An interesting proposal was recently made that the Manchu Emperor
should be allowed to remain as the cere- monial head of China, representing the nation in the sacred temples and propitiating on its behalf the spirits of his ancestors. Strange as the scheme sounds to our ears, it might not be too strange for China, and it would have the advantage in effect of abolishing an alien dynasty while satisfying conservative sentiments in favour of monarchy. But, according to the latest signs, the rush of republican feel- ing is, on the whole, too strong for even such a moderate compromise as this. Rumour is busy with the name of Sun Yat-sen, who has had an English education and whose father was a Christian, if be is not a Christian himself, as the first President. Another rumour says that Yuan Shih-kai would not refuse to be President if a request from the Manchus were added to a popular vote in his favour.
