Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-31
SPIRIT OF PUBLIC LIFE
IN PEK|NC IS ALTERED
Lii Yuan lungs Accession to Presi-
dency Works Wonderful
Change.
POPULAR WITH ALL FACTIONS
New Executive Lives Informally at
Palace Outside Forbidden City and
Drives About i'll Automobile, With
Only Two Soldiers to Guard Him.

Correspondence of Associated Press.)
| PEkING. July 30.-Li Yuan Hung s
/ accession TO the presidency has worked
wonderful change in China. The
| whole spirit OF public life In Picking
has been altered. Democracy seems
TO have come into it's own again. The
| new President lives informally at his
palace outside the Forbidden City. and
drives about Picking in an automobile
with only two soldiers to guard him.
Chinese OF all factions havc'a high
personal regard for l.. Yuan Hung. and
his life seems to be in no danger. lie
moves about at will, and conducts him
self i'll Il manner which would have
been wholly Impossible for Yuan Sill
liai. The lamcntcd President seldom
left the palace, and was believed to be
III danger. even within it's protecting
walls. lie Was a man Of iron, and had
ruled by military power and by that
alone. Consequently he had many bit
ter enemies. and few warm personal
friends. Even his closest advisers adj
mired him more for his power than for
any personal charm.
Ii Yuan Hung is Christian. a com
nunicant Of tho Roman Catholic
Church. and has always been strongly
and state. lie has at different times
openly opposed efforts TO make Con-
fUcianiSn the state religion OF China,
and stands for absolute religious free
dom III the republic.
tntil 1911 III Yuan Hung was little
known in China. He was born In HUI
rch Province. in 1864, studied for six
years at the l'oiyanS Naval College
and served ON cruiser during tho
Ohino-Japancsc War. After the war
he entered military service at NankinG,
and later went to Wuchang, where he
assisted in tn" organization of modern
troops under Niccroy Chang Chih -tung
For two years he studied fortiiicat Ions
in Japan. and on his return became n
major IN the cavalry. His service was
chiefly at WuchanE. the capital OF HUI
pch Province. which lies on the Yang
tse River Immediately opposite the i'm
portant commercial city of Hankow.
CHIEF LEADER IN AItRANGIEG
For PEACE C0NFEItEN OE
Iii Yuan Hung sprang into national
fame as commandment Of the revolutions
AIRY forces at WuchanG in 1911. He was
tho chief leader in arranging for tho
Shanghai peace conference. and after
the abdication Of the Manchus was
elected Vice president OF tho republic
He was reelected Nicc-prcsidcnt Oc-
tobcr :, 1913
Ii Yuan lungs popularity with the
his service under Yuan Shi Kai. Al
though n" and the late President had
been intimate friends for years Iii
Yuan lung absolutely refused to in
dorsc Yuan Shi Kai's monarchical
movement and declined all imperial
honors which Yuan Shi Kai attempted
to heap Upon him. The late President
issued edictS making Ii Yuan Hung a
prince and comforting great wealth
upon him. Ii Yuan Hung absolutely
declined TO accept such honors, and
repeatedly expressed his disapproval
Of all plans Ia abandon the republic
He was finally permitted TO move with
out the Forbidden CITY, and for months
has lived IN palace provided for him
by tho government in tho best resi-
Dental section or Picking. II was his
desire TO return TO his native Province
"f iiup"h, but Yuan Sh kat refused 10
grant him permission I" do so. and he
lived IN rckinS practically as q pris-
oncr. during Yuan Sh Eai's last
months.
No other man In China Is as uni
Ncrsally beloved as Ii Yuan Hung. lie
has always enjoyed the reputation Of
being absolutely honest and patriotic
Many other leaders are more forccful
more energetic and have a better grasp
OF public affairs. But Ii Yuan Hung
Is tho ON" man who enjoys the COM
p!cic confidence OF the Chinese pco-
pie, Southcrncrs as we'll as northcrncrs