薛福成:从洋务派到早期维新派——以《出使四国日记》为中心

Xue Fucheng:From Westernizers to the Early Reformers——Focus on the Diary of an Envoy of Four Countries

出使生涯对薛福成从洋务派向维新派的转变起了很关键的作用,其出使经历中的见闻、感悟大多被他记录在《出使四国日记》之中。通过对西方近代工商业的探究,薛福成深感发展商业对国家实现富强的作用;薛福成还亲身体验了近代民主政治制度,接触到了"议院"这个概念,提倡在国内实行君主立宪制,创办私营企业,学习近代民主政治,这表明薛福成转变为早期维新派。对近代工商业和民主政治的体验和考察是薛福成思想发生转变的重要原因。但是早期维新派自身的局限性使薛福成的思想中也有不少幼稚之处。

The envoy of four counties plays an important role in Xue Fucheng＇s life, changing from the Westernizers to the Early Reformers, he recorded his experience in the Diary of An Envoy of Four Countries. According to his research on the modern industry and commerce, he felt the significance of develo- ping commercial. He also experienced the modern democratic system , removing the concept of the congress, advocating constitutional monarchy in the Qing government, founded private enterprises, studying modern democratic policy, all this above showed that Xue Fucheng has changed to a reformer. His study about modern industry and commerce and democratic system were the reasons that caused his changing. However, because of the disadvantages of reformers, there were some childish in his ideas.