South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-19
CHINESE REBELS
IN DECLARATION
Official Document of Protest
Calls Present Government
Corrupt and Dishonest.

A proclamation something like the
American Declaration OF Independ-
enc has been drawn up by Chinese
rebels who are lighting Emperor
Yuan Shi Kal- From a copy received
in this country the following trans
Iafion has been made.
We. the army OF the punitive eX-
petition OF the Chine-e republic.
hereby make this public declaration:
When the misrule OF the Manchu
regime had become apparent we.
the people OF the nation, realizing
the strenuousness Of the struggle
for national existence. and fearing
the peril OF losing our national
sovereignty and independence. arose
four years ago In n righteous revO-
luton. which illuminated in the es-
tablishment OF the republic In or
der that the union OF the nation
might be effected without unneces-
sary bIoodshed, we elected Yuan
Shi Kai to read the new govern
ments and. during the first two
years OF the republic the whole ma
ton looked eagerly forward 10 him
for a better government and the pa
tTiotic leaders OF the country were
ready 10 sacrifice everything TO CO.
operate with him-nOt. 10 be sure,
that the nation had any partially
for a single individual, but simply
that our dying fatherland might be
saved from ruin
But Yuan Shi Kai. who was thus
a
great and grave responsi bilities has
for four years done nothing 20 re-
form the affairs and policies OF the
nation On the contrary. ne has
worked necessarily 20 further and
strengthen the private Interests OF
his own person and family lie has
cOrruptly manipulated the parties
and ruthlessly crushed the parlia-
ment All opposition has been re-
moved by every despicable means,
and public opinion has been either
poisoned by bribery or suppressed by
violence. He has modified an army
OF fatterers and corrupt partisans
throughout the country by means Of
public spoils. and placed the few
honest public men practically under
bondage aud Imprisonment in the
name OF empty titles and honors.
CrfticiZes Acts OF President
Over since his Inauguration ne has
contracted foreign loans amounting
20 over 200. 600. 900 taels, the expen-
d.mre OF which has never been. and
can never be. made public And
SINCE the outbreak Of the European
war. the supply OF foreign loans be-
ing stopped. he has endeavored by
every possible means to fleece the
people, ian utter disregard OF their
misery and grievances And all this
revenue thus raised has been almost
exclusively spent on bribing his fol-
lowers and on arminE himself
against any possible expression Of
dissatisfaction from the people.
AS TO The affairs OF the nation.
nothing has been done In dealing
with foreign nations, he has made no
adequate plans for national defence.
nor has ne taken measures for the
preparation OF the nation i'm the
forthcoming international economic
competition. He has invited the
contempt OF foreign powers and has
caused numerous national humila-
tons In his internal policy. ne has
completely disregarded the interests
Of the people. and has been incom-
petent in maintaining order and JUS
tice. He has arrested the progress
~ education and has led a moment
OF reactionism: industries have been
monopOlized by the government only
&c enrich the private treasury Of the
corrupt officials. Laws and ordi-
names have been minutely issued
only to be altered and repealed at
his own viii and caprice. The peo-
pie have become so confused that
they know what 20 follow. and con-
sequently their respect for law has
been completely undermined. AS 90
public appointments. sycophancy and
servility are regarded as virtues and