Page:Stanley Kuhl Hornbeck - The Situation in China (1927).djvu/5

 During the past fourteen years, some eight political leaders have held the highest office in Peking; some forty-two recognizable Cabinets have functioned there; and some nine Parliaments have met. At the present moment there is no recognized Chief Executive. There is no Parliament in being. There is no constitution in force. There is no uniform system of laws. The work of elaborating new codes of law on western models has been carried forward, and several of the codes have been declared in effect by Executive Mandate, but there are gaps, and certain codes which are nominally in effect have not been adopted by the recognized legal processes prescribed in any of the Constitutions which have been, from time to time, in effect.

Governments at Peking have been made and unmade by military leaders. In 1924 President Tsao Kun's Government was overthrown by a coup d'etat manipulated by Feng Yu-hsiang, the "Christian General." Feng imprisoned Tsao Kun, and then, by agreement with Marshal Chang Tso-lin, of Manchuria, placed Tuan Chi-jui in authority as "Provisional Chief Executive." Tsao was held prisoner in the palace until, in the spring of 1926, Feng's forces were driven from Peking; he was then released, but was not restored to office. When, in April 1926, the combined forces of Chang Tso-lin and Wu Pei-fu took Peking, Feng's forces withdrew to the northwest, and the Provisional Chief Executive, Tuan Chi-jui, left Peking hurriedly and unceremoniously. For several days there-