we, having been living in one corner of the world for several decades, must ask ourselves what is the level of our national strength and our civilization. this is the final awakening of which i speak. to put it another way, if we open our eyes and take a hard look at the situation within our country and abroad, what place does our country and our people occupy, and what actions should we take?... our task today can be said to be the intense combat between the old and the modern currents of thought. those with shallow views all expect this to be our final awakening, without understanding how difficult it is to put [constitutional government] into practice... there is no difference between the shameful disgrace of submissiveneof men of ancient times hoping that sage rulers and wise ministers will practice benevolent government and present day men hoping that dignitaries and influential elders will build a constitutional republic. why should i reject the desires of dignitaries and influential elders, who are after all a part of the people, to build a constitutional republic? only because a constitutional republic cannot be conferred by the government, cannot be maintained by one party or one group, and certainly cannot be carried on the backs of a few dignitaries and influential elders. a constitutional republic which does not derive from the conscious realization and voluntary action of the majority of the people is a bogus republic and bogus constitutionalism. it is political window-dressing, in no way like the republican constitutionalism of the countries of europe and america, because there has been no change in the thought or the character of the majority of the people, and the majority of the people have no personal feeling of direct material interest.
we, having been living in one corner of the world for several decades, must ask ourselves what is the level of our national strength and our civilization. this is the final awakening of which i speak. to put it another way, if we open our eyes and take a hard look at the situation within our country and abroad, what place does our country and our people occupy, and what actions should we take?... our task today can be said to be the intense combat between the old and the modern currents of thought. those with shallow views all expect this to be our final awakening, without understanding how difficult it is to put [constitutional government] into practice... there is no difference between the shameful disgrace of submissiveneof men of ancient times hoping that sage rulers and wise ministers will practice benevolent government and present day men hoping that dignitaries and influential elders will build a constitutional republic. why should i reject the desires of dignitaries and influential elders, who are after all a part of the people, to build a constitutional republic? only because a constitutional republic cannot be conferred by the government, cannot be maintained by one party or one group, and certainly cannot be carried on the backs of a few dignitaries and influential elders. a constitutional republic which does not derive from the conscious realization and voluntary action of the majority of the people is a bogus republic and bogus constitutionalism. it is political window-dressing, in no way like the republican constitutionalism of the countries of europe and america, because there has been no change in the thought or the character of the majority of the people, and the majority of the people have no personal feeling of direct material interest.
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