is to be
unfaithful, grasping for gains is not the way of a gentleman, taking
advantage of another's difficulties is to be mean and joining the
larger in numbers is cowardice. How can we be a nation, if we throw
away all these fundamental qualities.

"Even in the press of England and the United States, there is
opposition to America entering the war. If we observe neutrality, we
are not bound to any side; and when the time comes for peace--as a
friend to both sides--we may be able to bring about the ends of the
war. Is this not a service to humanity and the true spirit of
civilization?

"Now it is proposed to take the existence of this great nation of
five thousand years and four hundred million people in order to
serve the interests of politicians in their party struggles. We are
now to be bound to foreign nations, without freedom to act for
ourselves and running great risks of national destruction. Can you
gentlemen bear to see this come to pass? China has severed relations
with Germany but the decision for war has not yet been reached. The
whole country is telegraphing opposition to the Government's policy
and wants to know whether Germany will not in the future take
revenge on account of our rupture with her; and if we are not
secured against this eventuality, what are the preparations to meet
with a contingency? The Government must not stake the fate of the
nation as if it be a child's toy, and the people must not be cast
into the whirlpool of slaughter. The people are the backbone of a
country, and if the people are all opposed to war on Germany, the
Government--in spite of the support of Parliament--must call a great
citizens' convention to decide the question. We must persist in our
neutrality. You gentlemen are patriotic sons of this country and
must know that the existence of China as a nation depends upon what
she does now in this matter. In tears, I appeal to you.

"KANG YU-WEI."

March and April were consumed in this fruitless discussion in which
everybody participated. The Premier, General Tuan Chi-jui, in view of
the alleged provincial opposition, now summoned to Peking a Conference
of Provincial Military Governors to endorse his policy, but this action
although crowned with success so far as the army chiefs were
concerned--the conference voting solidly for war--was responsible