the tendency of which can easily be ascertained by searching for the facts.  If the will of the people that the country should be the common property of the Nation be obeyed and the idea of the President that a Dynasty is as cheap as a worn-out shoe is heeded, the latter has it in his power to loosen the string that suspends the bell just as much as the person who has hung it.  If the wrong path is not forsaken, it is feared that as soon as the heart of the people is gone, the country will be broken to pieces and the dismemberment of the Nation will take place when alien pressure is applied to us.  We who have hitherto received favours from the President and have received high appointments from him hereby offer our faithful advice in the spirit of men who are sailing in common in a boat that is in danger; we speak as do those who love sincerity and cherish the unbroken word.  We hope that the President will, with courage, refuse to listen to the speech of evil counsellors and heed the voice of conscience and of honour.  We further hope that he will renew his promise to protect the Republic; and will publicly swear that a monarchical system will never again appear.

Thus the heart of the people will be settled and the foundations of the Nation will be consolidated.  Then by enlisting the services of sagacious colleagues in order to surmount the difficulties of the time and sweeping away all corruption and beginning anew with the people, it may be that the welfare and interest of the Nation will be furthered.  In sending this telegram our eyes are wet with tears, knowing not what more to say.  We respectfully await the order of the President with our troops under arms.

    (Signed) THE GOVERNORS OF YUNNAN.

    SECOND TELEGRAM

    For the Perusal of the Great President:—­

In our humble opinion the reason why the people—­Chinese and foreign—­cannot excuse the President is because the movement for the change of Kuo-ti has been inspired, and indeed actually originated in Peking, and that the ringleaders of the plot against the Min Kuo are all “bosom-men” of the President.  The Chou An Hui, organized by Yang Tu and five other men, set the fire ablaze and the circular telegram sent by Chu Chi-chien and six other persons precipitated the destruction of the Republican structure.  The President knew that the bad deed was being done and yet he did nothing to arrest the same or punish the evil-doers.  The people therefore, are suspicious.  A mandate was issued on the 24th of the 11th month of the 3rd year in which it is affirmed:  “Democracy and republicanism are laid down in the Constitutional Compact; and there is also a law relating to the punishment of those who spread sedition in order to disturb the minds of the people.  If any one Shall hereafter dare to advance strange doctrines and misconstrue the meaning of the Constitution, he will be punished severely in accordance with the law of sedition.”