n lying in the dirty pond! Leaving
out the question that it is difficult to restore the monarchy at the
present day, let us suppose that by arbitrary method we do succeed
in restoring it. You will then find that it will be impossible for
it to regain in former dignity and influence.

Turning to another aspect, the most natural course would seem to be
a revival of the last dynasty. It might have been possible for a
Charles II and Louis XVIII of China to appear again, if not for the
hatred of racial domination. But since the last dynasty was Manchu
this is out of the question. If a new dynasty were set up it would
require many years of hard labour and a great deal of organizing to
succeed. Even then only a few have succeeded in this way in
prolonging their dynasties by actually convincing the people of
their merits. Therefore for several years I have been saying to
myself that it would be easier to strengthen the country and place
it on a sounder basis if it were possible for us to return to our
monarchical state. And to revive the monarchical government there
are two ways.

One is that after thoroughly reforming the internal administration
under the leadership of the present Great President, that is, when
all the neglected affairs of the country have been well attended to,
every family in the land made happy and prosperous, the army
well-trained and all the necessary bitterness "eaten," the
President, when a suitable opportunity presented itself, should have
the rare fortune to gain a decisive victory over a foreign foe; then
his achievements would be such that the millions of people would
compel him to ascend the throne, and so he would hand his sceptre on
to his descendants for endless ages.

The second possibility is that after a second great internal
disturbance, resulting in the whole country being thrown into a
state of utter confusion and cut up into small independent states,
the President should suppress them and unite the country into one
empire. We will, of course, not pray for the second possibility to
come about as then there will be little left of the Chinese people.
And no one can be certain whether the person who shall succeed in
suppressing the internal strife will be a man of our own race or
not. Thus the result will not differ very much from national
exti