Friday's news from Peking shows the rapid way in which
the forces of constitutional revolution are working. The Times correspondent, telegraphing on Thursday, tells us that the situation is now as follows : " The Throne is crushed and humiliated by recent events ; the Princes are bewailing their lost power and the Manchus their lost privileges. Yuan Shih-kai, having arrived near Hankau, will begin parleying with the revolutionary leader in the hope of pacifying the rebels by compromise and discontinuing the work of suppression with bloodshed. Having ageertained the revo- lutionary views, Yuan Shih-kai, supported by the National Assembly, will endeavour to effect reconciliation on the basis of a constitutional monarchy responsible to the Cabinet and to Par- liament, and if successful will attempt to moderate the aspirations of the more extreme Republican movement in the southern provinces. An edict to-night constitutes a further success for the National Assembly, who are now conceded the task of drafting the Constitution, whereas previously they had only advisory, not legislative, powers."
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