The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-12-19
YUAN SHIN RA'S
PERSONAL VIEWS
Talks Frankly With an American
Reporter on Aim Of His
Administration.

YUAN sHIH.KAi, the Chinese Prem.
Ter, has granted an exclusive Interview
to '. X. Obi, the Picking representa-.
tive Of the New York Herald, which ap.
pears In the Herald OF November 90.
Tho interview was, in effect moos-
age 10 the American people.
81 have asked you to come" he
said to Mr.. Obi, "because ] am partio.
ularly anxious thar there shall be no
miseonception Of my position in Amer
lea, where China has so many friends
and we'll wishsrs.
al judge from the newspaper reports
that the advocates Of republic for
China have stirred sympathetic chord
in American hearts. This, doubtless, is
natural, but 1 am sure the most en-
thuslastic republican, If familiar with
conditions in China, would doubt the
wisdom of the adoption of such a regime
here.
''The form Of government suitable to
America, where all the people under
stand governmental problems, would DO
a most serious experiment in China,
where through the centuries crude
patriarchal monarchy, whose very slack
ness has developed in the people little
respect for government, and less under.
standing of their responsibilities to.
ward the government. has existed.
cit has been already demonstrated
that the agitation for a republic has
conveyed to the masses only the idea
that popular government means no tax.
es and no government.
1T is the vast majority, not the small
minority, which must be conBidered in
determining the most workable form of
government for any country. While a
republic might suit modern, educated
people, such class, it must be remem-
berod, is a comparatively small fraction
of China Is population.
Gin this element spirit of nation
alism has grown up, wiping out in some
measure sectional and provincial pre-
JUDGES, but among the masses these pre-
judices are strong.
81 fear the embarkation of China on
the republic experiment would only
lead to the dissolution of the Empire,
foreign intervention and the partition
of the country. Therefore / believe a
constitutional monarchy is best.
"While the Mnnehu dynasty has
done nothing to draw to 1t the hearts of
the people, yet l cannot see any better
hope in anything that could now be sub
stituted.
"We have obtained in the constitu-
tional bill of rights full power to create
a government of the people, with the
Throne as a mere figurehead. To take
full advantage of this opportunity
would, in my judgement, bring peace,
stability and normal conditions much
more rapidly than is dttainable by en-
barking on the republic experiment,
which manifeBtly is unsuited to existing
conditions.
"My love for China and the Chinese
people is certainly as great as that of
any advocate. of republic. My sim
certify in the cause of reform is de.
monstrated have undertaken my
present task not through q desire for
power or love Of fame, but solely in the
hope of restoring order out of chaos, Of
bringing about stability and preventing
China Is dissolution.
"The job is as thankless as il is
stupendous. am being subjected to
suspicion, criticism and attack from all
sides, but / am still hopeful of reaching
some compromise that will satisfy all
those sincerely DESTROYS of preserving
the integrity of the empire and restor.
ing peace"
Mr.. Obi asked what his attitude was
toward the proposed congress to obtain
the views of the provinces.
sour favored project" he replied,
sis to gather together the representa-
tives who enjoy the confidence of the
people of the different provinces with
a view to learning, through discussion,
what form of government they desire.
/ believe that on sober second thought
all reasonable men viii be favorable
to a constitutional monarchy"
But, asked, "what if they de-
eide for a republicf"
Yuan 8 reply was epigrammatic:-
''The inevitable" he said, "is al.
ways the inevitable"