several wars have taken place. Forcible seizure, excessive
taxation and bribery have been of everyday occurrence. Although the
annual revenue has increased to 400 millions this amount is still
insufficient to meet the needs. The total amount of foreign
obligations has reached a figure of more than ten thousand millions
yet more loans are being contracted. The people within the seas are
shocked by this state of affairs and interest in life has forsaken
them. The step reluctantly taken by Our Empress Hsiao Ting Chin for
the purpose of giving respite to the people has resulted untowardly
in increasing the burdens of Our People. This indeed Our Empress
Hsiao Ting Chin was unable to foresee, and the result must have made
her Spirit in Heaven to weep sorely. And it is owing to this that we
have been praying to Heaven day and night in the close confines of
the palace, meditating and weeping in silent suffering.

Recently party strife has resulted in war and the country has
remained too long in an unsettled condition. The Republic has fallen
to pieces and means of remedy have been exhausted.

Chang Hsun, Feng Kuo-chang and Lu Yung-ting have jointly
memorialized the Throne stating that the minds of people are
disturbed and they are longing to see the old regime restored, and
asking that the throne be reoccupied in order to comfort the people.

Chu Hung-chi and others have also memorialized us stating that the
country is in imminent danger and that the people have lost their
faith in the Republic, and asking that we ascend the Throne in
obedience to the mandate of Heaven and man.

Li Yuan-hung has also memorialized the throne, returning the great
power of State to us in order to benefit the country and save the
people.

A perusal of the said memorials, which are worded in earnest terms,
has filled our heart with regret and fear. On the one hand We, being
yet in Our boyhood, are afraid to assume the great responsibilities
for the existence of the country but on the other hand We are
unwilling to turn our head away from the welfare of the millions
simply because the step might affect Our own safety.

After weighing the two sides and considering the mandates of Heaven
and man, we have decided reluctantly to comply with the prayers, and
have again occupied the Court to attend to the aff