St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1912-02-17
CHINA NOW .
A REPUBLIC

| A ktPUbL|u
! Pekin, Feb. 12.-After occupying
the Chinese throne for nearly three
centuries, the Manchu dynasty, rep
resented by the child Emperor Pu vi
abdicated to-day. Three edicts were
issued, the first proclaiming abdica-
ton, the second dealing with the es-
Establishment of the republic, and the
third urging the maintenance OF
peace, and approving the conditions
agreed upon by the imperial Pre-
mier, Yuan Shi Kai, and the repub-
licans.
The text of the first imperial edict,
issued by the throne at noon to-day,
is as follows:
eve, the Emperor of China, have
respectfully received to-day the fol-
lowing edict from the hands of her
Majesty, the Dowager Empress:
I'm consequence of the uprising of
the republican army, to which the
people of the provinces of China have
responded, the empire is seething
like a boiling caldron and the peo-
pie are plunged in misery.
yuan Shi Kai was, therefore,
commanded to dispatch commission
ers, in order to confer with the re-
publicans, with view to calling of
a national assembly to decide on the
future form of government. Months
have ELAPSED. and no settlement is
evident.
''The majority of the people are in
favor of republic. From the pref
erence of the peoples hearts, the will
of heaven is observable. How could
We oppose the desires of millions for
the glory of one family?
Vested in People.
Therefore, we, the DOwager En-
press and the Emperor, hereby vest
the sovereignty of the Chinese en-
pire in the people.
"Let Yuan Shi Kai organize to the
full the powers of the provincial re-
publican government, and confer
with the republicans as to the meth
DDS of union assuring peace in the
empire and forming a great republic
with the union of Manchus, Chinese,
Mongols, Mohammedans and Tibe-
tans.
Eve, the Empress Dowager and
Emperor, thus will be enabled to live
in retirement, free of responsible
ties and cares, and enjoying without
interruption the nations courteous
treatment"
At an audience yesterday the En-
peror Dowager touchingly thanked
Yuan Shi Kai for his successful eff
forts in obtaining good treatment for
the imperial family from the repub-
licans
The publication of the edicts has
given profound relief to everyone in
Pekin, both foreigner and Chinese.
The arrangement is considered to be
a skillful compromise, and it is be-
lieved the terms will satisfy the re-
publicans. The first edict provides
that the terms shall be for transmits
sion to their respective governments,
the object being to record, world
wide, the republican pledges.
Republican Pledges.
In consideration for abdicaton, the
republicans make the following eight
pledges to the Emperor
The Emperor shall retain his title
and shall De respected as a foreign
monarch.
The Emperor shall receive an an
nual grant of 100000 tae's until
the currency is reformed, after which
he shall receive 100000 Mexican.
A temporary residence shall be
provided in the Forbidden City, and
later the imperial family shall re-
side in the summer palace, ten miles
outside Of Pekin.
The Emperor may observe the sac
rifices at his ancestral tombs and
temples, which will be protected by
republican soldiers.
The great tomb of the late En-
peror, Kwang Su, will be complete
and the funeral ceremony fittingly
observed at the republics expense
The palace attendants may be re-
tanned, but the number of eunuchs
cannot be increased.
The Emperor's property will be
protected by the republic.
The imperial guards will be gov.
erned by the Army Board, the re
public paying their salaries.
(, Succession Not Fixed.
A contended point as to whether
the throne shall be perpetuated o.
will terminate with the present EN-
peror's death, is not mentioned
Four pledges for the treatment of the
imperial kinsmen follow:
| The princes, dukes and others hav
| ing their hereditary titles shall re
| tain their ranks.
The nobility shall have the right:
and privileges of ordinary citizens.
! Their private properties will b
| protected.
! The nobility shall be permitted ex
emption from military service.
| Seven pledges are given in the in
terest of the Mongols, Manchus, no
hammedans and Thibetans:
4 They shall have rights and priv
leges similar to the Chinese.
Their private property will be pro
tected.
The nobility will retain their he
reditary ranks.