查尔斯·里曼（Charles Leaman）致孙中山函 （1912年3月20日）
（原文）
Nanking， March 20， 1912，Repub.1st year
To the Hon.Sun Yat Sen，President of Rep.
Dear Sir：
At the reception given your honor at Wednesday， March 13th by your Foreign friends in the city, I only had the honor of shaking hands with you without time for a word， but with your son and one or two others I had a word of greeting.
I am the oldest resident among the foreigners in the city.I have been here as a Missionary now for 38 years and am now 67 years old.
I am desirous only of congratulating you and your fellows on your great， speedy， and glorious success in securing the abdication of the Imperial Dynasty in favor of a real and working Republic; A government of the people， for the people and by the people.May this true principle of government never be changed while the China is China.A Republic has succeed in the U.S.，and is becoming more and more stable， peaceful and prosperous in internal and international world wide affairs.If China walks in the footsteps of stable and prosperous Republican principles as the U.S.has now done for so long， there can be no doubt but that as good or better results will be succeed here in the whole of China.For the people to govern themselves in a Republic is a new thing in China， but it is not an experiment， and has proved a success whenever given a real trial and at this stage of the world is the only true and just form of government.
Let your good people and rulers trust in the only living and Jesus God and believe and fellow his only son Jesus Christ our Lord， and there can be no doubt of the successful end of all your best hopes and efforts for this your great country， and for this let us all pray and not cease to labor.
I hope you will pardon me for just suggesting one thing：First， I have been much interested for some years in a change of flag for your country， and now I want to congratulate you on your new and really very pretty flag.
But as to the meaning of the five stripes it seems to lack adue proportion.That is， I mean your 18 provinces are not duely represented in the one red stripe， nor is there provided any way for increase or growth that will certainly be in the future of your country， being expressed in the flag.
You seem at present to accept and use two forms of flags.Even at your own President Yamen and in the capital.
My suggestion would be the union of these two flags， in the way I explain below and give in pen sketches（见图1）：
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| 图1 | 图2 | 图3 |
On the red stripe may be made broader， and the others less broad， thus.（见图2）
The above makes your 18 Han provinces more prominent all being in the red stripe by the 18 stars， then,2 stars in the yellow， as I understand Manchuria is considered as two provinces of the 22 old or new provinces of China.Then，1 star in the blue stripe for Mongolia， and，1 star in the white stripe for Sin Kiang， and none in the black as Tibet， I understand is not yet made a province.
This arrangement would make the flag not less beautiful and have more meaning.
22 white stars on a sky blue field.（见图3）
This seems a nice way of blending your present two flags and perhaps the best way of putting the stars and stripes representing your five natural divisions and your 22 constituted provinces.In this last sketch the five stripes representing the five natural and racial divisions of your country will be a permanent feature of your flag.But the stars on the sky blue field—not a light blue as the stripe—may rairy as the political divisious develop.
Some of your 18 provinces are already too large， and many of them are not the best in shape， either.Geographically or politically， and it might be all to change their boundaries early to suit the new conditions.
Inner and outer Mongolia no doubt will be divided into several provinces in the future.
In the U.S.，we have territories， Tibet and most of Mongolia and Tsing Hai and perhaps some other parts may be best ruled for some time as the U.S.does its territories or even as U.S.rules the Philippines.
These places then would have no representation in congress or no star on the flag until they become able to take part in the new government as established and legalized provinces， but otherwise only represented on the flag in the five stripes.
It is true that this form of the flag would make it somewhat like the flowery flag of the U.S.Yet it would be easily distinguished from it and all other flags， even at a great distance， and as I am from the U.S.，I am sure my wish is the wish of our President and fellow countrymen， that your new and great country may look as much like ourselves as possible， in flag， in government， in prosperity， in right， in justice， and in malice towards none in charity for all.
I am sorry to trouble you with this long letter in the midst of your arduous duties.But whatever flag you may finally have， be assured that I myself and all my fellow missionaries and even all the nations of good and civilized standing， desire only for your flag and country ever increasing peace and prosperity， better internal and with all the nations of the wide earth， especially your sister Republics and in particular the first and greatest the U.S.
Long live the Republic of China， and its stars and stripes long may they raise on the land of the free and home of the brave.
