordingtoArticle1,Section6,oftheConstitution,\"noSenatororRepresentativeshall,duringthetimeforwhichhewaselected,beappointedtoanycivilofficeundertheauthorityoftheUnitedStates,whichshallhavebeencreated,ortheemolumentswhereofshallhavebeenincreased,duringsuchtime。\"

  AcertainSenatorwasappointedbythePresidenttoaCabinetoffice,butithappenedthatthesalaryattachedtothatofficehadbeenraisedduringthetimehewasintheSenate,andsoitwasheldthathecoulddrawonlythesalarywhichwasallowedbeforehebecameaSenator,andthathewasnotentitledtotheincreasewhichwassanctionedbyCongresswhilehewasintheSenate,althoughatthetimehehadnottheslightestnotionthattheincreasewouldeveraffecthisownpocket。

  TherelationofthestatestotheFederalGovernmentispeculiarandunique。

  IwillillustratemypointbycorrectingamistakeoftenmadebyforeignersinregardtothedifferentprovincesofChina。ItisgenerallyassumedbyWesternwritersthateachprovinceinChinaisself-governed,andthattheprovincialauthoritiesactindependentlyandindefianceoftheinjunctionsofthePekingGovernment。Thefacts,however,arethatuntiltheestablishmentoftheRepublic,alltheofficialsintheProvinceswereappointedorsanctionedbythePekingGovernment,andthatbyanImperialdecreeevenaViceroyorGovernorcould,atanymoment,bechangedordismissed,andthatnoimportantmattercouldbetransactedwithouttheImperialsanction。HowdoesthiscomparewiththestatesinAmerica?EveryAmericanboaststhathisstateisindependentoftheFederalGovernment。Allofficials,fromtheGovernordownward,are,ineverystate,electedbythepeople。EachstateisprovidedwithaLegislatureconsistingofaSenateandaHouseofRepresentatives,alsoelectedbythepopularvote。Thestatehasverylarge,andalmostabsolute,legislativeandexecutivepowers,andiscompetenttodealwithallmattersnotreservedbytheConstitutionfortheFederalGovernment。Eachstateisalsoindependentofeveryotherstate。Thecriminalandcivillaws,includingallmatterspertainingtothetransferofandthesuccessiontoproperty,aswellasmarriage,divorceandfiscallaws,arewithinthescopeofthestateadministrations。Theauthoritiesofeachstatenaturallydotheirbesttomaketheirownstateaspopulousandprosperousaspossible。Thusinsomestatesthelawsconcerningdivorce,corporations,andlandedproperty,aremorefavorablethaninotherstates。

  Aperson,forexample,unabletoobtainadivorceinhisownstate,can,withoutdifficulty,attainhisobjectinanotherstate。

  Whatisexpresslyprohibitedbystatuteinonestatemaybeperfectlylegitimateintheneighboringstate。

  Itisthesamewiththelocaltaxes;feesandtaxesarenotuniform;

  inonestatetheyareheavy,whileinanothertheyarecomparativelylight。

  AstrangerwouldnaturallybesurprisedtofindsuchaconditionofthingsinagreatnationlikeAmerica,andwouldwonderhowthemachineryofsuchagovernmentcanworksowell。Neverthelesshewillfindthateverythinggoesonsmoothly。Thiscanbeexplainedonlybythefactthattheinhabitantsofonestateoftenremovetootherstates,andbycommercialandotherdealingsandsocialassociationstheymixtogether,sothat,notwithstandingthedissimilarityofconditionsindifferentstates,thepeopleeasilyadaptthemselvestothelocalsurroundings,and,sofarasIcanfind,nofrictionorquarrelhaseverarisenbetweentwostates。However,woulditnotbebetterforallthestatestoappointaninterstatecommitteetoreviseandcodifytheirlawswithaviewtomakingthemuniform?

