Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28
CHINA: REPUBLIC OR MONARCHY?

VII mVlVVXlVXX i .
announced that the republican regime
was unsuited to China" another would
have the American public believe that
the real significance OF Yuan Sha
Kai's acceptance OF the dragon throne
of China at this time does not appear
on the surface. but lies behind a veil OF
diplomatic intrigue. with Japan a.
more, the same gentleman expressed
the opinion that President Yuan Shi
kat is the one strong man of China, and
IL does not make any difference whether
the government is a so-called republic
or monarchy. so long Yuan Shi
kat continues to run IL with practically
autocratic powers.
There are many distinguished Chinese
statesmen who challenge and repudiate
these opinions as wholly
Contrary unjust and even mis-
chievous. Mr. Tang Shao
oPiAAoAS. VI and Mr.. WI Ting fang.
for example. know Yuan Shi Kai per-
sonally. and believe. on the contrary.
that the republican regime is very well
suited to China Let US hear what
rang Snao II mas 10 say ABDUL Ano
situation.
The writer has had frequent occasion
to mention Yuan Shi kai and Tang
Shao vi in The star when discussing
political events in Korea. where the
writer in his diplomatic and consular
capacity was offcially associated with
both Gss7-1ss9). Yuan at that time
was Chinese commissioner. residing in
Seoul. and Tang Shao vi was secretary
Yuan was never considered by his col
leagues as a strong man mentally, but
physically a ponderous, fat and jolly
good fellow. with immense capacity Tor
consumption of foodstuffs and "saki.
Crafty and full of intrigue certainly.
but with no attribute of greatness
Tang. on the contrary, was graduate
of Harvard and was considered the
brains of the Chinese residency. When
the writer heard that there had been
disagreement and separation between
Yuan and Tang he concluded that. lett
to steer his bark alone. Yuan would
soon be shipwrecked. and SO it has
proved.
A dispatch dated Shanghai. March 2s.
reads thus: Tang Shao vi tChina's spe-
cial envoy to the United States in 1908
and subsequently premier) in an inter
view states that he telegraphed Yuan
Shi kai urging him to accede to the
wishes of a large majority of the peo-
pie of China and retire from the gov
eminent.
Tang furthermore expressed tne
opinion that Yuan's attempt to restore
the monarchy had created much popu-
lar resentment against Yuan. Tang
suggested that Ii Yuen Heng. vice
president should be made president.
An interview with Tang Shao vi. pub
lished in the New York Times Maya
zine of May 81 is so
Whv Yuan Is timely and instructive
that I make the follow
Opposed. ing extracts:
Our people are against Yuan. not
only because he has tried to establish
monarchy. but because he has broken
his oath to the state.
"A republic is the best form of gov
eminent for China The Chinese spirit
from the time of Confuclus ana Meh-
cius has been democratic.
THE president has lost face COM
pletely and he will have to resign. l
have told him he can never again win
the confidence of his people. They see
that he has neither the courage nor
strength that have been attributed to
him. He will become the laughing
stock of foreign countries and OF China
Since | resigned my post in June,
1912, there is no one who dares to
dares criticise him or offer him real
advice. But it is the will of the think.
ing people that Yuan resign. Even II
we have hundred revolutions the re-
public must stay.
"When Yuan is forced to resign the
vice president will become the presi-
dent automatically. We Will have con-
fidence in the constitution and the vice
president until the two houses are re-
formed. He is not a brilliant man. but
he Is a man of good moral character
and he can be trusted to uphold the
bulwark of the republic. The new con-
stitution will probably be modelled after
the French system, with responsible
cabinet formed by the premier subject
to the veto power of the president.
The intelligence bureaus of the ie-
cations are not good. The Europeans
are jealous because the Japanese are
the first to be acquainted with the facts
of the political situation. but that rs
because the Japanese consular stan and
legations are clever enough to mingle
with our people. Even your own MIN
lister. DR.. Reinsch. does not understand
our people. DR.. Goodnow was used
simply as tool. He is a great scholar
a professor, citizen of great repuh-
lie. but he was duped by the monarch
list faction. because he did not have
real insight into the situation.
MY foreign friends are constantly
saying TO me that Yuan Shi kai is the
only man who can rule China. i tell
them | feel sorry for my country"
Tang then asked his interlocutor If
she had met his daughter, Mrs. Well
ington Koo. adding, sententiously, Il
see that my son-in-law has made a
statement for the American press on
the monarchy side. | wish he would
come home, Yuan is not the master to
serve"
May the revolutionists. according to
a dispatch from Shanghai. had agreed
to form an Independent
Independent republic. composed OF
Yunnam kwei how.
Republic. Kwangrun, ngsi.
Chanchun. Hsnan was elected presi-
dent and Tang Chi kao vice president.
with LANG Chi Chao premier.
A later dispatch announces the assas-
sination of Gen. Chin Chi Mel. assas-
sination ascribed to Yuan Shi kaI on
the authority of Ma 500. formerly prl-
yate secretary to DIR. sun Vat Sen, and
recently the editor of the China Repub-
lican.
In March. 1913. when Yuan Shi kai
Sung Chiao len, Ak republican leader,
Gen. Chen demanded that the president
be impeached When Yuan Shi kai
concluded a large loan with the four
power banking group, Gen. Chen took
up arms in defense of the constitution.
Gen Chen was defeated, and during the
reign of terror that followed he Ned
to Japan where he remained until
Yuan's proclamation of the monarchy.