The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-01-12

while the foreign legations had re-
ceived anonymous letters warning
them Of approaching revolution. The
delegates held a meeting and decided
that fifteen Of their number should
remain in Pekin. The remainder,
about q hundred. returned to their
homes.
In the meantime steps had been t.
ken to call In assembly destined to
succeed where the delegates had fail
ed. The nine year program provided
for the Inauguration during the third
year Of a national assembly to meet
at Pekin and to serve az a training
ground for the future parliament. Ac-
cordingly, on March IL. 1910, the cleo
ton of members began, and on May
5, 1910, an edict was issued giving Z
list OF those nominated by tbs throne.
Further, the assembly wa brought
together as an advisory body pure and
simple. This was clearly laid down in
its regulations and was emphasized:
by the prince regent when he opened
the assembly Oct. 3, the underlying
theory Of his speech being that what
ever measure of popular government
the throne had decided to allow was
granted as . gift and not as q right.
The entire session. however, was q
fiat contradiction Of this theory. On
Oct. ~ the assembly appointed I com
mite OF six to draft q memorial de-
handing an earlier convocation Of
parliament.
The confidence Of tho assembly
knew no bounds. and It proceeded frst
to impeach the grand councillors, and
next to demand the formation Of q re-
sponsible cabinet. The impeachment
failed, but the demand for a cabinet
succeeded. On Dec. Is. a few days
before the assembly was dissolved. an
edict ordered a cabinet to be formed.
In May. 1911, the cabinet came into
existence and article II Of It's consti-
tuition stated that laws, imperial
.rescripts. and imperial edicts having
reference to state affairs shall b.
countersigned by all the ministers OF
state"
The Revolution.
The meeting Of the national assem-
bly, this year has coincided 80 APPLY
with the outbreak Of revolution that
there is good reason for supposing that
the two events were planned to take
place simultaneously. Be that 40 Il
may. the immediate occasion Of rebel
lion was the edict Of May 9 last ma
tionalizing all the trunk railways. The
railway question had been an acute
one v e since June, 1909. when three
financial groups, the Deutsch-Asia-
tische bank. the Hongkong and Shan
ghai bank and the Banque de Undo
Chine. made a preliminary agreement
with the late grand councillor, Chang
Chih-tung. to lend the Chinese gov.
eminent $27. 500, 900 to enable It e
build q railway from Canton to Han
kow and from Hankow to IchAng. Ow-
ing to various difficulties the loan
hung IRE till May last year, whom II
was finally arranged and signed.
The government appeared to DO ret
ting the rebellion In hand, when on
Oct. IL news reached Pekin that WI
chang, which Is just opposite Hankow.
had been captured By rebels and that
the viceroy had ned. On tho follow
ing day Hanyang vas taken. together
with the arsenal In Hankow. and Il
became clear that the long expected
anti-Manchu revolution had at last
broken out under the military leader
ship Of Brig. Gen. IA Yuan Hong, Z ma
tive Of Hupeh, educated IN Tientsin.
and the civilian leadership Of Huane
Tanghauling, president Of tho Hupeh
provincial assembly. and Sunyu. broth
or Of Dr.. Sun Vat Sen. the famous
Cantonese revolutionary.
With extraordinary raptdtty tn
torch Of revolution has beon han6o6
from province to province. and 49,
flares from nearly every city ok
p~ortance. In the midst Of these
tho national aseozASly
through them. to rsvolu1lo
have been able e Snatch oyIl1I10e
tigs q power Ire -