The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-29
YUAN WOULD QUIT CHINA
IF ASKED TO TAKE GROWN
Biggest Fool Is He Who
Would Be Emperor"
He Says.

"The biggest fool in the world is he
who desires to be an emperor
President Yuan Shih-k'ai of the Chi
nese Republic does not desire to class
himself in the category of fools, accord
ing to his own confession of faith" set
forth in an interview published by the
Asia All Pdo tAsid Daily NcicsJ, a Con-
SENTATIVE Chinese paper. A translation
OF this interview was given out by the
Far Eastern bureau yesterday. Prof.
jeremiah w. jerks. director of the
bureau, represented that he was firmly
convinced of Yuan Shih-k'ai's sincerity
In refusing to acquiesce in the pleadings
of some of his followers to make him
self Emperor of China
Prof. jerks said the force behind the
monarchical propaganda in china was
believed to be a secret combination OF
Chinese revolutionaries in exile. There
is also evidence, he believed. that
underground japanese diplomacy was
at work to bring about the change In
China the inference being that Japan
may in the event of a revolution take a
hand In establishing ORDER
The opinion of local Chinese is quoted
By Prof. jerks as being that the
revolution OF 1911 will have been nothing
compared to the wholesale uprising that
would follow a coup d'etat by the
Chinese President"
DR.. jerks repeated his doubts concern
ing the report that President Goodnow
OF Johns Hopkins University. who is
Suan's adviser on constitutional law,
actually advised the President to declare
himself En1npTnr hnt Thought that Ilr
Goodnow merely suggested that the
m~onarchical form of government was
better suited for China than the re-
publican form.
Won't Sacrifice P%osterity.
A translation of Yuan's interview in
the Chinese paper follows:
The biggest fool In the world is he
who desires TO be an emperor. For the
sake of my country I nave almost sacri-
feed my life. and ! am not willing to
sacrifice the lives of my sons and
grandsons. especially as the country
would not profit by such sacrifice.
AT the time when the first revolu-
ton was spreading all over the country
the imperial household earnestly re-
quested me to be Emperor. but l
solemnly swore that ! would never ac-
cept any such proposal. How absurd /,
H. for people TO say that / have now
changed my mind.
Later on. when the whole country
was In a state OF anarchy and the people
suffered untold miseries, Empress Lung
yu again pleaded with me. time after
time. hat | should assume the reins OF
the nation so that the lives of the En-
press and her son might be preserved
In order TO ave the country from ruiz
and the imperial family from threat.
ened calamity !, resigning myself to the
possible sacrifice Of my own life. as
sumed the heavy task OF restoring order
Should I now, AZ this later date. carry
into effect the wishes of the late En-
press and become Emperor l wou com
nit an act of deception upon the i'm
perial widow and royal orphan, an act
which could well be characterized as
most outrageous and most unrighteous
Sees No BeneHt to China.
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