（原文）
St.Johns University，Jeasfield， Shanghai，Jan.8th， 1912
The President of the Republic.
Sir：
Although I have no political right， yet， being a citizen of the Republic， I would， and hoping not being disgusted， like to give a suggestion regarding to the dependencies of China.
There had appeared in the daily that Manchuria， Mongolia， Tibet and Uygur have the privilege of civil right should that be loyal.Can any body guarantee that these dependencies will not declare themselves independent or revolt against the Republic without political right given.So take the matter into serious consideration， a mere grant of only civil right is not sufficient to make them faithfully united to the Republic.
It is not too much， and it would be more harmonious， to have these said territories legally conferred of being called provinces; then let them have political right as well as civil right， that is， to let them have the right to vote and be eligible to any offices in the new government so long they are capable of holding them.This scheme will most likely induce all these said dependencies to be our strong permanent co-workers with rich resource， which would otherwise， sooner or later， be our most formidable enemies.If I don't make a mistake， the Republic of China means only the 18 provinces so called China Proper.Here， I propose to have the Republic called the United Provinces should the dependent territories under consideration be entitled to be called provinces as those forming the China Proper.These is no reason of not letting the dependencies have what I suggest， will the aim of the revolution is for equality， fraternity and liberty.
It is true that these said dependencies are mere Territories as far as the number of population is concerned， but under the role of the new government scientific processes of agriculture， forestry， mining， and manufacture etc.，will soon be introduced these to which large emigration will be the consequence from other provinces thickly settled.Therefore， in regard to population， it is an easy matter.
We know only too well that we， the Chinese， have the greatest number in population and not like the United States of America or having its dependencies be called Territories， for the number of the Americans is but about one-fifth of that of us Chinese.
My sole aim in this suggestion is to have a perfect internal peace and to concentrate all our forces against the Manchu government.
My sister， Mrs.Mary Chang Kim，asks me to send her your honor's address.Will your honor let me have the most convenient adress to be sent to my sister?
My brother-in-law， Mr.Chang Kim， has been sick for already about two years and not yet entirely recover.I learn from my sister that Mr.Chang is some what insane.
Mr.En Chang had died about 2 years ago.
Mr.Chang Chow has quite a hard time in Honolulu for there is quite a number of persons to be supported by him.
Pardon me for my informal writing.
I have the honor， Sir， to be your servant，
Daniel K.H.Yap
（叶桂福， born in Honolulu， son of 叶腾霄， brother of 叶桂芳）
（译文）
上海极司菲尔德路圣约翰大学，1912年1月8日
致共和国总统。
先生：
尽管我无任何政治权力，但作为一名共和国公民，我希望就有关中国的属地问题提点建议，该不会讨人嫌吧？
日报上讲，如果满洲、蒙古、西藏和新疆忠于共和的话，他们将享有特权。有谁能保证这些地方不会因不赋予政治权力而宣布独立或者反叛共和呢？因此，认真考虑一下这个问题，仅仅授予他们公民权是不能够使他们忠实地归于一个共和国的。
毋须更多，只须把这些所谓的藩地法定为省，就会更和谐；然后让他们同时享有政治权和公民权，也就是说，让他们有权利选举和被选进新政府担任职位，这样就能掌握他们。
这计划将有机会使上述属地成为我们强大的拥有丰富资源的永久合作者，否则的话，早晚要成为我们的可怕劲敌。如果我没有搞错的话，中华民国只意味着所谓中国本土的18省。在此，我建议将共和国称作联省，将这些藩地作为省，同那些构成“中国本土”的地方一样。没有理由不让这些属地拥有我所建议的权利，革命的目的就是平等、博爱、自由。
的确，就人口数量而言，上述属地只是“准州”，但在新政府的支持下，农业、林业、矿业及制造业等科学技术将很快引进到这些地方，这样将导致人口大量从密集的省份移民，这样，人口就毫无问题了。
我们清楚地知道，中国人口众多，不像美国或美洲要叫它的属地为“准州”，因为美国人口只有中国的五分之一。
我上述建议的唯一目的是使国内有一个真正的和平，并集中我们所有的力量对抗清政府。
我的姐姐郑金·玛丽夫人要我把您的地址给她，您能否为她提供一个最方便的地址？
我的姐夫郑金先生，已病了两年，至今尚未完全恢复。我从姐姐处得知，他已经有点疯了。
阿强先生两年前已去世。
郑照先生在檀香山度日颇艰，他要供养一大家子人。
草草而书，请原谅。
叶桂福 敬呈
（出生于檀香山，叶腾霄之子，叶桂芳之弟）