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| Mr. Liang Qichao 梁启超 [1] was earnestly invited by fellow townsmen from Glen Innes port multiple times, and on January 15 (Lunar Year: December 25), he traveled with friends such as Bao Chi 鲍炽, Luo Chang 罗昌, and Chen Shou 陈寿 by train. Other friends bid farewell to them at the train station. The next day, the local Chinese merchant who established the Guangshenghe 广生和 brand and his fellow townsmen warmly welcomed him with a carriage at the train station. At 8:15 in the morning, Mr. Liang arrived by carriage. Comrades proudly displayed the Chinese emblem as a sign of respect, and invited Mr. Liang into the Guangshenghe store, shaking hands and seating as hosts and guests while introducing themselves. After enjoying tea, they promptly invited Mr. Liang and his companions to relax at the Westerners Hotel (西人大酒店 Xiren Hotel) [2]. Finishing breakfast, they took a carriage to explore the scenic beauty of the port, admiring the majestic mountains and unique formations of the rugged peaks. The delightful scenery brought joy and pleasure, reminiscent of wandering through the paths of the shadow of the lofty mountains and the wondrous shapes of the steep hills, truly capturing the breathtaking beauty that even the legendary Elder Nanhua (Zhuangzi) [3] would find remarkable. The fun excursion was over and they were so happy that they forgot their tiredness, having traveled over 15 miles. Suddenly seeing the sunset, they returned to the carriage. The Chinese merchants held a banquet at Guangshenghe, with Mr. Liang taking a seat and expressing gratitude for the generous hospitality, accepting the gifts and the prepared carriage. Mr. Liang felt inspired and expressed, “Today, I am deeply grateful for the comrades’ invitation and hospitality, it is truly unforgettable. Coming to this place and meeting my righteous brothers makes me feel incredibly honored. Also being treated to such a feast, it truly leaves a lasting impression.” The friends humbly responded, expressing their respect for Mr. Liang: “Mr. Liang possesses outstanding talent, is well-rounded, and is appreciated by Emperor Guangxu [4] 光绪 for his knowledge and wisdom. The Emperor selects and appoints talented individuals who can assist him with some consultative advice, initiates reforms in the political and educational systems, and helps the nation in overcoming crises. Also, Mr. Liang has been indignant with social corruption and shown sympathy with people who endured hardship, possessing remarkable abilities that can bring benefits to the masses. In assisting with governmental affairs for almost one hundred days, he has brought about a completely new situation in the country. As the poem said, [5] ‘with a relaxed and peaceful approach to governance, abundant blessings and fortunes are bestowed upon the country.’ However, the nation is occupied by ruthless and authoritarian jackals and tigers, wielding power like ferocious beasts. They envy us Han people, inflict harm upon the descendants of the Chinese, unjustly accuse those of us who stand for justice, assassinate faithful ministers, and cast a shadow over China’s bright future, plunging it into uncertainty and darkness. Thankfully, faithful and upright ministers are all blessed, so Mr. Liang can have the opportunity to escape perilous situations and receive support from other nations. Those who have the same ambition as Mr. Liang all admire and look up to his deed. Mr. Liang deeply worries about the Emperor being confined within the palace, and he spares great effort to safeguard him. Thus, disregarding personal safety, Mr. Liang travels far to rouse compatriots, gathering their collective strength. After witnessing [6] the edict issued by Empress Dowager Cixi (Cixi Taihou 慈禧太后) on December 24 last year (Lunar year: February 12) to depose the Emperor