The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-04
CHINESE REBELS WIN.
EMPEROR PROMISES CHINESE
COMPLETE CONSTITUTIONAL
RULE.
imperial Trops I'm Possession of Han
kow, Are in God Position to Make
Sudden Descent on WI Chang,
Rebels Stronghold. .-e =


Pekins. Oct. so.-The demand Of
the national assembly for a complete
constitutional government has been
acceded to by the throne. An i'm
perial edict was Issued today ap olog.
king for the past neglect of the
throne and granting an immediate
constitution with cabinet from
which mobiles shall be excluded. A
second edict grants pardon to politi-
cal offenders connected with the rev.
olution of 1898 and subsequent rev.
oiutions and to those compelled to
join In the present rebellion. The i'm
perial edict which IL from the hand
of the emperor. Hsuan Tung, says:
II have reigned three years and
have always acted conscientiously in
the interest Of the people. But / have
not employed men properly. as / am
without political skill. have EN- !.
ployed too many mobiles In political
positions which centravenes consti-
tuionalism.
"On railway matters one whom I
trusted deceived me. Hence public
opinion was antagonixed. When I
urged reform. officials and the gentry
seized the opportunity to- embezzle.
Much of the peoples money has been
taken. but nothing to benefit the peo-
pie has been accomplished.
"On several occasi ons edicts have
promulgated laws. but none Of them
has been obeyed. The people ara
grumbling why do not know. Dis
aster looms ahead, but I do not see."
After referring to uprisings in va
rious places the edict continues:
''The whole empire is seething. The
spirits Of our nine deceased emperors
are unableto enjoy the sacrifices
properly. while 1t is feared that the
people will suffer grievously.
All these things- -are my own fault,
and l hereby announce to the world
that l swear to reform and with our
soldiers and people to carry out the
constitution faithfully. modifying leg
islation. promoting the interests OF
the people and abolishing their hard
ships all In accordance with their
wishes and their interest.
"The old laws that are unsuitable
will be abolished. The union Of the
Manchus and Chinese mentioned by
the late emperor' I shall carry out
now. Even II we unite I still fear
that we may fall. II the emperor do
not regard and do not honor fate and
the people be easily misled by outlaws
then the future OF China is unthink-
able. / am most anxious day and
night. My only hope Is that my sub
1ects will thoroughly understand"
The throne promises to organize a
cabinet without mobiles forthwith. The
Manchu prince. shi Hsu. president of
the assembly. Is permitted to resign.
the Chinese. Ii CHA Chu. succeeding
him. The Manchu. Kuei Chun, min
lister OF constabulary. has been re-
moved.
The lines around Peking are tight
ening. While there is no great panic
among the higher classes and the for
eigners there has been a perceptible
Transforming everywhere.
Strong detachments Of troops guard
the palace and the gates Of the city,
but while the throne has made haste
60 comply with the demands Of the
10000 soldiers Of the Third and
Twentieth divisions and the Sec ond
mixed brigade composing the imperial
troops for the Yang-Tse campaign. 1t
can not be said that Peking Is safe
from attack.
At Tien Tsln today the foreign
troops marched around the conces-
sion to impress the natives with their
numbers. The customs commissioner
received letter signed by Shuh Yen
Fang In behalf Of the Tien Tsin
branch OF the revolutionary commit
tee. announcing It's intention soon to
take possession OF both Tien Tsin and
Peking.