ned to the anxiety of one who, fearing that the
heavens may some day fall on him, strives to ward off the
catastrophe. If his words should be misunderstood, it would only
increase his offence. Time and again he has essayed to write; but
each time he has stopped short. Now he is going South to visit his
parents; and looking at the Palace-Gate from afar, he realizes that
he is leaving the Capital indefinitely. The thought that he has been
a protege of the Great President and that dangers loom ahead before
the nation as well as his sense of duty and friendly obligations,
charge him with the responsibility of saying something. He therefore
begs to take the liberty of presenting his humble but extravagant
views for the kind consideration of the Great President.

The problem of _Kuo-ti_ (form of State) appears to have gone too far
for reconsideration: the position is like unto a man riding on the
back of a wild tiger.... Ch'i-chao therefore at one moment thought
he would say no more about it, since added comment thereon might
make him all the more open to suspicion. But a sober study of the
general situation and a quiet consideration of the possible future
make him tremble like an autumn leaf; for the more he meditates, the
more dangerous the situation appears. It is true that the minor
trouble of "foreign advice" and rebel plotting can be settled and
guarded against; but what Ch'i-chao bitterly deplores is that the
original intention of the Great President to devote his life and
energy to the interest of the country--an intention he has fulfilled
during the past four years--will be difficult to explain to the
world in future. The trust of the world in the Great President would
be shattered with the result that the foundation of the country will
be unsettled. Do not the Sages say: "In dealing with the people aim
at faithfulness?" If faithfulness to promises be observed by those
in authority, then the people will naturally surrender themselves.
Once, however, a promise is broken, it will be as hard to win back
the people's trust as to ascend to the very Heavens. Several times
have oaths of office been uttered; yet even before the lips are dry,
action hath falsified the words of promise. In these circumstances,
how can one hope to send forth his orders to the country in the
future, and expec