Look at the people of China today!  They know that something terrible is going to come sooner or later.  They dare not think of the future.  The corrupt official lines his pocket with unrighteous money, preparing to flee to foreign countries or at least to the Foreign Settlements for safety.  The cautious work quietly and do not desire to earn merit but merely try to avoid giving offence.  The scholars and politicians are grandiloquent and discourse upon their subjects in a sublime vein, but they are no better than the corrupt officials.  As for our President, he can remain at the head of the State for a few years.  At most he may hold office for several terms,—­or perhaps for his whole life.  Then questions must arise as to who shall succeed him; how to elect his successor; how many rivals will there be; whether their policies will be different from his, etc., etc.  He personally has no idea regarding the solution of these questions.  Even if the president is a sagacious and capable man, he will not be able to make a policy for the country or fix a Constitution which will last for a hundred years.  Because of this he is driven merely to adopt a policy so as to maintain peace in his own country and to keep the nation intact so long as he may live.  In the circumstances such a president can be considered the best executive head we can have.  Those who are worshippers of the constitutional government cannot do more than he does.  Here we find the reason for the silence of the former advocates of a constitutional administration.  They have realized that by the formation of the republic the fundamental problem of the country has been left unsolved.  In this wise it happens that the situation is something like this.  Whilst the country is governed by an able president, the people enjoy peace and prosperity.  But once an incapable man assumes the presidency, chaos will become the order of the day, a state of affairs which will finally lead to the overthrow of the president himself and the destruction of the country.  In such circumstances, how can you devise a general policy for the country which will last for a hundred years?  I say that there is no hope for China establishing a truly constitutional government.

Mr. Ko:  In your opinion there is no hope for China becoming strong and rich or for her acquiring a constitutional government.  She has no choice save ultimately to disappear.  And yet is there no plan possible whereby she may be saved?

Mr. Hu:  If China wishes to save herself from ultimate disappearance from the face of the earth, first of all she must get rid of the republic.  Should she desire wealth and strength, she must adopt a constitutional government.  Should she want constitutional government she must first establish a monarchy.

Mr. Ko:  How is it that should China desire wealth and strength she must first adopt the constitutional form of government?