The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-12-15
Empire Switches Back To
Former State.
AGITATION IN THE REPUBLIC
Long Under Way To Revert
To Old Form Of Gov
eminent.
POWERS OPPOSED TO DECISION

Peking, Dec. 11.--Yuan Shi-Kai.
President OF the Chinese republic.
has accepted the throne OF China
rendered to him by the Council OF
State.
Acting az parliament, the Coun-
. ell of State canvessed the vote on
Fsrhe question of change in the form
of the Government of China to a
monarchy and found that the votes
az 1898 representatives out of g.
\ O43 qualified to vote on the PROPOSE
y ton we're favorable to the change.
The Council of State Immediately
sent to Yuan Shi-Kai q petition urg-
ing him to accept the throne. He
+ declined at first; when the petition
\ was forwarded to him a second time
he accepted, with the proviso that
he would continue to act as Presi-
dent until a convenient time for the
coronation.
- China, for centuries under the
Manchu rule, became republic on
February IL. 1912. following the
revolution of 1911, and after the
adoption of a provisional constitu-
ton and the election of Yuan Shi-
Kai, as President under it's provis-
1ons October G, 1913. he was inaug
urated four days later. October 10.
Ix.1 ne n1o 10 ho do
the Republican form of Government
and revert to the monarchial system
were first apparent in August last,
with the publication of accounts of
meeting of prominent men in Pc
king, who formed an association to
discuss whether a monarchy was not
the best form of Government for
China.
The march of events followed
fast. The machinery for obtaining
an expression OF the nations opin-
ion of the proposed change having
been put into operation. 1t was an
nounced In Peking November Z that
Is of the Is provinces had voted in
favor of a monarchy.
Meanwhile the Entente Powers.
noting with evident anxiety the prog
ress of events In China. made rep
reservations to Peking regarding the
proposal to upset the Republican
Government and substitute for II a
Monarchy. II was pointed out to
China that such step in the midst
of the European war was not desira-
BILE from the viewpoint OF the Pow
ers. as tending to lessen the stability
of conditions and possibly lead to in
ternal outbreaks which might ulti-
mately endanger the peace Of the
Orient. japan took a leading part |
in the representations.
China, however. was not moved |
yby the attitude of the Powers. an
swering them with a declination to |
postpone the decision. and assuring
them that the Government had been
advised by the provincial officials
that they would be able to maintain
tranquility in event monarchy was
re-established.
The dissatisfaction of the Powers
with China's reply has been made
manifest and recent cables and cor
respondence from Picking have been
conflicting in the speculation as to
whether the monarchy would be es-
tabiished In the near future or In
definitely delayed. But 1t is now ev-
ident that the protest fro mthe jap
anese Government. backed up by
Russia and Great Britain. against
the immediate restoration Of mon
archial government. has been disre-
garded.
In recent years Yuan Shi-Kai had ,
become the most conspicuous per-
sonailty OF the Orient through his
efforts to bring his 400. 000. 900 fell ,
low yellow men into line as citizens
Of the nsf republic of China. The !
tssk OF turning this most ancient
hd backward of kingdoms into a re- =
public. within whose confines there
was a. fifth OF the worlds inhabi- 4
Iants'-a republic four times as large
rs the United states-was obviously
no easy one. and the man who at v
empted II did not escape storms of v
criticism from those who held that z
le was a dictator, virtually founding y