New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-25
PICKING ON THE BRINK
Of MOMENTOUS CHANGE
Emperor Promulgates Text OF
Nineteen Articles Of Pro-
posed Constitution.
SHIP OF STATE DRIFTING
Yuan Shin -kai, from His House in
a Side Street, Exercises What
Remains of the Execu-
tive Authority.

tBy the Regular Correspondent OF The l''ou"o
I'm Pekngl
PekinC Nov Pin the sacred precincts
~ the forbidden City the Prince Regent
., the F>npire on behalf Of the boy En-
neror. stood in the Imperial Ancestral
Temple Yesterday and swore 10 support inc
constitution which the throne was recently
torc.d nrecipitously TO grant. 1t will be "A
memorable day in the history OF China'
,,r,e.s nerchance. the Manchus are driven
ont of their empire, when all their edlcts
and oaths and official actions will have ou'
little importance Nothing Of similar po-
utical significance and import has nap
pened in China during the Manchu regime
for the fact Of the Manchu Emperor giving
oath TO support measure demanded by
the people. and put through by the force OF
rebel arms, is unprecedented. 1t was
swearing away the power Of centuries ana
left the throne with but the mere form ~
its power and glory.
The taking OF the oath in this impress
siye fashion, impressive TO tremendous
extent with Chinese, is designed to make
The people feel that at last the throne Is
sincere in its desires 10 give the people
what they want 1t is likewise final
drastic effort 10 retain the throne for the
Nanchus even though the rulers be absO-
b,telv under the control Of the people
Hitherto the Chinese have placed little
faith in imperial promises. That IS one Oh
the reasons for the present revolt Inc
throne has time and again promised 10
grant reforms and better the condition OF
the Leople, but these promises have never
been carried out The taking Of the oath
before the ancestral shrine the Manchus
hope and feel will tend to strengthen their
position with the people Of the empire Tor
this ancestor worshipping people VIII be-
Neve that this oath will be respected
There are many, however. who think that
this action, like so many others which have
been taken during the last few weeks, has
come too late and that the feeling for the
elimination Of The Manchus is TOO strong
TO be downed in this fashion.
In the Forbidden City.
The oath was taken at 10 o'clock in the
morning. The boy Emperor. the Prince
Regent. premier Yuan Shihkai, the i'm
perfal princes. ministers Of state and high
officials assembled in the Imperial Ances-
trail Temple, the most sacred place within
the Forbidden City. Just what happened
will probably never be known, for foreign
ers were not permitted TO be present and
neither Chinese nor Manchus talk much
about these things. Following. however. is
tho official account Of the ceremony. 1t is
supposed TO be from the young Emperor
himself, although, Of course, II is not, on
account Of his infancy:
on the 9th day Of the 10th Moon of the Sd
Year Of Hsuan-Tung (NOv 26). We, Pu-Ai,
being in our infancy, the Prince Regent
Tsai-Chun, has charge Of the sacrihcial
ceremony. and takes solemn oath before
the Tablets Of our Imperial Ancestors,
Taitsu Kao Huangti and Empress.
Taichung Wen Huangti and Empress
Hsitsu chang Huangti and Empress.
Hsichung Hsen Huangti and Empress.
ksochung Chun Huangu and Empress
Jenchung Jul HuRngti and Empress
Hsuanchung Cheng Huangu and Empress.
WenChung Hsien Huangt and Empress
Muchung ~ Huangu and Empress.
our oath is as follows: Stree the establish
men Of Our Dynasty by Taitsu kao Huangu.
the successive reigns OF our Ancestors nave
occupied period OF wellnigh three nun
dred years. We, since our succession TO the
throne, have been exceedingly careful in
carrying out the intention of the preceding
Reign for the establishment or Constltu-
tionai Regime. We have tried our best 10
effect the progress OF the Nation ana nave,
day and night, deliberated over the scheme
we have not been successful in the selec-
ton of men I'm the administration or our
affairs. and the inadequacy OF our attempts
has brought about the disaffecuon OF Our
subjects toward Us. In about month
disturbances have been somewhat general
in the whole Empire and II is TO be feared
that the ever-continuance Of our Dynasty
might be interrupted. Indeed, Our fault Is
10 be- deeply regretted.
Now the members Of the TZu-Chang-
yuan, after consulting with the best prln-
Il ciples OF the various Constitutional Mon
N arches and In obedience to our established
W. regulations that no Prince Of the $1,000
IN should participate in political affairs. have.
aa fVoin drafted nineteen
tiCes OF fundamental Importance. The
other matters not being covered thereby
will be taken up in the drafting of the
Constitution which is to be compiled in a
speedy manner. They have also recon-
mended that the Imperial Parliament
should be speedily convened in order TO
conform 70 tie constitutional Regime. We,
abiding by the present circumstances. have
consented 10 carry all these out
We therefore take our oath before our
Imperial Ancestors that We and Our I'm
perial Descendants. shall, Jointly with Our
Ministers, soldiers and subjects, observe
these constitutional provisions and snail
never act in any manner in contraventiOn
thereto We hope that thereby We may al
lay the anxiety Of Our Ancestors VINO are
in Heaven and that We may satisfy the
expectation OF Our subjects through the
Empire. May our Ancestors bear witnesses
10 this. Our oath.
The nineteen articles Of great importance
and Our good faith are as follows;
Article 1.-The imperial line of success
petual without change.
Article 1.-THE person Of the Emperor
shall be sacred and inviOlable.
Article IlI-The powers Of the Emperor
shall he limited by the constitution.
Article lN.-The order Of the succession
20 the throne shall be settled by the con-
stitution
Article V.-The constitution shall be
drafted and passed by the parliament and
promulgated by the throne
Article NI.-Amendment Of the COnsttu-
tion shall be originated by the parliament
Article NII.-The members Of the upper
house of the parliament shalf be elected
ny the people from among the subjects OF
due qualifications as fixed by the law.
Article NIIl.-The Prime Minister shall
be elected by the parliament and appoint
ed by the Emperor: the other ministers OF
state shall he recommended by the Prime
Minister and also appointed by the EN-
peror; and no member of the imperial
family shall act as the Prime Minister, or
anv OF the other ministers OF state, or any
high official in the provinces.
Article lX.--When the Prime Minister
IS denounced by the parliament. either the
latter shall dissolve or the former resign
but there shall be no dissolution of two
parliaments successfully during the same
Cabinet.
Article X-The Emperor shall he the
commander I'm chief of the army and navy.
but no military or naval forces shall be
employed within the empire except in ac~
cordance with the rules specially provided
therefor by the parliament
Article XI.-No ordinance shall set aside
any law or anything settled by law, eX-