nction. As to the first possibility, we know that an exceedingly
capable man is now in a most powerful position; let him be given
time and he will soon show himself to be a man of success. Does not
the last ray of hope for China depend on this?

IX. THE UNRIPE PEAR

This is why I say we should not deliberately create trouble for the
Republic at this time to add to the worries of the Great President
so that he might devote his puissant thoughts and energies to the
institution of great reforms. Then our final hope will be satisfied
some day. But what a year and what a day we are now living in? The
great crisis (_Note: The reference is to the Japanese demands_) has
just passed and we have not yet had time for a respite. By the
pressure of a powerful neighbour we have been compelled to sign a
"certain" Treaty. Floods, drought, epidemics and locusts visit our
country and the land is full of suffering while robbers plunder the
people. In ancient times this would have been a day for the Imperial
Court to remove their ornaments and live in humiliation. What do the
people of our day mean by advising and urging the President to
ascend the throne? To pluck the fruit before it is ripe, injures the
roots of the tree; and to force the premature birth of a child kills
the mother. If the last "ray of hope" for China should be
extinguished by the failure of a premature attempt to force matters,
how could the advocates of such a premature attempt excuse
themselves before the whole country? Let the members of the Chou An
Hui meditate on this point.

The Odes say, "The people are tired. Let them have a respite." In
less than four years' time from the 8th moon of the year Hsin Hai we
have had many changes. Like a bolt from the blue we had the Manchu
Constitution, then "the Republic of Five Races," then the
Provisional President, then the formal Presidency, then the
Provisional Constitution was promulgated, then it was suddenly
amended, suddenly the National Assembly was convoked, suddenly it
was dissolved, suddenly we had a Cabinet System, suddenly it was
changed to a Presidential System, suddenly it was a short-term
Presidency, suddenly it was a life-term Presidency, suddenly the
Provisional Constitution was temporarily placed in a legal position
as a Permanent Constitution, suddenly the drafti