Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-06
CH|NA'S PRESIDENT,
YUAN SH|-KA|, DIES
AS REVOLT GROWS
Continued from First PagA.)

I VI tne plan was largely
credited to the representations made by
| Toxic.
The revolt progressed, however, and
| in March the governors of the Chinese
provinces demanded the resignation of
| the president In May the provinces
of Shansi and Snantung announced
their INDEPENDENCE, and provisional
| government was esta blished by the
generals commanding the revolution
airy forces in the south.
| President Yuan Shi-kai announced
May % his intention to resign when a
suitable successor was chosen. 1t was
reported a little later that the presi-
dent intended to take refuge in Japan,
and dispatches from Toxic said that
he was negotiating for a residence in
the Japanese capital.
Was an Able Administra cor.
| In recent years Yuan Shi-kai had be-
come the most conspicuous personality
| of the orient through his Efforts to
bring his 400 O00. 900 fellow yellow men
into line citizens of the new re-
public of China. The task Of turning
this most ancient and backward Of
kingdoms into republic. within
whose confines there was fifth of the
worlds inhabitants-a republic four
| times as large as the United States
was OBVIOUSLY no easy one, and the
man who attempted it did not escape
storms of criticism from those who held
| that he was dictator, virtually found
ing a new dynasty. But among for
elgners generally Yuan Shi-kai was
gwen credit for as able an administra-
ton as could be expected under the
| circumstances
Long before Yuan Shi-kai was wide
~ known abroad he had been accepted
by the Manchns, the Chinese and the
| foreigners in China as a coming man.
| Son of District Governor.
Born in 1859, the son of a district
governor in the province of Honan,
yuan Shi kai aspired to an official posi-
ton, but the rule was that official life
was open only to those who passed in
| ancient classics. Yuan utterly failed 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 dip
lomatie ability; The famous Grand
in him man of action and appointed
him Chinese resident at Seoul This
was the highest post in the empire, and
Yuan held 1t when he was only TWEEN
|
drove the Chinese out Of Korea ne was
one OF the few to return to PekinK still
! in the favor Of the court.
Accused of Betraying Emperor.
| He rose to great prominence through
his effective reorganization of the
army after the war with Japan had
shown its weaknesses. 1t is generally
held that he assisted the empress dow
ager in efrecting a coup d'etat In 1898,
by which she wrested the throne from
| the Emperor kuang Shu and he was
popularly accused of betraying the
| emperor The dowager appointed him
governor OF shantung where. during
| the Boxer rebellion, he displayed his
astuteness.
Invited to join the Boxer sect, he
dared not frankly refuse, although he
had no sympathy for their fanaticism.
if It's 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
| if the leaders would meet him in his
garden the next day he would stand
| them up against the wall and try the
foreign devils magic" on them. II the
como Boxer. SO sublime was the
| faith Of one leader that he submitted
to the test, and. according to the story,
rel dead at the irst rife bullet. which
thus free, from any obligation to ioin
the fanatic movement Of the Boxers.
AS a matter of fact, he was given credit
FOR material assistance to tho foreign
waged in China.
Dictator After Revolution.
With the death of the empress dow.
ager and the Emperor KuanE Hsu. al
most coincidently. and possibly 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 because he had
! gained such a control of the army, was
dismissed in disgrace, although nomi-
! nally on pretext of curing a sore leg"
When the anti-Manchu rebellion broke
| out. in October. 1911. the Manchu re-
gency, in despair. urged Yuan to re-
| turn. The latter replied that his leg
| was not yet well. but when given au
thorify as supreme commander of all
forces OF the north he accepted. He
also became the first premier of the
| responsible cabinet" which the re-
gency offered the rebels as a concession
OF peace. But neither the rebels nor
Yuan were satisfied. The abdication
! forced.
the boy emperor. at the dictation 81
Yuan Shi kai. authorized the premier
to organize with the rebel leaders at
| Marking republican form Of govern
! ment.
| Sun Vat Sen, the provisional president
| OF the southern rebels. was forced 70
retire. and Yuan shi Kai was elected
provisional president Of the Chinese re-
public at Marking February Is. 1912
ne took the oath of office at Picking the
| following month.
china's New Chief Executive.
! Ii Yuan Hung. who becomes presi-
dent Of China, in the regular course Of
events would remain in Office until oc-
| tober of next year. when the term OF
Ave years for which Yuan Shi Kat was
elected will expire. Owing to dis
turbed political conditions, however.
his tenure OF office is uncertain.
| Ii Yuan Hung Is reported to have
been in sympathy with the rebel move
menf although little has heen heard of