and enthrone a new Emperor this Lunar January, compatriots from China and aboard weep with sorrow and rise in indignant. They soon gather with people who have same ambition, resisting this decree at lightning speed, with spontaneous resistance erupting in over a hundred locations. The Emperor can currently be safe totally depending on Mr. Liang’s tireless efforts.” Following that, everyone raised their glasses in mutual toasts, chanting ‘Long live Emperor Guangxu’ three times with thunderous cheers. People all wished for the Emperor’s quick restoration of imperial authority and his vigorous efforts in governing the nation, so the country can be rescued from its weakened situation. We hope Mr. Liang can resume his role in the Court (chaoting 朝 廷 ) to assist the Emperor, devise new policies as circumstances dictate, promote projects beneficial to China and its citizens, and eradicate existing drawbacks, thus rescuing our people from crisis and shielding overseas compatriots from bullying. As the night grew late, people concluded the banquet and went home. | 梁启超先生蒙坚连尼士（Glen Innes）埠梓友敦请再四，经于十一月廿五日， 偕鲍炽、罗昌、陈寿诸君乘火车，同志送别直上。该埠华商广生和，翌日与梓友 备驷马高车，恭迎于车 站。时八点十五分钟，先生乘车抵埠。同志高悬中国徽 章示敬，并邀先生进广生和商店，握 手分主宾而坐，各道姓名。茶罢，即请先 生与同行各友诣西人大酒店憩息片时。朝膳毕，乘驷马车游于埠之左右，览崇山 之胜景，眺峻岭之奇形。怡情悦目，乐意骋怀，载驰载驱，如入山阴道上，真有 美不胜收之慨，南华老者之逍遥不是过也。乐哉游乎！然乐而忘倦，程途已 逾 五十里矣。倏见夕阳西坠，遂亦回车。华商设宴于广生和宝号，先生就席，先谢 适馆授餐之隆情、折柬备车之雅意。于是兴而言曰：“今日小弟既蒙列位同志不 余暇弃，敦请之恩，实越恒格。到游贵埠，得见列位义士兄，真令小弟感激不已。 又蒙设筵款待，躬逢盛宴，殊令小弟铭感五中。”同志谦辞简慢，并致词曰：“先生奕世簪缨，胸罗锦绣，腹储经纶，蒙我皇上知遇之恩，擢录英才，以备顾问， 变法维新，而济国家之危。且先生素抱悲天悯人之大志，泽民致君之奇才，辅政 百日，国势焕然可观。诗所谓 ‘敷政优优，百禄是遒’。讵意豺狼当道，虎豹司 权，妒忌我汉人，荼毒我华种，冤枉我义士，杀戮我忠臣，使我中华明而复昧， 光而复暗。幸而天佑忠良，先生获离虎口，又得异国保护。同人钦仰先生念切圣 主被困，思设法以保皇上，于是舍身远游，呼醒同胞，合群集力。观去年十二月 廿四日太后下诏废皇上，于本正月立新君， 海内外同胞闻之痛哭流涕，奋然兴 起，大集同人，飞电抗拒，不期而行者百数十处。皇上今幸无恙者，诚先生之力 也。”言毕，把盏传杯，觥筹交错，齐呼光绪皇帝万岁者三次，欢声雷动，并祝 我皇上早日复权，励精图治，挽弱为强。先生回朝辅相圣主，变通新政，见利者 兴，见害者除，拯故国生民于涂炭之中，免海外同胞有鱼肉之苦，我筹今日愿望 也。时夜既深，遂毕宴而散席焉。 |
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On that evening, compatriots were invited in Sydney to attend Mr. Liang’s lecture, and all of them, which was over twenty in total joined us. Mr. Liang said, “I visit foreign countries to find ways to save the country, which is the secret mission assigned to me by the Emperor. Since I arrived in Australia, I have been welcomed and loved by my compatriots and established the Emperor Society [7] in various cities in turn. My Sydney compatriots invited me to travel with them to New South Wales, and I was very happy to see my friends gathered together this evening.” Mr. Liang also said, “China had compensated huge amounts of property and ceded Taiwan since its defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War. The Emperor was very worried and anxious about it, knowing that only reform could help the country become stronger. China is a great country, but it defeated Japan, which is a national shame. This reminded the Emperor that foreign countries became powerful through reform and fell behind if they retained their original rules and systems. At the same time, Kang Youwei 康有为 [8] and others wrote to the Emperor to discuss this issue, explaining the benefits of reform and the disadvantages of conserving old rules and systems in detail. After reading the proposal, the Emperor decisively decided to abolish the eight-legged essay, reform the martial system, establish schools, start mining, build railways, establish hospitals, create a constitution, establish civil rights, and manufacture astronomical, geographical, and waterway weapons and guns. He also decided to stop the Juan-Na (捐纳) System [9], fire redundant officials, increase the wages of thrifty and honest officials, and allow people to write letters describing their sufferings to avoid being exploited by cunning and greedy officials. The Emperor accepted these proposals. As long as it was beneficial to the people, the Emperor commanded