（原文）
Box 146， Cothbus， Ohio， U.S.A.，January 9， 1912
Dr.Sun Yat Sen，Nanking， China.
My dear Dr.Sun：
I must by letter， as my financial standing cannot allow me to congratulate you by cable， congratulate you as the George Washington of the United States of China.Your election， which has not only shows the wisdom of the people but also shows the recognition by the Chinese people your hard work for last twenty years， is an inspiration to all Chinese who realized the need of a republican form of government which should be “for the people， by the people， and of the people”.Your election to the office of executive of the newly borned republic is not only an inspiration to all Chinese people who for long time wanted to be free from the oppressed Manchu government， but it is also a hope of a quick ending of the undesirable Manchu dynasty which is not only an obstacle to the progress of the people of the Han， but also a menace to the peace of the world.
In short：your election personally is a great reward or an universal recognition by the people for the twenty years hard work of yours; politically your election is a blessing or God's best gift to the Chinese people who like the people of other civilized nations， are entitled to a freedom， a liberty， and a pursuance of happiness.There is no one of the 400,000,000 strong is better fit for the difficult task of the office of the first President of the Republic of China than you are; there is none of the sons of the Han is better deserve for the honor than you are; and there is none “within the four seas”， who can give at this critical time—the most critical period of the whole Chinese history—a more inspiration and more hope than you can.Like George Washington， you are the father of the country—the Republic of China; and like his， your light of reflection will shine in China forever.I hope that China under your guidance will rapidly come to power， prosperity， happiness.
Then in future the military rule is no longer necessary， the question of “what type of republican form of government” would naturally come up for a consideration; for there are two types of indirect representative form of government besides the directed representatives form or pure democracy.The former type is represented by the governments of France and the United States of America， while the latter is represented by Switzerland.He can not adopt the pure democracy form; for it is impossible for such a large country like ours.So， the pure democracy type is out of question for consideration.What we want is an indirected representative form either of French type or the American type.The former type is a parliamentary， while the later is presidential.In comparison， the parliamentary type or French type is much better in many respect than that of the United States of American or presidential type.Why France has a better constitution was due to the fact that the French constitution was a later creature—French constitution of the present day was promulgated in 1815， while that of the United States of America was originated in 1776 and was modified in 1783.
For my knowledge and to my sincere belief， the parliamentary system of government for an republic has more advantages than the presidential system of government.For instance：the French type， which is a parliamentary type， has many advantages over the presidential type of American.In summarizing the advantages of the parliamentary system of government， there are three great advantages the French people enjoy over the American：(1）the centralization of government， (2）the responsibility of a cabinet， and (3）the harmony between the administrative and legislative departments.For instance：America， as its central government is so discentralized， the president is often handicapped by the confliction of the federal laws with the state rights.The Japanese school controversy in California was one of the indications of the difficulties of the discentralized government of the the United States of American; in the United States of American， the responsibility for the failure of carrying out the wishes of the people cannot be fixed on neither the shoulder of the president nor the shoulder of the congress， for these two departments—administrative and the legislative—are too independent from each other; and as these two departments are too independent from each other， the people of the country often suffer for lost time and money as a direct result of disharmony of them.In case of a disagreement， neither one of this two departments can control or dominate the other; and as a result of there disagreement， time and money were lost to the people.On the other hand， France， under the parliamentary system， the prime minister， who is the real executive (president of France， like the king of England， is merely a figure head）is responsible for the action of the lower bunch of the national legislative.As he is responsible for the action of the chamber， the chamber must carry out his policy and pass any bill that he may introduce.In case of a disagreement in policy， the prime minister must in the name of the President dissolve the chamber or himself resign from office.So， in France， under the parliamentary system of government， the government is centralized in power， the responsibility of carrying out the will of the people is fixed， and there has no American dead lock between the administrative and the legislative department.
I honestly believe that you are in the same view.
Two years ago， before I took the course (3 hours a week of recitation）of study of the modern constitution of all constitutional governments， I thought the form of American government is the best form; but my view has been changed since then.In the class there were almost every student believe the same as I believe， even the professor himself.
Besides the expression of my belief of the advantage of adopting in future， the French system of government， I， if you will kindly allow me， wish to make some suggestion of national policy for your consideration.The following suggestion I like respectfully to make：
1.A national army should be first of all important national affairs as quickly as possible be organized; for what the Republic need in her defense is a strong army (the building up of a navy can be deferred).
2.The American militia system should be adopted.
3.An establishment of national currency with a fixed standard should be adopted.
4.Foreign loan for welfare of the country should be made.
5.Trunk lines of railroad should be built as rapidly as possible.
6.The mountains throughout China should be reforested; for forestry is resources of all resources.
7.Free public schools， free speak， and free press.
8.Public roads should be widen and extend by... a requirement of improvement of its roads by every village throughout China.The good road has an importance to communication of intelligent， to the eternal trade and as well to the welfare of the farmers.
9.Natural resources of all kinds should be developed.
10.On establishment of a migration bureau.
(a)Domestic migration：
(1）Induce the people from proper China to Manchuria.
(2）To Mongolia.
(3）To Tibet.
(4）To other northwest parts of the country.
(b）Foreign migration：
(1）To Mexico and other South American countries.
(2）To Siberia for political purpose.
(3）To Southern parts of Asia.
Foreign migrants should be followed by consuls， merchants， editors and teachers.
Domestic migrants should be given homestead land， cheap or free transportation， and follow by teachers， editors， and merchants.
