The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-22
Tho Revolution In China.

Events continue to move rapidly
IN China what seemed to be long
!, v(sp In the direction OF constitution
alism vss taken on November 3,
when the national assembly COM
plated draft OF the basis upon
, which II proposed to construct the
new constitution OF the empire and
submitted II to the throne. which i'm
nsdlatsly accepted It, In this draft
the retention OF the imperial Office
and thn present dynasty Is made u
feature. though the powers Of the Of
nee are limited. II Is declared.S for
lnstsace. that the emperor shall
Nrsstgn forever and that person Of the
N Ching dynasty shall be emperor
lfnviolable. but Il Is provided that the
power OF the emperor shall be lin
lied by the constitution; that the or
DER OF succession to the throne
shall be- prescribed therein: that the
parliament shall hx the expenses OF
the imperial household and any in
crease or decrease therein; that reg
ulAttons In connection with the i'm
ptrial family must not conflict With
the constitution. and that the two
pouses OF parliament shall establish
the machinery for the administration
of the court. The emperor Is to be
given direct control Of the army and
navy. but Il is provided that when his
powcr over the public forces Is used
IN connection with internal affairs
the emperor must observe special
conditions to be decided by the par
hamcnt ," Il is provided that im-
peral dscrbes cannot De issued 10 re.
place The law except IN the event ~
urgent necessity In which case they
may DO issued IN accordance with
special conditions The treaty power
of the monarch is also limited. Il
being provided that international
treaties shall not be concluded with
out tho consent of the parliament.
though a treaty for the conclusion OF
peace or a declaration OF war may
DO made by the emperor II the par
hauient is not sitting. subject to
subsequent ratification by that body.
4, The provisions OF the draft touch
ing the constitution and powers of
the parliament are not complete. but
'suficient Is expressed to Indicate
tkat the control of tho legislative
body over governmental affairs is
Intended TO be very comprehensive. |
II Is provided that the members of
the upper house shah be elected by
the people from among those par
ticuiariy eligible. but nothing Is said
about the composition Of the lower
house. The weighty power-ail-im-
portant at the present juncture-- Of
amending the constitution Is to be-
Ions TO the parliament. which body
u 20 5;sct. while the emperor Is To
arrclnt the premier. The latter Of
ncinl n to recommend the other
members OF the cabinet. who will he
appointed by the emperor. Incident
ally. IL is provided that the imperial
princes will be Ineligible for the Of
nee OF premier. and cannot be MEM
bcrs OF the cabinet or administrative
heac9 OF provinces. The premier Is
subject TO impeachment. In which
event. II he does not dissolve par
iiament. he must resign. One cab
met. however. ls not To- be permitted
to Dissolve parliament more than
once. All ordinances In connection
WITH the administration are To- ne
settled by acts Of parliament. The
provisions regarding the financial
administration are not clear. In
case the budget fails TO receive the
approval Of parliament. II Is provid-
cd tho government may not act upon
the budget OF the previous year. nor
may items Of expenditure not pro-
vided for I'm the budget be appended
thereto. and the government IL not
To be permitted To adopt extraordin-
airy measures outside the budget.
ON the day these bases OF the con-
stitution were drawn up and accept
ed a was announced that a committee
OF the national assembly would be