He said that the ideas of the Chinese people had not developed, and their civilization was not 3s nivanced as that of Europe or America, therefore democratic rale was oneuitable, Yuan Shih-kai ade use of these statements to overthrow the Republic and name himself emperor. We now advocate the sovereignty of the people mist clearly understanding what it means.
all the past history of China we have never exercised democratic rule, "and even daring the 48 years since the Revolution has this been the ease; but in our history' of more than 4,000 years in which there has been' hoti good government and anarchy, it has always been imperial. After all, has imperial rule in China been beneficial of harmful? I think we may that its effects have been of both kinds. However judging by the intelli igence and ability of the Chinese, supposing democratic rale could be exercised, it would be found in comparison very much more suitable, More than 2000 years ago, both Confucius and Mencius advocated the sovereignty of the people, When Confucious said "In the exercise of the great principles of right, the empire is for all," it was to advocate united world under the rule of the people. Praise was also given to Yao and Shun because they did not make the empire their own family possession. The government of Yao fand Shun was in name imperial; but in reality it was government by the people, so Confucius always revered these men. di Jar fetched" intoed that this ie very Mencius enid, "The people are the most important, the spirits of the land' and grain next, and the sover-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.