Yours very sincerely， Christian and State fellowship，
Charles Leaman
Presbyterian Mission,U.S.(North)
Nanking，Hansimeng.
（译文）
南京，1912年3月20日
致尊敬的共和国总统孙逸仙阁下。
尊敬的先生：
3月13日星期三，在外国友人于本市举行的招待会上，我有幸与您握了手，没时间交谈，但与令郎和其他一两个人问候了几句。
我是在本市居住时间最长的外国人之一，在此传教已有38年，今年67岁。
我谨祝您和您的同志在确保清廷退位，建立真正有效的民有、民享、民治的共和政府方面取得的巨大、迅速而辉煌的成就。只要中国还是中国，希望这一政府原则永不改变。共和政体在美国取得成功，在全球范围内的国内和国际事务中越来越稳定、和平、繁荣。如果中国像美国那样持续遵循稳定繁荣的共和政策，毫无疑问，在整个中国成效会一样好或者更好。共和政体中人民自我管理在中国虽是新鲜事，但实践证明，只要真正实行，定会成功。在当今世界，这是惟一真正公正的政府形式。
让您的优秀人民和治理者信仰上帝，相信并追随上帝之子——我主耶稣，毫无疑问，你们对自己伟大国家的一切愿望与努力最终都会成功实现。让我们为之祈祷，并奋斗不息。
此外，恕我再提一项建议。首先，数年来，我一直对贵国变换国旗感兴趣。现在我愿意祝贺你们终于有了漂亮的新国旗。
至于新国旗的五色条纹的内涵，好像缺乏妥当的比例。我的意思是一条红色条纹并不能充分代表18个省份，将来省份数量增多就更没法在国旗上表现了。
目前，阁下似乎采纳了两种旗帜，甚至在总统府和首都使用。
我建议用下述方法将两旗合二为一，如图所示（图略，见原文）。
红色条纹可以加宽点，其他条纹缩窄些，如图所示（图略，见原文）。
以上草图突出了18个汉族省份。它们由红色条纹中的18颗星表示。
黄色条纹中的两颗星代表满洲，据我所知，满洲被看作是中国22个新旧省份中的两个省。
蓝色条纹中的一颗星代表蒙古，白色条纹中的一颗星代表新疆。而无星的黑色条纹则代表西藏。因为据我所知，尚未在西藏建立省份。
这样设计的国旗同样美，而且涵义丰富。
另一种设计是，天蓝的底色上缀有22颗星，如图所示（图略，见原文）。
这也是将两旗合二为一的好办法，也许用星代表22个行政省、用条纹代表五大自然区划是最佳办法。最后这幅草图中的五色条纹代表五大自然区划和民族，可作为贵国国旗的永久特色。天蓝底色（条纹的蓝色是浅蓝）上的星星可随行政区划的增加而增加。
18个省份中，有的面积太大。许多省份，其外形无论从地理或从行政角度看都不是最理想的。因此，应尽早重新划定这些省份的边界以适应新形势的需要。
内蒙古和外蒙古将来无疑可划分为若干个省份。
在美国，我们有所谓的准州。也许西藏、蒙古大部分地方、青海以及其他一些地方可以按照美国治理准州的办法管理一段时间，甚至可以像美国治理菲律宾一样。这些地方在国会中没有代表，在国旗上也无星星代表，直至它们以合法的省份形式参与新政府。在此之前，它们在国旗中仅以条纹表示。
的确，这样设计的国旗有点像美国的花旗。不过即使在遥远的地方，也容易把它与后者以及其它国旗区分开来。我来自美国，相信我国总统和同胞也会怀着同样的愿望，希望贵国在许多方面如国旗、政府、繁荣、权利、公正等与美国一样，不盛气凌人，待人宽容。
很抱歉，在您公务繁忙时以此长信相扰。无论你们最后采用哪种国旗，请相信我和我的传教士同伴，甚至所有善意、文明的国家，都只期望你们的旗帜与国家永远增进和平与繁荣，既在国内事务中，也在与地球上所有民族相处时。期望贵国与世界各国，包括各姊妹共和国，尤其是第一个伟大共和国——美国友好相处。
中华民国万岁，祝它的星条旗在自由之地、勇者之家永远飘扬。
美国北方长老会传教团 查尔斯·里曼 谨上