  ForeignerslivinginAmericasometimesfindthemselvesatadisadvantage,owingtothestatebeingindependentofthecontroloftheFederalGovernment。

  Thispointcanbebetterillustratedbyacasewhichhappenedsomeyearsagoinoneofthestates。Aforeigner,whowasthesubjectofaEuropeancountry,wasattackedbyamob,andhispropertydestroyed。Helaidhiscomplaintbeforethelocalauthorities,butitappearedthathecouldnotobtaintheredresshesought。Hisconsuldidallhecouldforhimbyappealingtothelocalauthorities,butwithoutsuccess;

  finallythematterwasreportedtohisambassadorinWashington,whoimmediatelyinterestedhimselfintheaffairandbroughtitbeforetheSecretaryofState。TheSecretary,aftergoingintothefactsofthecase,saidthatallhecoulddowastowritetotheGovernorofthatstateandrequesthimtotakethematterup,buttheGovernor,forsomereasonorother,didnottakeanysuchactionaswouldhavegivensatisfactoryredresstotheforeigner。

  HisambassadormadefrequentappealstotheSecretaryofState,buttheSecretarywaspowerless,astheConstitutiondoesnotempowertheFederalGovernmenttointerfereinstatematters。

  ThisseemsablemishintheadministrationofforeignaffairsintheUnitedStatesofAmerica。Supposeaforeignershouldbeill-treatedormurderedinastate,andnoproperredressbegiven,theFederalGovernmentcannotsenditsofficerstoarresttheculprit。

  AllitcandoistoasktheGovernorofthatstatetotakeaction,andifhefailtodosothereisnoremedy。Fortunatelysuchacaserarelyhappens,butforthemoreefficientcarryingonoftheirstateaffairs,isitnotbetterinspecialcasestoinvesttheFederalGovernmentwithlargerpowersthanthoseatpresentpossessedbyit?

  Iamawarethatthisopensupaseriousquestion;thatCongresswillbeveryreluctanttoconferontheFederalGovernmentanypowertointerfereinthestateaffairs,knowingthatthestateswouldnottoleratesuchaninterference;butasthereisalargeandeverincreasingnumberofaliensresidingintheUnitedStates,itnaturallyfollowsthatriots,andchargesofilltreatmentofforeignersnowandthendooccur。

  Nowstateofficialscan,asarule,betrustedtodealwiththesemattersfairly,butwherelocalprejudiceagainstaclassofaliensrunshigh,isitnotadvisabletoleavetotheFederalofficials,whoaredisinterested,thesettlementofsuchcases?Forthesakeofcordialforeignrelations,andtoavoidinternationalcomplications,thispoint,Iventuretosuggest,shouldbeseriouslyconsideredbytheFederalandtheStateGovernments。

  Thequestionastowhatformofgovernmentshouldbeadoptedbyanycountryisnoteasytodecide。ThepeopleofAmericawouldnodoubtclaimthattheirsystemisthebest,whilethepeopleofthemonarchialgovernmentsinEuropewouldmaintainthattheirsispreferable。Thisismostlyamatterofeducation,andpeoplewhohavebeenaccustomedtotheirownformofgovernmentnaturallylikeitbest。

  Therearecommunitieswhohavebeenlongaccustomedtotheoldsystemofmonarchialgovernment,withtheirancienttraditionsandusages。

  Thereareothercommunities,withadifferentpoliticalatmosphere,whereallthepeopleshareinthepublicaffairsofState。

  Itwouldbemanifestlyimpropertointroduceademocraticgovernmentamongtheformer。Itwouldnotsuittheirtastesnorfitinwiththeirideas。

  Whatisgoodforonenationisnotnecessarilygoodforanother。

  Eachsystemofgovernmenthasitsgoodpoints,providedthattheyarefaithfullyandjustlycarriedout。Theaimtosecurethehappinessandcomfortofthepeopleandtopromotethepeaceandprosperityofthenationshouldalwaysbekeptinview。

  Aslongastheseobjectscanbesecureditdoesnotmattermuchwhetherthegovernmentismonarchial,republican,orsomethingelse。

  ItmaypertinentlybeaskedwhyChinahasbecomeaRepublic,sincefromtimeimmemorialshehashadamonarchialformofgovernment。

  TheansweristhattheconditionsandcircumstancesinChinaarepeculiar,andaredifferentfromthoseprevailinginJapanandothercountries。

  InJapanitisclaimedthattheEmpirewasfoundedbythefirstEmperor,JummuTenno,660B。C。andthatthedynastyfoundedbyhimhascontinuedeversince。ItiswellknownthattheChineseImperialfamilyisofManchuorigin。TheChingdynastywasfoundedin1644byconquest,notbysuccession。UpontherecentoverthrowoftheManchudynastyitwasfoundverydifficulttofindaChinese,howeverpopularandable,whopossessedthelegalrightofsucceedingtothethrone。

点击下载App,搜索"America Through the Spectacles",免费读到尾