The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-11
CHINESE THRONE
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Continued from Page One.)
Yuan Shi-Kai aspired to an official
position. but the rule was that official
life was open only to those who passed
in ancient classics. Yuan utterly fail
ed in one of those government tests at
which thousands of aspirants are
closeted for three days undergoing
examination.
He went into Korea as a secretary
with the army. and there rose rapidly
through his display of military and
diplomatic ability. The famous grand
chancellor, Lii Hung-Chang, recog-
nized in him a man of action and ap-
pointed him Chinese resident at Seoul.
This was the highest post in the en-
pire, and Yuan held it when he was
only rs years old. When the Japanese
was one Of the few to return to Picking
still in the favor of the court.
Yuan Shi-Kai NIilitarist-
He rose to great prominence
through the effective reorganization
of the army after the war with Japan
had shown its weaknesses. 1t is gem
orally held that he assisted the en-
press dowager in effecting coup
d. etat in 1898 by which she wrested
the throne from the emperor, Kuang
Shu, and he was popularity accused
of betraying the emperor. The dow
ager appointed him governor of
Shantung where, during the Boxer re-
bellion, he displayed his astuteness.
Invited to join the Boxer sect he
dared not frankly refuse, although he
had no sympathy for their fanaticism.
He agreed to Join the Boxer move
ment if its leaders would prove to him
their contention that those of their
sect were immune to foreign bullets.
He told them he had one of the for
eign guns in his own house and that if
the leaders would meet him in his gar
den the next day he would stand them
up against the wall and try the for
eign devils magic on them If the
bullets did not hurt, Yuan would be-
come a Boxer. So sublime was the
faith of one leader that he submitted
to the test, and, according to the story,
fell dead at hte first rifle bullet, which
pierced his heart Yuan Shi-kai was
thus freed from any obligation to join
the fanatic movement of the Boxers.
it for material assistance to the for
eigners during the warfare which the
allies waged in China
Yuan Once ''DisgracesI.''
With the death of the Empress
Dowager and the Emperor Kuang
Hsu, almost coincidently, and possible
each by poison at the hands of the
other, the child emperor. Hsun Tung
came to the throne under the regency
of Prince Chun. Yuan, presumably
of the army, was dismissed in dis
grace, although nominally on pretext
of curing a sore leg"
When the anti-Manchu rebellion
broke out in October, 1911, the Man
chu regency, in despair, urged Yuan
to return. The latter replied that lis
leg was not yet well, but when given
authority as supreme commander of
all forces of the north, he accepted.
He also became the first premier of
the responsible cabinet which the
regency offered the rebels as a con-
cession of peace. But neither the
rebels nor Yuan were satisfied. The
abdication of the Manchu rulers was
forced, and the boy emperor, at the
dictation of Yuan Shi-kai authorized
the premier to organize with the rebel
leaders at Marking, Republican form
of government
Sun Yat-Sen, the Provisional presi-
dent of the southern rebels was forced
to retire and Yuan Shi-kai was
was elected Provisional president OF
the Chinese Republic at Marking on
February is, 1912.
He took the oath of office at Picking
the following month
Now Yuan takes the throne.