首页 >出版文学> America Through the Spectacles>第2章
  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。