清末的言论结社集会自由

Freedom of Speech,Association and Assembly in Late Qing Dynasty

清末预备立宪以后,为了约束人民的言论与政治活动,清政府颁布了《结社集会律》和《报律》。人民强烈反对某些规定,清政府和资政院又加以修改。有的官僚往往封杀报纸或解散社团,摧残与维护言论结社集会自由的斗争时有发生。但从实际情况看,《报律》为国人办报创造了较为宽松的社会政治环境。其明显突出的表现,一为注册登记手续极其简单,二为言论相当自由。《结社集会律》打破了严禁结社集会的禁网,只要不是以武力推翻清王朝为目的的革命党和秘密组织,一切公开的政党和团体均取得了合法存在的权利。对人数的限制也被突破。不过,一旦民众的行动超越了执政者的容忍极限,他们就下令禁止。皇族内阁更加专制暴虐,违法剥夺民权,结果引起辛亥革命,葬送了清王朝。

Following the Preparations for Constitutionalism in the late Qing Dynasty, the Qing government enacted Law for Assembly and Association（集会结社律）and Newspaper Law（报律） in order to restrict the opinion and political activity of people. Encountering strong opposition from the general public, the Qing government and Advisory Council had to make some changes to the laws, but some bureaucrats still engaged in closing newspapers and dissolving associations frequently. However, the Newspaper Law did provide a relatively favorable sociopolitical environment for ordinary people to run a newspaper, which can be demonstrated in the simplification of registration and the freedom of speech. The Law for Assembly and Association lifted the ban on assembly and association. As long as the revolutionary parties and organizations were not aimed at overthrowing the Manchu rule, they would obtained legitimate status. Moreover, there were no strict limitations on the membership. However, once the activities went so far beyond what the ruler could tolerate, they would be prohibited. Under such circumstances, the imperial cabinet became more and more autocratic and tyrannical, depriving people of civil rights arbitrarily. Ultimately, the outbreak of the Revolution of 1911 put an end to the Qing Dynasty.