But it is hopeless to give a correct comprehensive estimate of what was being done. All we knew was that China was changing--in some places for the worse, in others for the better, but changing irrevocably, and it was only in the final balancing could one see how things were to "pan out." On March 10, 1912, Yuan Shih K'ai took the Oath, which read as follows:-- "Since the Republic has been established, many works have now to be performed. I shall endeavour faithfully to develop the Republic, to sweep away the disadvantages attached to absolute monarchy, to observe the laws of the Constitution, to increase the welfare of the country, to cement together a strong nation which shall embrace all five races. When the National Assembly elects a permanent President, I shall retire. This I swear before the Chinese Republic." {214} The following is a detailed statement, as translated from the Chinese, of the conditions of the Provisional Republican Constitution:-- THE PROVINCIAL REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION. _Chapter 1. General._ Article 1.--The Republic of China is established by the people of China. Article 2.--The sovereignty of the Republic of China is vested in the whole body of the people. Article 3.--The territory of the Republic of China consists of the twenty-two provinces, Inner and Outer Mongolia, Tibet, and Kokonor. Article 4.--The Republic of China will exercise its governing rights through the National Assembly, Provisional President, Ministers of State and Courts of Justice. _Chapter II. People._ Article 5.--The People of the Republic of China will be treated equally without any distinction of race, class, or religion. Article 6.--The People will enjoy the following liberties:-- 1. No citizen can be arrested, detained, tried, or punished unless in accordance with the law. 2. The residence of any person can only be entered or searched in accordance with the law. 3. People have the liberty of owning property and of trade. 4. People have the liberty of discussion, authorship, publication, meeting, and forming societies. 5. People have the liberty of secrecy of letters. 6. People have liberty of movement. 7. People have liberty of religion. Article 7.--People have the right of petition to the Assembly. Article 8.--People have the right of petition to the administrative offices. {215} Article 9.--People have the right of trial at legal courts. Article 10.--People have the right to appeal to the Court of Administrative Litigation against any act of officials who have illegally infringed their rights. Article 11.--People have the right of being examined to become officials. Article 12.--People have the right of election and being elected to representative assemblies. Article 13.--People have the duty of paying taxes in accordance with law. Article 14.--People have the duty of serving in the army in accordance with law.