the officials across the country to earnestly implement it. When people heard the news, they said that China was like a sleeping lion that has now woken up. Unexpectedly, the two traitors Rong and Gang [10] had already wanted to take control of the power, so they invited the Empress Dowager Cixi to rule behind the curtain [11], which caused great disasters — the Emperor was imprisoned in Yingtai 瀛台 [12] and loyal officials were killed. China possesses vast territories on Earth, that neither the British Empire nor Russia can compare to. Moreover, China has a moderate climate and a prosperous population. There are 1.5 billion people in the world, and China accounts for a quarter of the population. The earth in China is rich with an abundance of resources, including gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, coal, and all kinds of grains. If the Reform was strengthened further, China would be invincible, hence no country dares to insult the Chinese. Today, the noble officials are conservative, which leads Chinese people to earn their living overseas. They are always treated with disdain, mockery, and insults, suffering from heavy taxes, detention, and surveillance. So, they swallow their pride, being forced to become inferior under foreign domination. My compatriots complained about the inaction against foreign invaders of the Chinese government and the royal family, while the fact is the feudal Chinese government oppressed people. The Emperor advocates reform while prioritizing the rights of the people. Understanding the suffering of the people, the Emperor aspired for Chinese people to have rights, thus preventing the feudal government from treating them unscrupulously anymore. The Emperor also allowed the provinces and counties to set up newspaper offices, and allow them to publicize the good and bad actions of the government. If the new policies are implemented, my compatriots will not need to leave their parents, wives, and children to go abroad, and thus will not be bullied by foreigners. I hope that all of you can understand the good intentions of the Emperor, and try your best to repay the Emperor’s kindness.” After the speech, the crowd applauded approvingly. Mr. Liang invited Mr. Bao Chi to deliver a speech, and Mr. Bao said: “our Emperor possesses noble virtue, but was framed by treacherous court officials, as Mr. Liang has already mentioned. While I resided in Fremantle Port and Gladstone Port in Western Australia, I heard that Mr. Liang would pass through this area. Then, our compatriots prepared well to welcome Mr. Liang with respect. Upon Mr. Liang’s arrival and during the meeting, the foundation of baohuang hui had already been established, and donations were provided to support this conference. We can also see it from the previous report. Tonight, I noticed that my compatriots all have righteous anger about the current situation of our country. I wish you can contribute more, and this is sincerely what I wish for.” The crowd applauded approvingly again. People thus donate more than 50 pounds. The clock struck 12, so people sent Mr. Liang to the hotel, and then the conference came to an end. |
是晚邀集该埠同胞听先生演说，埠中只廿人而已，人人皆到。先生言曰：“今 日小弟出游外国，及承皇上密诏，出外求救。自抵澳洲，既承各埠同胞厚爱，迭 开保皇会。雪梨保皇会同志命弟一游坑上，今晚小弟见到列位同胞如此齐集，不 胜悦意也。”先生谓：“中国自甲午败于日本，赔巨款、割台湾，皇上处忧积虑， 知非变法维新毋以自强。中国虽大，反败于日本，致辱国体。思念外国维新则强， 守旧则弱，乃得康先生诸君子上书言事，历陈维新之利，守旧之弊。皇上览奏， 毅然锐意废八股、改武科、兴学堂、开矿务、筑铁路、设医院、立宪法、树民权。 凡天文、地理、水陆武备、枪炮制造，次第举行。停捐纳、裁冗员、厚廉俸，并 许百姓上书直陈 疾苦，[免]受奸官贪吏剥削。皇上言听计从，凡有益民之事， 责成通国官府务要实力奉行。天下闻之，咸谓中国睡狮已醒矣。不意荣、刚二贼， 早藏谋窃神器之心，构起滔天之祸，遂请太后复出垂帘听政，幽皇上于瀛台，诛 逐忠良。我中国居地球大地，虽英、俄莫与京也。且天时气候又得中和之脉，天 下共有人民一十五百兆，我中国已得四分之一。 地球土产，金、银、铜、 铁、 锡、煤、五谷百物，无所不有。如果变法再强，天下无敌，谁敢来侮我哉。今日 守旧，百姓谋食外洋，莫不被人窘逐，笑骂凌辱，或税、或禁、或监，低首下心， 吞声忍气，甘为万国之下人。而我同胞每怨官府不善，王家不善，其实历来为王 家官府所压制。皇上变法，首及民权。盖洞悉于子民受害，欲子民有权，则官不 敢肆无忌惮也。又许各省州县设报馆，许报章张扬官府之善恶。若使新政既行， 我同胞不必离父母妻子而远游外国，被人欺负也。望列位同胞体念皇上如此爱民 之盛心，务宜各发天良，以答君恩于万一也。”言毕，众人鼓掌称善。先生又命 鲍炽先生演说，鲍君言曰：“我皇上圣德，奸臣残毒，梁先生已言之矣。然弟在 西省非厘文度高炉加地埠，闻先生道经其地，同胞早已预备各事，恭迎先生。及 登岸与众相见，即成会基，捐助会项。已见前报矣。今晚见我同胞咸有忠愤之心， 望多助会份，弟诚心所愿也。”众又鼓掌称善。遂挥笔共捐得五十余镑。时钟鸣 十二点，各人送先生往酒店而罢。 |
