Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-09
CHINA As A REPUBLIC
Stable government Expected I'm
der Auspices If Yuan Shih-kai.
Hut Much IL to he DOnc-Ortle Must
he Restored In the Provinces nnd
Unrest in the North Must Bc
Stamped Ont.

Chinese ship of state, flying the flag of
the republic, with Yuan Shih-kal on the
bridge and n goodly sum of foreign cash
in the bunkers, with promises of more, IS
off under her own steam on what Is as
surcdlv one Of tho most interesting and
probably one of the most hazardous ex-
perimonts in government ever undertaken.
officials of all factions say that now that
Yuan Shih-kai has been inaugurated all
will 20 we'll and a stable government will
speedily be established This may he. but
few people believe that there will he
smooth sailing Already trouble is report
ed from various parts Of the country.
Unstable conditions exist In practically
all of the provinces. Tho north, hitherto
peaceful ANA quiet. is now seething with
unrest. which may break out into open
strife anywhere at any moment. The
men who looted Peliing have Travelled far
and wide. spreading their vicious dis
ease the news Of what they have done
has Travelled oven further and has caused
| similar outrages in dozens of places
These things must he Strengthened out
before hcadway toward stable government
may he made and there are thousands Of
other things 20 he done and undone. The
task of changing this government from
that of an absolute monarchy to that of
a republic Is how'ldering in it's bigness.
and is attended hv multitudinous dan
gers so apparent that successes will he OK
tremely difficult Of attainment and a
long. long time in coming. The mere mat
ter Of public of''ces-hcre as elsewhere--is
one charged with grave possibilities. The
old officials must give way to the new,
and there will be war among great
horde Of reformers and revolutionists
over political favors.
BEGIN DIFFICULT JOB WELL.
1t Is going to he a mighty hard job, but
the Chinese have taken the right first
step by putting Yuan-Shih-kai at the
head of the republic. This WAS done two
days ago. and now Yuan Is proceeding
vigorously with the organization of mis-
government. Tang Shao-yi, one of the
big figures Of events of the last few
months. is To be sworn in as premier, and
the cabinet will consist of representatives
of the government here and of the revo-
lutionary government in Marking. Every
one now talks of cooperation and accord,
and these essentials are apparent at the
dictionary party and Yuan Shih-kai seem
to be pulling together. How long they
will continue to do so is a question and
a serious one.
The ceremonial attending the Inaugural
ton Of Yuan Shih-kai was one of extreme
democratic simplicity. There was no ORR
entail splendor nothing brilliant and little
that was picturesque The days Of gor-
geous pageants and highly colored events
seem TO have passed with the casting Off
| of the picturesque official dress and the
substitution therefor OF the sombre. ugly.
and dull frock coat of the west, which,
at the ceremony Of two days ago all
officials who could obtain the proper gar
ments wore, with rather evident dscom-
| fort. More than one Chinese invited to
| the affair remained away because q
frock coat was unohtanable. Chinese
tailors who understand the making of
foreign clothes are having n busy time
The absence OF the queue from most
heads, including that OF Yuan Shh-kai.
| is another sign Of thc times. Tho Chinese
at least the official Chinese here in Pc
kings losing much of that which is
most attractive to foreigners, but per-
haps his change Of dress will work for
greater efficiency
| PANICKY TIME IN PEKING
Picking was not entirely comfortable on
the day of the inauguration. The city
was panicky. A little more than week
| had elapsed since the town had been
| thoroughly looted and martial law etill
prevailed. The very fact that Euan
Shih-kai was taking his oath OF office
here was an indication Of the bad con-
ditions In Picking. He had once promised
to go to Marking. there to assume Office
but after the outbreak here, when it was
seen how absolutely essential his pres
ence was to continued peace and quiet
in these parts. the revolutionists OF Nam
king receded from their former stand and
consented to Yuan's remaining in the
north, here to take the oath and here TO
remain until a government could be or
ganized.
! The arrangements for the Inauguration
were made with great specd Picking was
looted. and the revolutionary delegation
which had come from Marking TO tell
Yuan OF his election by tho revolutionary
assembly there teleeraphed back to head
quarters that Yuan could not leave Pc
king at this time Then trouble broke
loose all over the north and there was
trouble In the south. The situation was
indeed serious. and foreign troops began
to pour into north China Marking rea-
lized the importance Of speedy action. and
for the first time almost since gaining
control in the south made concessions
and agreed to Yuan's Inauguration in
Peking. It took about Ave days to ar
| rangeg the form Of oath and other de-
tails. Marking proposed that Yuan take
the oath before the delegation from Nan
king. This was quickly agreed to, and
Sunday. March 10, was SGT as the day for
the inauguration
THE PRESIDENT INAUGURATED.
| Sunday, March 10 was "A pleasant day
but Picking was decidedly nervous The
town was full of rumors. 1t was said
that the members OF tine miserable third
!divison. which started the lootng of Pc
fighting their way back into the city. in
tent on making trouble 1t was said also
that the Manchu soldiers planned tc
break up the inauguration. Throughout
the entire city there was not the slightest
sign Of demonstration or JOY over this
event, which. nevertheless. fully marked
the emancipation of the nation. In fact
most people remained within doors and
the shutters were up in front of all tbs
shops Trouble was expected by many
and 1t would have taken little to star
. panic.
The Inauguration was set for thre,
O'Clock and the guests were asked TO b,
at the splendid new Wal Wu-pu building
whore Yuan Shih-kai lives, AN hour be
forehand. The diplomatic corps did no
attend. An invitation had been Informal