CHINA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1876, 9 October 1913, Page 7

CHINA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

LI YUAN-HUNG, VICE-PRESIDENT. A REIGN OF CHAOS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Peking, October 7. General Li Yuan-Hung has been elected Vice-President. Japan and Russia have recognised tho Republic of China. HOW YUAN SHIH-KAI HEADED ' THE POLL. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. Peking, October 7. General Yuan Sliih-liai's election was a foregone conclusion, mainly because he was ablo to exorcise force over tho nominally-representative bodies assembled hero. Few foreigners believe the Chinese capablo of restoring order without foreign assistance. Chaos reigns over a large portion of the country. "On tho day on which the Republic was proclaimed J announced to the whole hation that never again shall a monarchy be permitted in China," wrote tho Chinese Napoleon, Yuan Shih-Itai, in a remarkable personal document, in ,which lie called on the world to believe that he had.been a convert to Republican ideas long before the revolution broke out, and took higli heaven to witness that ho would never be false to the charge the _ nation had confided to him. "At my inauguration (as provisional 'President of the newlyproclaimed Republic) I again took this solemn oath in tho sight of heaven above and earth beneath. Yet of lato ignorant persons in the provinces have fabricated wild rumours to delude men's minds, and liave adduced tho career of the First Napoleon on which to base their erroneous speculations. It were best, not to inquire as to Mieir motives; in some eases misconception maj be the cause, in others deliberate malioe. The Republic has now been proclaimed for six months; so far there is no prospect of recognition from the Powers, while order is far from being restored in the provinces. Our fate hangs upon a hair; the slightest negligence may forfeit all. I, who bear this arduous responsibility, feel it my bounden duty to stand at the helm in the liope of successfully breasting the wild waves. "But," continues the document, "while those in office ore striving with 'all their might to effect a satisfactory solution, spectators seem to find a difficulty in maintaining a generous forbearance. They forget that I, who have received this charge from my countrymen, cannot possibly look dispassionately on when the fate of the nation is in the balance. If I were aware that the task was impossible and played a part of easy acquiescence, so that tho future of tho Republic might become irreparable, others might not reproach me, but my own conscience would never leave me alone. Once moro I issue this announcement: If you. my fellowcountrymen, do indeed place the safety of China before all other considerations, it behoves you to bo large-minded. Beware of lightly heeding tho plausible, voice of calumny, and of thus furnishing a medium for fosteriw? nnnrchv. If evillydisposed persons, who are bent on destruction, seize the excuse for sowing dissension to the jeopardy of the situation, I, Yuan Shih-Kai, shall follow the (behest of my fel low-conn trvm en in placing, such men beyond the pale of humanity.'