Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-23

go that he had abandoned the monar
: chy, and that the republic had beer
restored. The opposition had become
so keen that it was apparent his mo.
narehical plan could not be consum.
mated in the face Of. both domestic
and foreign opposition. This action
on the part of Yuan Shi-kai did not
stop the spread Of the revolutionary
movement. Kwangtung province de-
clared its independence on April Z.
and Shekiang did the same few
days later.
On April an armistice was ar
ranged between the Peking govern
mont and the revolutionists under Tsai
40 in Yunnan, Kweichow and kwang-
I 81 provinces. This armistice WAS for
one month. and later was extended
Realizing that further steps must be
taken TO check the movement against
his power in Picking. Yuan Shi-kai an
nounced on April 22 that he would
delegate all his military and civil
power to a responsible cabinet headed
/ by Tuan Chi-jui, who became premier
and minister of war.
RevolutiOnists Not ApDeased.
Even this step did not conciliate the
| revoutionists in the south Yuan
Shi-Kai's abdication was the first de-
mand many of the provinces made as
Ia necessary preliminary to peace ne
gotiations. While Tuan Chi-jui has
always been known as an opponent of
the monarchical move and resigned
from the post of minister of war in
Yuan Shi-kais cabinet rather than
countenance the effort to re-establish
the monarchy, many of the southern
leaders refuse to accept his premier
ship as guarantee of the preserva-
ton of the republic unless Yuan Shi-
kai resigned the presidency.
Ii Yuan-hung, the vice president,
is mentioned by the revolutonsts as
the logical successor of Yuan Shi-kai,
according to the terms or the provi-
sional constitution, and they insist
that this honor shall go to him. How
ever, there are many ambitious lead
ers among the revolutionaries in the
southern provinces who are eager for
high honors themselves, and foreign
newspapers printed In China are al
most unanimous in expressing the
opinion that Ii Yuan-hung is advo-
Gated merely as a subterfuge. 1t is
generally believed by the foreigners in
China that the vice president would
not be allowed to continue long in the |
presidency were he to succeed Yuan |
Shi-kai ii Huan-rung is one of the |
most respected men in China, but he !
is far from being a forceful leader.
Which Constitution Doubtful
1t is difficult TO tell what consti |
tuition, If any. China is acting under
at present. The revolutionists Insist /
the provisional constitution Of Nan !
which China has had, and is still in
force Under that constitution Yuan
Shi-kai would have a term Of five
years. or nearly two years yet Of his
present term.
Many of the less rabid revolution
aries have shown disposition TO let
Yuan Shi-kai finish his present term
under the supervision Of a proper cab
met and national assembly.
Immediately after he became pre-
mier, Tuan Chi-jui outlined his policy
very fully to the correspondent of the
Associated Press. saying that the pres
dent had turned over full military
and civil power TO the cabinet. which
IS q provisional cabinet and will
make immediate plans to hold an elec-
ion for a national assembly within
he next three months, That assem-