Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-12
MANCHUS FORCED
To ADVOCATE:
Edict Issued Today.-R Family to
Exercise Spiritual Influence n
in New Republic. ~.
YUAN SHI KAI TO BE PRESIDENT
GInim:.t0:baof Divine RIrth--
Driven Ont Of CHINA 1000 Years Ago
Alter Bloody Struggle.

| = -
! " announcing the abdication of The
| throne was ISSUED To-Day by Yuan
Shi Kai. who had the imperial order
in his possession for more than Il
week.
The premier had been notified that
he should not make the edicl public
until he was satisfied that he had
enough Chinese soldiers in the CAPT
tai 10 protect the royal family from
The Manchus. who threatened them
with death if they surrendered TO
the revolutOnistS Several detach-
mcniS OF troops reached the capital
today. and The premier believed that
he had enough soldiers 10 cope with
the ManchuS.
In the edict. the word abdication
was carefully omitted. 1t was simply
stated that The imperial family had
decided to discontinue exercising
governmental powers and would con-
fine its future efforts merely TO spir-
ilual matters.
Although The Mongol princes were
most bitter against ahdicatiOn they
were said 10 have finally consented
when the other members Of the i'm
pcrial clan assured them that Yuan
Sh kai would be elected president
and they would be shown sycry cOur-
trSy by him.
After The cdict was issued. howcr
or, they were asSailed with misgiv-
ings. and wired pr. Sun Yat Sen.
ihat unless Yuan hceda1
tho new government they would re-
Sist the republic to the end.
At Il late hour today il had not
been finally decided whether the
members OF the royal family would
remain in Pckin or retire 10 one Of
the summer palaces It was regard
ed us likely. though. thai they would
stay in Pckin. unless it, was believed
that there was danger OF an outbreak
against them by members OF their
own race. who are very bitter over
the abdication edicr.
The abdication of Pu wi. son OF
heaven" marked another climax in
the series of struggles that have
ragged between AIanchns and Chinese
for many centuries.
The ManchuS are Of ancient origin
and legend has il that the founder Of
he race was of divine birth. Their
first ruler was Aisin Gioro. who NAM
ed his dynasty Manchu. or pure"
Early in the early l000s they were
driven out OF China proper after 4 !
bloody conflict. They established !
themselves on the Liao-Tung pcnin- !
sula and vowed eternal hatred for the /;
Celestals 10 the south For six CEN
turtles the Manchus nursed their
wrath and then came their time to !
strike. Tsung-Cheng. emperor of
China assembled The throne in l62I |;
The country was torn with diSScn- |
ton. The revolution broke out in !
the north and west. Two rebel lead /;
ers. Ii Use Cheng and Shang no Hi |
agreed 10 divide the empire between
them. and they led their troops TO,
Pekin. A treacherous eunich opened
the gates and the government forces
fed. Emperor Tsung Cheng commit
Ted suicide. His son was proclaimed
emperor and attempted to resist the
victorious rebels but the task was
so hopeless that he instructed his
general in the north to appeal to the
Manchus.
The Walls Of Tartar wrath. which
had been filled 10 overlooking by the
long wait for revenge. were outpour-
cd. They sent an army into China.
routed the rebels and then seized the
throne. 4 son of Tien Ming, the
Tartar chieftain. was made emperor.
He called his dynasty Ta-Ching-Choa.
meaning The great pure dynasty.
Until recent revolutions. the des-
cendants of Tien Ming sat upon the
throne and subjected the hated Chin
csc to every humiliation.
Pu Wi. the baby emperor was the
tenth OF the line.
Nankin. Feb. 1.-THE imperialist
soldiers upder Gen. Chang Hsun were
led into a trap today by the rcpubG-
can troops in Anhwei province and
sutfered enormous losses.
The republicans miped the ground
in front of theiE fortress and 'hsn
mpds a fStat Ut rs&sarflg.