The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24
THE PARLIAMENT
. OF CHINA OPENED
IN SIMPLE MANNER
Ceremony Is Witnessed By
Large Crowd, Which Re-
ceives New President
Enthusiastically

Picking, August 25.-(Correspondence of
the Associated Press)-Great simplicity
marked the formal reopening, under Ii
Huan-hung, of the Parliament dissolved
three years ago by Yuan Shi-Kai.
The new president all the members Of
his cabinet with the exception of Tang
Shao-yi who has been named minister of
foreign affairs, all the foreign advisers
+ and important Chinese officials attended
without body guard, and were unmo-
Tested
President Lii Yuan-hung and other
prominent Chinese wore conventional Eu-
ropean morning suits and high hats,
which we're recognized at the beginning
of the republic as the proper garb for
official functions
The House of Parliament rambling
foreign building situated in a great walled
garden and approached through long
pergolas was gaily decorated with the
five-striped flag of the Chinese republic
and bunting of all colors. Thousands of
NChinese soldiers, dressed in khaki stood
at attention along the miles of streets
leading from the Presidents home to the
Parliament building. Lii Yuan-hung rode
alone in an automobile from his home and
walked unaccompanied from his motor
car to the great hall in which he af-
flrmed his oath as President.
The senate chamber, in which the cere-
mony took place. is square and has seats
arranged in ascending circular tiers after
: the fashion of legislative halls in west
ern countries. 1t was crowded with men,
bers of Parliament and visitors, who
greeted the new President with much en-
thusasm. The oath was not admins
tered to Lii Yuan-hung. He merely af-
frmed by reading the following words:
L hereby declare with all sincerely that
] will strictly observe the constitution
of the republic and perform nay functions
the President of China accordingly"
He made the following brief address:
by the cause of the providence, repub-
licanism has now revived in China. On
( account of the internal strife reconstruc-
tive works should be at once introduced
in accordance with the wishes Of the
Chinese masses. AS all the members OF
the two houses have been specially elect
ed by the people as their representatives
who are mostly we'll educated and ex-
perienced, I, the President, have no doubt
that you have already planned concerning
the reconstruction of the country and
the improvemen of the livelihood of the
people, and hope that in performance of
your sacred legislative duties, perfect inn
partially and nonpartisanship should be
shown by you gentlemen so as to make
China a country ruled by laws. Although
I am man without talent or ability,
nevertheless as l have already been en-
trusted by the nation with the heavy
duty of President, I will always CO.
operate with you gentlemen with all my
sincerely for the betterment of the re-
public of China. ! wish prosperity for
the national assembly"
C. T. Wang, the president of the Sem
ate, made a brief address which is gen
~ nd a indication that
he and his associates will make no
a effort to- wreak vengeance upon the
Headers of the monarchical movement,
y but will devote their ENERGY to pol
icy of reconciliation. Many of the mem
bers who were avowedly opposed to
Yuan Shi-Kais in all his acts have
been insisting upon severe puni shment
for the nlonarchists 1t is generally be-
leved however, that Mr.. Wang spoke
for the majority of his party when he
said: Let the past be dead; our lie
lies ahead. Suppression of wisdom and
foresight was the cause OF the trouble
raised by one individual (Yuan Shi-
kali; but by mutual counsel we shall
yet accomplish our task The constitu-
.tion is our guide. Public opinion is our
source of information We shall scru
ytinze the expenditure, the revenue or
THE country and supervise domestic as
well as foreign affairs Let us fulfill
our duty, and let our views be un
biased Long live Parliament"
A Chinese band played several Eu-
ropean airs before the arrival of the
President. At the conclusion OF the adj
dress of President Ii Yuan-hung and
Mr.. Wang, the band played the Chi
nese national air and the entire au-
dicnce arose and saluted the republican
flag The first session of the Parlia-
nent then adjourned indefinitely for
the purpose of considering compro-
misses necessary for the approval of
cabinet and the selection of vice
president.