论清末立宪从官制改革入手之误

The mistake in constitutional reform beginning with reform of bureaucratic institution in the late Qing Dynasty

晚清政府欲从改革官制入手推动立宪,结果官制改革遭遇了来自官僚群体的强大阻力,在最高统治者慈禧立场转变之后,官制改革无可避免地走向龙头蛇尾的结局。虽有改变,但根本未动,效果有限,非但不能廓清积弊,反使积弊愈积愈多,愈演愈烈。龙头蛇尾的官制改革重挫晚清政府的统治威信,使其立宪之路更加艰难,自救的机会更为渺茫。清末立宪首先应做的不是改革官制,而是开议院,扩大政治参与,增强改革的力量。立宪从官制入手,无议院为助力,官制难改,立宪难行;立宪从开议院入手,先有议院,则官制可改,立宪可行。

The late Qing government attempted to take constitutional reform from the beginning of reform ofbureaucratic institution. However, the reform of bureaucratic institution encountered obstruction from officials, in theend, when CiXi didn’t support the reform firmly, the reform of bureaucratic institution ended hastily. The prestige ofQing government suffered a serious blow from the unsatisfactory reform, which made constitutional reform moredifficult. What the late Qing government should do was not to reform of bureaucratic institution, but to conveneparliament to expand political participation. In a word, it is difficult for constitutional reform to begin with the reform ofbureaucratic institution, the best way should have begun with convening parliament.