great change took place:  His Excellency retired to his native province; and after losing this powerful leader the constitutional party was pitilessly shattered.  A monarchist party suddenly made its appearance on the political arena to assist the imperial family, which pretended to do its very best for the development of a constitutional government, but secretly exerted itself to the utmost for the possession and retention of the real power.  This double-dealing resulted in bringing about the revolution of 1911.  For instance, when the people cried for the convening of a parliament, the imperial family said “No.”  The people also failed to secure the abolition of certain official organs for the imperialists.  They lost confidence in the Reigning House, and simultaneously the revolutionary party raised its banner and gathered its supporters from every part of the country.  As soon as the revolt started at Wuchang the troops all over the country joined in the movement to overthrow the Manchu Dynasty.  The members of the Imperial Senate, most of whom were members of the constitutional party, could not help showing their sympathy with the revolutionists.  At last the imperial household issued a proclamation containing Nineteen Articles—­a veritable magna carta—­but it was too late.  The constitutional government which was about to be formed was thus laid aside.  What the imperial family did was the mere organization of an advisory council.  A famous foreign scholar aptly remarked:  “A false constitutional government will eventually result in a true revolution.”  In trying to deceive the people by means of a false constitutional government the imperial house encompassed its own destruction.  Once His Excellency Yuan Shih-kai stated in a memorial to the throne that there were only two alternatives:  to give the people a constitutional government or to have them revolt.  What happened afterwards is a matter of common knowledge.  Therefore I say that the government which the imperial family attempted to form was not a constitutional government.

Mr. Ko:  Thank you for your discussion of the attempt of the imperial household to establish a constitutional government; but how about the Provisional Constitution, the parliament and the cabinet in the first and second years of the Republic?  The parliament was then so powerful that the government was absolutely at its mercy, thereby disturbing the peaceful condition of the country.  The people have tasted much of the bitterness of constitutional government.  Should you mention the name of constitutional government again they would be thoroughly frightened.  Is that true?