Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-23
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
|III-THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
BY Frederic J. Haskin.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Popular agitation for reform in China
developed into the we'll organized revolu-
tionary movement In the spring of 1911.
! The appointment of the notorious
| Prince Ching to the new post of prime
| minister. together with delay in the pro-
mitigation of the constitution, even after
the prince regent had appeared to take
Il personal interest in the matter. con-
! WINGED the young students who were de-
veloping. public sentiment that only
! the overthrow of the Manchus and
/ their fawning Chinese officials and
| the establishment of a republic pat
| termed 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 protest against
| the railway policy of Sheng Kuan-huai
On October 10 the accidental explosion
! of bomb in Hankow exposed the revo-
lutionary plot, and precipitated the con-
| fiict. The rebels demanded a modern
government and constitution at once. the
forty-eight generals of the royal army
advised the Manchu court to grant the
demands of the rebels or face certain
destruction. Even at that time the revO-
mtionary leaders would not have object
ed TO limited monarchy with Manchu
on the throne. which would be an orna
ment and not burden.
The national assembly drew up nine
teen fundamental principles of govern
ment. based on the revolutionary de-
mands. In the meantime the Manchus,
in the name of the poor baby infant.
in manifesto after manifesto, did the
humble kOwtow to the rebels and to the
whole people in most astonishing man
ner.
- \
!, November :: the program of the ma
tf5naf assembly was accepted in an ex-
tremely advanced
Absolute Powers grant of con-
for Parliament. mnn' 4, , s
that the TEACHING dynasty shall reign
forever" and that the person of the
emperor shall be inviolable,'' but it also
said that the power of the emperor shall
be limited by constitutions; the order
OF succession shall be prescribed by the
constitutions; and the constitution shall
be drawn up and adopted by the SEE
cheng-yuan (natiOnal assembly, and pro-
mulgated by the emperor.
This grant gave the parliament abso-
lutte power over taxation and expendi-
lures. and made the premier and his
cabinet responsible solely to parliament.
1t was in essence, the British cOnstitu-
ton put in writing. No power was held
back-the throne abandoned all substance
in the hope of preserving the shadow.
This was a remarkable document in the
light of centuries Of Chinese history, and
doubly so when. coming from a Manchu
ruler. As further evidence of absolute
abasement the court two days later di-
rected that the parliament be convened
Immediately. November is Yuan Shin
K'ai now premier, announced his cabinet.
To 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;
February 2 the emperor abdicated-the
Manchus were
Chinese PeODle cast off forever.
Electing Congress. public was for
malIy organized March 10. 1912. and now
the. Chinese people are selecting members
for the first congress, which will devise
constitution adequate for Il modern
republic, and will elect a permanent pres
ident. who doubtless will be the present
provisional president, Yuan Shin K'ai
Should he decline. the honor will
go to Gen. Ii Yuan-hung, the provisional
vice president 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