Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-03

keeping peace in this country. We
shall each give our Views concerning
the future OF our country and the ad :
Vantages and disadvantages accruiug
from the Republican form Of govern
ment for general discussion. There are
not fcw wise and far sighted people
in this country. and IL they are kind
enough to condescend to Join ZIG In the
discussion of these points. we shall
extend them our heartiest welcome
Promoters: Yang Tu, Sun Tu-yun. Yen
Fuh. Liu Shih-pci. Hu Wing"
The extent to which Yuan Shi Kai
stood back of~or was Interested in the
promotion OF this manifesto is still a
, matter of speculation. An evidently.
inspired article. however. recently APP
peared in the Picking papers in the
following form. purporting to give the
words Of President Yuan shi kai:
AT an audience with the President,
certain high official Of the govern
ment remarked that lately a certain
class OF people had promoted the Chou
An Huei tPeacc Society") to discuss
the question of the monarchial form
of government. and the latter asked the
President whether the government
! ought to take any steps to interfere
with the movement
THE President replied: Within re-
cent years, although there has not been
a society organized or meeting held
TO discuss this question. yet such re-
ports have frequently reached my
cars that they now no longer attract
my attention. Since the outbreak of
the European war, the conventional
views Of the whole world have under
gone great change. Party fueds of
u most bloody character in Mexico have
made great impression upon the mind
of both Chinese and foreigners. who
now begin to pay attention to the ad :
rantaGcs and disadvantages which will
accrue from the ncwly-eStablishcd re-
publican form OF government Being
IN this position. l only care for the
organization Of a republican form Of
government and shall refrain from any
proposal other than this.
"A few days ago. "A certain doctor
interviewed me and gave me an cx-
haustive dissertation on the advantages
ana disadvantages 70 the country ac-
cruinS from both the monarchial and
republican forms Of government.
answered him that being President
OF the republic. I was not in a position
TO discuss these questions The funda :
mental principle underlying republi-
canism is TO collect the thoughts. idea @
and the abilities Of the majority Of
the people in order to work for the han
piness and wcll-bcine Of the majority
Of the people. Judging by this, the
organization OF such a society to dis
cuss this question is not in conflict
with republican principles Then in
what way can the government Inter
fere with them?
"'On more than one occasion I have
made my intention known to the pub
lie. care neither for the sceptcr OF
monarch nor the Office OF President
The desire for life of retirement
haunts my memory. No matter what
views are entertained by those who
participate in the discussion OF this
question. ] have no cause 10 fear that
] should be suspected by the public
individually / have my person. my
family. my estates and my relatives
and what I wish is peace and happi
ness for them. cannot leave them
in neglect AS to the people of the
country, they also have their person.
their family, their property and their
relatives i, is quite reasonable for
them TO discuss the best method which
Viii insure them permanent peace and
, happiness as 1t concerns their vital
interests. Moreover. this question con-
Germs the life and death of 400, 900 600
people. and since have been entrusted
by the people with the responsibility
OF the presidential Office how can 1
interfere with such movement mere
~ for the reason that such movement
would tend TO misreprescnt me to the
public as a person who entertains
some doubtful and suspicious ambition,
while in reality I have neither intcn-
ton nor aspiration for the same. We
may regard such a movement as n
matter exclusively belonging to the