Respecting Parliament, its re-assembly was one of the two most important conditions by means of which the political differences between the North and the South last year were healed.  The dissolution of Parliament would mean the violation of the terms of settlement entered into between the North and the South last year and an open challenge to the South.  Would the South remain silent respecting this outrageous measure?  If the South rises in arms against this measure, what explanation can the Central Government give?  It will only serve to hasten the split between the North and the South.  From a legal point of view, the Power of Government is vested in the Provisional Constitution.  When the Government exercises power which is not provided for by the Constitution, it simply means high treason.

Some one has suggested that it would not be an illegal act for the Government to dissolve Parliament, since it is not provided in the Provisional Constitution as to how Parliament should be dissolved, nor does that instrument specifically prohibit the Government from dissolving Parliament.  But this is a misinterpretation.  For instance, the Provisional Constitution has not provided that the President shall not proclaim himself Emperor, nor does it prohibit him from so doing.  According to such interpretation, it would not be illegal, if the President were to proclaim himself Emperor of the country.

In short, the action taken by Ni Shih-chung and others is nothing short of open rebellion.  From the legal point of view, any suggestion of compromise would be absurd.  It has already been a fatal mistake for the President to have allowed them to do what they like, and if he again yields to their pressure by dissolving Parliament, he will be held responsible, when the righteous troops rise and punish the rebels.  If the President, deceived by ignoble persons, take upon himself to dissolve the assembly, his name will go down in history as one committing high treason against the Government, and the author of the break between the North and the South.  The President has been known as the man by whose hands the Republic was built.  We have special regard for his benevolent character and kind disposition.  We are reluctant to see him intimidated and misled by evil counsels to take a step which will undo all his meritorious services to the country and shatter the unique reputation he has enjoyed.

The unrolling of these dramatic events was the signal for the greatest subterranean activity on the part of the Japanese, who were now everywhere seen rubbing their hands and congratulating themselves on the course history was taking.  General Tanaka, Vice-Chief of the Japanese General Staff, who had been on an extensive tour of inspection in China, so planned as to include every arsenal north of the Yangtsze had arrived at the psychological moment in Peking and was now deeply engaged through