The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-19

spring Of 1911. The appointment o:
the notorious Prince Ching to the new
post of prime minister, together with
delay in the PRONUNCIATION of the con-
stitution, ever after the prince regent
had appeared to take a personal in
terest in the matter, convinced the
young students who were developing
public sentiment that only the over
throw of the Manchus and their faWn-
ing Chinese officials and the estab-
lishment of a republic patterned after
the government of the United States,
would give the people the just and
modern administration which they
clamored for.
Renewed demands for a constitution
in June, July and August were met
by the usual promises. In September
Szechuen province seethed in the pro-
test against the railway policy OF
Scheng K~uan-huai. On October 10 the
the accidental explosion of a bomb IN
Hankow exposed the revolutionary
plot, and precipitated the conflict.
The rebels demanded "a modern gov
eminent and constitution at once. The
4S generals of the royal army advised
the Manchu court to grant the de-
mands of the rebels or face certain de-
struction. Even at that time the rev.
dictionary leaders would not have OBJ
jected to a limited monarchy with a
Manchu on the throne, which would
be an ornament and not a burden.
Mhe national assembly drew up 10
fundamental principles of government
based on the revolutionary demands.
In the meantime, the Manchus, in the
name of the poor baby infant, in man
ifesto after manifesto, did the hum
BILE koW-tow to the rebels and to the
whole people in a most astonishing
manner
On November 3 the program Of the
national assembly was accepted In an
extremely advanced g. mt of a consti-
tutional government. 1t provided that
"the TEACHING dynasty shall reign
forever!" and that 'the person of the
emperor shall be inviolable," but 1t
also said that 'the power of the en-
peror shall be limited by a constitu-
ton; that order of succession shall be
prescribed by the constitutions; and the
constitution shall be drawn up n
adopted by the Sze-cheng-yuan ina
tional assembly, n promulgated by
the emperor"
This grant gave the parliament alb
solute power over taxation and expen-
ditures and made the premier and his
cabinet responsible solely to parlia-
ment. It was, in essence, the British
constitution put in writing. No power
was held back-the throne abandoned
~ .,,J,e4opon IN tho hnnn nf nrnCpry-
ing the shadow.
This was a remarkable document in
the light of centuries of Chinese his
tory, and doubly so when coming from
a Manchu ruler AS further evidence
of absolute abasement the court two
DAYS later directed that the parlia-
ment be convened Immediately. On
November is Yuan Shin K'ai, now
premier, announced his cabinet. 10
appease the rebels there was only one
Manchu member among nine Chinese,
one of whom was an avowed rebel
leader.
Too late! The revolution triumphed;
on February 2 the emperor abdicated-
the Manchus were cast off forever. A
provisional republic was formally or
sanized March 10, 1912, and now the
Chinese people are selecting members
for the first congress-, which will de-
wise a constitution adequate for a
modern republic, and will elect a per-
manent president, who doubtless will
be the present provisional president
Hon. Yuan Shih K'ai Should he de-
cline, the honor will go to General Ii
Y~uan-hung, the provisional vice pres''
lent and hero of the revolution. The
constitution which the first congress
will formally adopt has already been
outlined by the national assembly.
The congress of the Republic of
China will consist of a senate and
house of representatives. Each of the
IS provinces is entitled to 10 sena-
tors, who will be elected by the pro-
vincial assemblies. Election of sena-
tors will not be confined to provincial
assemblymen. Mongolia will have q
senators, Tibet, 10, Chinghai three. In
addition, the central educational So
ciety will provide eight, and Chinese
citizens who live abroad will be en-
titled to six.
Two or three of the last named viii
be from the United States and one
from the ~InllipplHeS Lhc an
senator has already been elected in the
person of Sy Cong Bieng, a million
: aire merchant. These outside senators
will be elected by the foreign Chinese
chambers of which he Pc
king authorities recognize. The SEN
ators will serve for six years, except
those of the first congress-. They viii
, be divided by lot into three groups
to serve two, four and six years each
t Thereafter the term will be full SIX
years. The senate will have 234 mem
l bers.
I The house of representatives will
consist of about 500 members, as the
, ratio has been fixed at one represen-
tative to each 800 900 Of the popula'
. ton. The term will be for three years
A system of primary and final cleo
tons has been devised. At the pri-
mary election each district entitled tc
one representative will elect so men
Tha IN having the most votes from tht