Now， as much suggestion of national affairs， I wish turn to my own affair.I， as a humble but proud citizen of the Republic， am very anxious to come back for service.In other words， I am very anxious to come back to serve the country; for I am a republican at heart， and feel that it is my duty to come back to serve the Republic—its government， its people， and its society.But against my desire， I am not able to come back at present on account of lacking of fund.As a personal friend， I like to ask you to send me two hundred dollars gold for returning passage.
I am，Yours very respectfully，
A.S.Yim 严韶
（译文）
美国俄亥俄州科茨布斯146号信箱，1912年1月9日
致孙逸仙博士，中国南京。
尊敬的孙博士：
我得写信祝贺您，因为我的经济状况不允许我电贺，祝贺您成为中华民国的乔治·华盛顿。您的当选，不仅显示了民众的智慧，也显示了中国人民对您过去20年来辛勤努力的认可。这对所有意识到需要一个“民享、民治、民有”的共和政府的中国人都是一种鼓舞。对公众而言，您当选为新生的共和国的行政长官，不仅是对所有长期以来希望摆脱清政府压迫的中国人民的鼓舞，也为迅速终结不得人心的清王朝带来希望。清王朝不仅是汉族人民进步的障碍，也是对世界和平的威胁。
总之，您的当选，就个人而言，是人民对您20年辛勤工作的巨大奖励或普遍认可；从政治上讲，是对中国人民的祝福或神的最佳礼物，中国人民和其他文明国家的人民一样，有权享有自由、解放和幸福。四万万人中，无人比您更能胜任中华民国首任总统的艰巨任务；汉族儿女中无人比您更配得上这一殊荣；“四海之内”，也无人在这个中国历史上最关键的时刻比您更多地给人们灵感和希望。像乔治·华盛顿一样，您是中华民国的国父；像他一样，您的反思之光将永远在中国闪耀。希望在您的领导下，中国能迅速强大、繁荣、幸福。
那么，在未来，军事统治不再有必要了，“什么样的共和政体”的问题将自然而然被提上议事日程。除了直接代表政体或纯粹民主政体之外，还有两种间接代表政体。前者以法国和美利坚合众国政府为代表，后者以瑞士为代表。像我们这样一个大国不可能采取纯粹的民主形式，因此不用考虑纯粹的民主类型。我们想要的是一种间接的代表形式，不论是法国式还是美国式。前者是议会，后者是总统。相比之下，议会式或法国式要比美国式或总统式好得多。法国之所以有更好的宪法，是因为法国宪法是后来的产物。——1815年颁布了今天的法国宪法，而美利坚合众国的宪法则创立于1776年，修订于1783年。
据我所知，并真诚相信，共和国的议会制政府比总统制政府更有优势，例如，法国式的议会制政府比美国总统制政府有许多优势。总结议会制政府的优势，法国人民比美国人民享有三大优势：（1）政府的集权；（2）内阁的责任；（3）行政和立法部门之间的协调。例如，美国的中央政府过于分散，总统时常受到联邦法律与州政府权力冲突的阻碍。有关加州的日本学校的争论就是美利坚合众国分权政府困难的一种象征；在美利坚合众国，无法将不能实现人民愿望的责任既推给总统，也推给国会。由于行政和立法两个部门相互之间过于独立，国家、人民往往因为两者不和谐而蒙受时间和金钱的损失。如果发生分歧，这两个部门谁也不能控制或支配另一部门；由于分歧，人民失去时间与金钱。另一方面，在议会体制下，真正的行政长官是法国总理（法国总统和英国国王一样，只是一个傀儡），负责国家立法机构中较低层次的行动。由于他对下院行动负责，下院必须执行他的政策，并通过他可能提出的任何法案。如果在政策上有分歧，总理必须以总统的名义解散议院或自己辞职。所以在法国议会制政府下，政府是集权的，履行人民意志的责任是固定的。而在美国，行政部门和立法部门之间常常陷入僵局。
我确信您也有同样的看法。
两年前，在我攻读有关所有宪制政府的现代宪法课程之前（每周背诵三小时），我认为美国政府的形式是最好的；但从那时起，我的观点就改变了。班上同学几乎都和我现在的观点一致，甚至连教授自己也如此。
除了表明我相信今后采用法国政府制度的好处外，请允许我提出一些国家政策的建议供您参考。
1.首先要尽快组建陆军。因为共和国的国防需要一支强大的陆军（海军的建设可以暂缓）。
2.采用美国民兵制。
3.采用固定本位制的国币。
4.为国家利益向国外借款。
5.尽快修建铁路干线。
6.全中国的山地应重新造林。因为森林是一切资源的源泉。
7.公立学校免费，言论自由，新闻自由。
8.公路的拓宽和延长是全国各村改善道路的需要。好的公路对信息交通、贸易往来和农民利益具有重要意义。
9.开发各类自然资源。
10.设立移民局。
（a）国内移民：
（1）引导民众迁居满洲。
（2）去蒙古。
（3）去西藏。
（4）到西北部的其他地区。
（b）国外移民：
（1）移民墨西哥和其他国家。
（2）基于政治考量移民西伯利亚。
（3）移民南亚。
对国外移民，应随之派出领事、商人、编辑和教师。
国内移民应给予住宅用地，便宜或免费的交通工具，并派出教师、编辑和商人。
除了国家事务的许多建议，我想谈谈自己的事。作为一个卑微但自豪的共和国公民，我非常渴望回来为国家效力；因为我心向共和，我觉得我有责任回来为共和国——它的政府、人民和社会——服务。但是，由于没钱，我现在不能回来，这非我所愿。作为私交，我想请您寄给我两百美元作为回程路费。
严韶 敬上