given every possible opportunity to examine the constitutions of
the countries through which it passed, and on its return to
Peking the report of the trip was published in one hundred and
twenty volumes, the most important item of which was that a
constitution, modelled after that of Japan, should be given to
China at as early a date as possible.

The leader of this expedition, His Excellency the Viceroy Tuan
Fang, is one of the greatest, if not the greatest living Manchu
statesman. Like Yuan Shih-kai, during the Boxer uprising, he
protected all the foreigners within his domains. That he
appreciates the work done by Americans in the opening up of China
is evidenced by a statement made in his address at the Waldorf
Astoria, in February, 1906, in which he said:

"We take pleasure this evening in bearing testimony to the part
taken by American missionaries in promoting the progress of the
Chinese people. They have borne the light of Western civilization
into every nook and corner of the empire. They have rendered
inestimable service to China by the laborious task of translating
into the Chinese language religious and scientific works of the
West. They help us to bring happiness and comfort to the poor and
the suffering, by the establishment of hospitals and schools. The
awakening of China, which now seems to be at hand, may be traced
in no small measure to the influence of the missionary. For this
service you will find China not ungrateful."

Some may think that this was simply a sentiment expressed on this
particular occasion because he happened to be surrounded by
secretaries and others interested in this cause. That this is not