Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-22

ton in which public opinion will be as
certained and from which the members
Of the central council may be recruited
Let our people point out clearly through
should be abolished in their respective
provinces and what are the reforms that
they desire. But let them also remember
the duty which they owe to the court
and to the country. Violent discussion
should be prevented, lest the order and
safety Of society might be disturbed"
Membership in the provincial assemblies
was limited to those who had held pub
Tic Office above the minor grades or who
possessed property worth at least 5000
in silver. This restriction was of no
avail in suppressing outspoken speeches
however. and the imperial mandate
against violent discussion was honored
by the assemblies more in the breach
than in the observance. Strong demands
for the adjustment of archaic forms and
the dismissal of national and provincial
corrupt officials were soon sent to Picking
May y, 1910, the court announced that
the first national assembly could convene
in Picking October :.
*
day set and there was great rejoicing
throughout Chi
Great Rejoicing ma. 1t was di-
Throughout China. c1,nn u mo e es'
tain proportion being composed of Man
chu princes and Chinese Of the privileged
classes. who were appointed by the
throne. The majority of the members
had been elected by the several pro-
vincial assemblies. Discussion of finances
and appropriation of a budget were the
principal rights of the new body.
1t was also empowered to draw up new
laws, but to be legal such measures had
to be concurred in by the grand council,
an aristocratic body at the beck of the
crown, and finally receive imperial sane
ton. In case of a deadlock over an issue
between the national assembly and the
grand council the emperor was to decide.
The emperor was a baby. SO decision
rested with his father, Prince Chun, the
prince regent. AS constituted the ma
tional assembly was only half progress
sive, an influential element being ultra
conservative. From the first it was "a
house divided against ITSELF a condi-
ton which was quite satisfactory to the
ManchuS.
The members who represented the peo-
pie were united in favor of drastic meas
ures. From the opening day they fea-
tured the sessions by making heated
lions and programs intended to modern
iZe the government There was disorgan-
iZation and pickering at first, everybody
getting in everybody elses way, and little
cliques began to form. They got together
nevertheless, to such good effect that
October %, or short twenty days after
converting, they met in full session and
amid much enthusiasm succeeded in pass
ing resolution which demanded the pro-
mitigation of constitution and the or
ganization of full-fledged and properly
endowned national parliament at once
instead of waiting until 1917.
Princes raved and plutocrats howled
CRATES, anarch
Plutocrats Howled lists and self
and Princes Raved. swerinc below n,
from the people sustained the young leg
islators. Oddly enough. the prince regen
himself was very moderate in his crit
cism of the assembly resolution. con
tenting himself with the observation tina
the country was not ready for the grea
change In fact, he finally agreed to hav
ing a constitution and parliament in 1913
and he ordered his grand council to give
its views That body did nothing and the
standpatters sat tight. Public clamor be
came terrible Some members of the as
sembly cut off one or two fingers as
protest against the delay. .dass meet
ings and riots disturbed law and order il
the provinces. Petitions by the thou
sands poured into Picking. Even imper.a
censors wrote harsh structures on the of
fetal class. and royalty itself did not es
cape Finally 1.-THE petitions. many stain
ed with blood. were taken by the prince
regent to the national assembly. A grea
crowd broke into the chamber. overturn
ing benches and breaking furniture. TIL,