St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-11-08
Constitution for China.

revolution has been in progress for
several weeks in China that prom
ises results in the worlds history.
The revolution is the result of
Cinnamon going into foreign lands
especially America, to study con-
ditions and their requirement of
modern ideas. Returning to their
native land they have advocated re-
forms and a breaking away from
the dynastic evils from which the
country is suffering. Their doctrines
found such support that armed
bands of citizens broke into open
rebellion against the present Man
chu dynasty. Several battles have
been fought with the regular army
of the Empire and in nearly every
successful. They have seized sew
eral important cities and installed
temporary governments therein to
the great satisfaction of the inhab-
itants. So successful have they
been that last week the govern
ment granted a truce in military OPP
erations and appointed a new pre-
mier to draw new plan of govern
ment granting some of the reforms
demanded by the people.
On Friday last the national as
sembly at Pekin completed a draft
of the basis upon which it is pro
posed to construct a new cOnstitu-
ton for China and the throne i'm
mediately accepted it. The draft
contained these important pro-
visions:-
The emperor shall reign forever.
The power of the emperor shall be
limited by the constitution.
The order of succession to the
throne shall be prescribed by the
constitution.
The constitution shall be drawn
UP and adopted by the national as
sembly and promulgated by the EN-
peror.
The power of amending the consti
tuition shall belong to Parliament.
The members of the upper hous'
shall be elected by the people iron
among those particularly eligible.
Parliament shall elect and thu
emperor shall appoint the premier
who will recommend the other mem
bers of the cabinet, who shall ais
be appointed by the emperor. Tn
imperial princes will be ineligible TO
the Office of premier or members O
the cabinet, or administrative head
of the provinces.
ImDerial DEGREES cannot be issue
to replace the law except in the even
of urgent necessity, in which cas-
they may be issued in accordanc
with special conditions.
International treaties shall not b
concluded without consent of Parlit
ment, but a treaty for the conclusio
of peace or a declaration Of war ma
be made by the emperor, if Parli;
ment is not sitting, the approx;
of Parliament to be obtained afte
ward.
In case the financial budget fai
to receive the approval OF Par1
ment, the government may not
upon the budget of the previous, II
any items of expenditure not provl
ed for in the budget, be append
thereto. The government shall
adopt extraordinary financial mee
ures outside the budget.
Parliament SndII llA Cu0 SAP0hH
of the imperial household and a
increase or decrease therein.
Regulations in connection WI
the imperial family must not &C
fiict with the constitution.
The two houses shall establish
machinery for the administration
the court.
Compared with a republic thu
conditions are not especially libe
but when compared with other c.
stitutional monarchies it must
admitted the Chinese have been VI
successful in curbing the powers {
abuses of the dynasty. 1t she
that the Chinese people are v
qualified to govern themselves
have really become a progressive ;
liberal nation This means a ces
ton of the extortions to support
dynasty and a government resp
sible to the people within the emp
In the world development it me
new power, one of the great
committed to the cause of popl
government. Future dealings Y
China by outside nations must
made with a nation instead of
emperor. Therefore China will
more formidable and its rights W
in the empire treated with more