Mr. Hu:  Wealth and strength is the object of the country, and a constitutional government is the means to realizing this object.  In the past able rulers could accomplish their purpose without a constitutional government.  We refer to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Tai Chung of the Tang Dynasty.  However, when these able rulers died their system of administration died with them.  This contention can be supported by numerous historical instances; but suffice to say that in China as well as in Europe, the lack of a constitutional government has been the cause of the weakness of most of the nations in ancient times.  Japan was never known as a strong nation until she adopted a constitutional government.  The reason is this:  when there is no constitutional government, the country cannot continue to carry out a definite policy.

Within comparatively recent times there was born in Europe the constitutional form of government.  European nations adopted it, and they became strong.  The most dangerous fate that can confront a nation is that after the death of an able ruler the system of administration he has established disappears with him; but this the constitutional form of government is able to avert.  Take for instance William I of Germany who is dead but whose country continues to this day strong and prosperous.  It is because of constitutional government.  The same is true of Japan, which has adopted constitutional government and which is becoming stronger and stronger every day.  The change of her executive cannot affect her progress in respect of her strength.  From this it is quite clear that constitutional government is a useful instrument for building up a country.  It is a government with a set of fixed laws which guard the actions of both the people and the president none of whom can overstep the boundary as specified in the laws.  No ruler, whether be he a good man or a bad man, can change one iota of the laws.  The people reap the benefit of this in consequence.  It is easy to make a country strong and rich but it is difficult to establish a constitutional government.  When a constitutional government has been established, everything will take care of itself, prosperity following naturally enough.  The adoption of a constitutional government at the present moment can be compared to the problem of a derailed train.  It is hard to put the train back on the track, but once on the track it is very easy to move the train.  What we should worry about is not how to make the country rich and prosperous, but how to form a genuine constitutional government.  Therefore I say that if China desires to be strong and prosperous, she should first of all adopt the constitutional form of government.

Mr. Ko:  I do not understand why it is that a monarchy should be established before the constitutional form of government can be formed?