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Show fcHLNA'S NEW . I PARLIAMENT I I ftklag. May 2. China! new par: will, to be convened June 10, 1 eenslst of two bouses, the upper Vefto be composed of-18 mem-HE,' mem-HE,' SO of whom are to be elected H Mm different aationaf organlia-Heand organlia-Heand tbe other 138 by the prov-Hal prov-Hal electoral colleges, and the low-, H use of 401 members, one for Hty million of population. In re gard to the new parliament the Peking Pe-king Dally News says editorially: The adoption of the revised provisional provi-sional constitution and the Issue of presidential mandates fixing the date for the elections to the two houses of parliament clearly Indicate that within a very short time the country coun-try ,wjli nave a new legislature. It will be new in more senses .thus one. Not only will It be new la membership, member-ship, but It will be o-Iy a little more than half that or the unwieldy body twice sent 'about its business, and the basis of the franchise on which 11 r " It is to be elected will be slightly different. dif-ferent. The first difference Is one that has been effected in deference to general public opinion. The old bodies undoubtedly were tar too big for the effective transaction of business, busi-ness, and the result was that they actually transacted an irreducible minimum of business. The second is n difference that has been suggested sug-gested by the composition of the old legislature, and it Is to bo admitted that It will tend to make the body more conservative. This, however, is no disadvantage, for the late parliament par-liament was far too radical to be a safe body. The new body will not have quite the same powers in the drafting of the constitution as the old body bad, and this also Is a gain. It is almost without precedent for tbe legislature to be entrusted with the drafting of the constitution. It Is not, however. In the statutory differences that 'It may be anticipated anticipat-ed the chief change will be found. The new parliament will come Into being with all the advantages of the disastrous experience of a predecessor predeces-sor that had not the wisdom to learn from Its own mistakes and It is hardly hard-ly conceivable that the new body will be guilty of the same blunders. The country is In no mind for a repetition re-petition of the Inanities of the twice dismissed parliament, and It is to bo hoped that the country's temper will show itself In the elections. Even I from the most truculent parts it 'is not likely that very truculent members mem-bers will be elected, and If they are, they will probably find the general temper of the body In which they will sit different from their own. The Importance of the new legislature legis-lature it is impossible to overestimate. overesti-mate. Presidents may come and presidents pres-idents may go; prime ministers may follow their example; and cabinets may be as short lived tis they please, but In a democracy the main representative repre-sentative body Is the essential part of the national machinery. Its absence ab-sence for a short time may be unlm-' unlm-' portant, but it 'Is the one defense against a lapse Into unneltlgated autocracy, au-tocracy, and as such Is Indlspens-- Indlspens-- able: |