those August days of 1915 until the 6th June of the succeeding year, when Fate had her own grim revenge, Peking was given up to one of the most amazing episodes that has ever been chronicled in the dramatic history of the capital.  It was as if the old city walls, which had looked down on so much real drama, had determined to lend themselves to the staging of an unreal comedy.  For from first to last the monarchy movement had something unreal about it, and might have been the scenario of some vast picture-play.  It was acting pure and simple—­acting done in the hope that the people might find it so admirable that they would acclaim it as real, and call the Dictator their King.  But it is time to turn to the arguments of Yang Tu and allow a Chinese to picture the state of his country: 

A DEFENCE OF THE MONARCHICAL MOVEMENT PART I

Mr. Ko (or ’the stranger’):  Since the establishment of the Republic four years have passed, and upon the President depends the preservation of order at home and the maintenance of prestige abroad.  I suppose that after improving her internal administration for ten or twenty years, China will become a rich and prosperous country, and will be able to stand in the front rank with western nations.

Mr. Hu:  No!  No!  If China does not make any change in the form of government there is no hope for her becoming strong and rich; there is even no hope for her having a constitutional government.  I say that China is doomed to perish.

Mr. Ko:  Why so?

Mr. Hu:  The republican form of government is responsible.  The Chinese people are fond of good names, but they do not care much about the real welfare of the nation.  No plan to save the country is possible.  The formation of the Republic as a result of the first revolution has prevented that.

Mr. Ko:  Why is it that there is no hope of China’s becoming strong?

Mr. Hu:  The people of a republic are accustomed to listen to the talk of equality and freedom which must affect the political and more especially the military administration.  In normal circumstances both the military and student classes are required to lay great emphasis upon unquestioned obedience and respect for those who hold high titles.  The German and Japanese troops observe strict discipline and obey the orders of their chiefs.  That is why they are regarded as the best soldiers in the world.  France and America are in a different position.  They are rich but not strong.  The sole difference is that Germany and Japan are ruled by monarchs while France and America are republics.  Our conclusion therefore is that no republic can be strong.