On February 12, three important edicts were issued.  In the first, the baby-emperor renounces the throne, and approves the establishment of a provisional republican government, under the direction of Yuean Shih-k`ai, in conjunction with the existing provisional government at Nanking.  In the second, approval is given to the terms under which the emperor retires, the chief item of which was an annual grant of four million taels.  Other more sentimental privileges included the retention of a bodyguard, and the continuance of sacrifices to the spirits of the departed Manchu emperors.  In the third, the people are exhorted to preserve order and abide by the Imperial will regarding the new form of government.

Simultaneously with the publication of these edicts, the last scene of the drama was enacted near Nanking, at the mausoleum of the first sovereign of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644).  Sun Yat-sen, as provisional first president, accompanied by his Cabinet and a numerous escort, proceeded thither, and after offering sacrifice as usual, addressed, though a secretary, the following oration to the tablet representing the names of that great hero:—­

“Of old the Sung dynasty became effete, and the Kitan Tartars and Yuean dynasty Mongols seized the occasion to throw this domain of China into confusion, to the fierce indignation of gods and men.  It was then that your Majesty, our founder, arose in your wrath from obscurity, and destroyed those monsters of iniquity, so that the ancient glory was won again.  In twelve years you consolidated the Imperial sway, and the dominions of the Great Yue were purged of pollution and cleansed from the noisome Tartar.  Often in history has our noble Chinese race been enslaved by petty frontier barbarians from the north.  Never have such glorious triumphs been won over them as your Majesty achieved.  But your descendants were degenerate, and failed to carry on your glorious heritage; they entrusted the reins of government to bad men, and pursued a short-sighted policy.  In this way they encouraged the ambitions of the eastern Tartar savages (Manchus), and fostered the growth of their power.  They were thus able to take advantage of the presence of rebels to invade and possess themselves of your sacred capital.  From a bad eminence of glory basely won, they lorded it over this most holy soil, and our beloved China’s rivers and hills were defiled by their corrupting touch, while the people fell victims to the headman’s axe or the avenging sword.  Although worthy patriots and faithful subjects of your dynasty crossed the mountain ranges into Canton and the far south, in the hope of redeeming the glorious Ming tradition from utter ruin, and of prolonging a thread of the old dynasty’s life, although men gladly perished one after the other in the forlorn attempt, heaven’s wrath remained unappeased, and mortal designs failed to achieve success.  A brief and melancholy page was added to the history of your dynasty, and that was all.