The Fight for the Republic in ChinaPutnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
History
The Fight for the Republic in China
Putnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
China -- History -- Republic, 1912-1949; China -- Politics and government
(4) Dated July 3. To Vice-President Feng, Tu Chuns and Governors of
the Provinces, Provincial Assemblies, Inspector General Lu:--I
presume that the two telegrams dated 1st and one dated 3rd inst.
have safely reached your place. With bitter remorse to myself I now
make the statement that the political crisis has resulted in
affecting the form of government. Tuan Chih-chuan has been appointed
on the 1st inst. as Premier; and the Vice-President has been asked
to exercise the power and functions of the President in accordance
of office by the Vice-President. Premier Tuan is authorized to act
at his discretion. All the seal and documents have been sent to
Tientsin, and Premier Tuan has been told to keep and guard the same
for the time being. He has also been asked to forward the same to
the Vice-President. The body guards of the President's Office have
suddenly been replaced and I have been pressed to give up the Three
Lakes. Yuan-hung has therefore removed to a sanctuary. As regards
the means to save the country I trust that you will consult and work
unitedly with Vice-President Feng and Premier Tuan. In great
expectation, and with much of my heart not poured out.
Li Yuan-hung.
Meanwhile, whilst these dramatic events were occurring in Peking, others
no less sensational were taking place in the provinces. The Tientsin
group, suddenly realizing that the country was in danger, took action
very swiftly, disclosing that in spite of all disputes Republicanism had
become very dear to every thinking man in the country, and that at last
it was possible to think of an united China. The Scholar Liang Chi Chao,
spokesman of Chinese Liberalism, in an extraordinarily able message
circularized the provinces in terms summarizing everything of
importance. Beginning with the fine literary flight that "heaven has
refused to sympathize with our difficulties by allowing traitors to be
born" he ends with the astounding phrase that although he had proposed
to remain silent to the end of his days, "at the sight of the fallen
nest he has, however, spat the stopper out of his throat," and he calls
upon all China to listen to his words which are simply that the Republic
must be upheld or dissolution will come.
Arms now united with Literature. General Tuan Chi-jui, immediately
accepting the burden placed on him, proceeded to the main entrenched
camp outside Tientsin and assumed command of the troops massed there,
issuing at the same time the following manifesto:
TUAN CHI-JUI'S MANIFESTO
To Vice-President Feng Kuo-chang, Inspector General of Wumin, Tu
Chuns, Governors, Tu-tungs....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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