| On January 17th [13], the comrades in Glen Innes port gathered together at 8 am to visit Mr. Liang at his residence. After greeting him, they had breakfast together. After the meal, they invited Mr. Liang and others to tour the port and then visit the hospital to comfort the patients. When the four managers of the hospital heard of Mr. Liang’s arrival, they came to the front of the hospital to greet him, shaking hands and inviting him into the living room. They inquired about his age and the new policies of China. Mr. Bao Chi introduced him and answered questions about his age. Mr. Bao Chi then said, “Emperor Guangxu loves his people and maintains good-neighborliness with near countries; his benevolence is known around the world. He promoted the reform the year before, and Mr. Liang was one of the leaders of the reform and was put in an important position by the Emperor. However, the treacherous court officials who disliked the new policies opposed the Reform, causing a heinous crime, which led to Mr. Liang having to travel abroad to seek solutions.” The Westerners then said, “Emperor Guangxu employed meritocrats to promote the Reform unswervingly. We Westerners have heard of Mr. Liang’s great reputation. It is a great honor to have you visit today.” After speaking, they led Mr. Liang on a tour of the wards. Mr. Liang said kind words to comfort the patients and donated funds to subsidize the hospital. The Westerners expressed their gratitude. After a short rest, they planned to return. The Westerners escorted the gentleman to the hotel and then left. | 西正月十七号，坚连尼士埠诸同志晨早八打钟，同赴先生寓所请安，随用早 膳毕，请先生等游于该埠，前往病人院抚慰抱病诸人。该院管理四人闻先生驾临， 乃出院前迎接，握手为礼，请进客厅坐,问先生春秋几何，及新政等事。鲍炽先 生为介绍，既以先生之年若干答之。 继言：“光绪皇帝爱民睦邻，仁德著于寰宇， 前年改革政治，先生即居维新领袖之列，为皇上所重用者也。嗣因奸臣不喜新政， 酿祸滔天，以致先生有此游列外国事也。”西人再言曰：“光绪帝用贤行政，锐志 维新，先生之盛名，我西人闻之稔矣。今蒙辱临，三生有幸焉。”言毕，偕先生 遍阅病人房。先生善言慰问，乃捐资以助该院之经费。西人称谢不已。少座乃告 别而归，西人送先生至酒楼而后返。 |
| That night, the comrades held a banquet at Guangshenghe to welcome Mr. Liang once again, drinking wine in celebration. Mr. Liang delivered a speech and thanked the comrades for their deep respect and affection, saying, “The Emperor was imprisoned in Yingtai and couldn’t even get a bowl of chicken porridge when he wanted it. Now he has gone west to seek refuge, experiencing many disasters, but this was all for the sake of saving our 400 million compatriots. I hope that all comrades can work together to help the Emperor regain his power. Then I would greatly appreciate it.” The comrades heard of the Emperor’s sufferings, drank, and then ended the banquet. Afterward, they chatted for a long time. Late into the night, the comrades escorted Mr. Liang, Luo Chang, Bao Chi, and Chen Shou back to the hotel to rest. | 是晚，同志复设宴于广生和号，以款先生，举杯交欢。先生致词以谢同志敬 爱之深，且曰：“圣上前者困于瀛台，欲求食鸡粥而不可得，今又乘舆西幸，蒙 尘艰难，然亦因救我四万万人所致也。仰列位同志合力以救圣主复权，则小弟不 饮亦醉矣。”众同志闻皇上蒙尘之苦，于是尽量而撤席焉。酒后叙谈良久，更夜 已深，众同志乃送先生及罗昌、鲍炽、陈寿诸君回酒楼安睡。 |
| The next morning, the comrades went to greet Mr. Liang once again and invited him to discuss current policies at Guangshenghe. After dinner, they invited Mr. Liang to deliver a speech. Mr. Liang stood up and said, “You guys already know the benefits of the reform and the harms of clinging to obsolete traditions. However, the edict issued by the Emperor on the 24th of the Seventh month of 1898 is deeply remembered by our people. The edict states: ‘In order to revitalize our country, we must adopt Western methods, aiming at establishing governance for the people, and Western countries had the same goal. Westerners are more diligent in research, so they can supplement what we have not yet been involved in. Nowadays, intellectuals often have a superficial grasp of what is happening abroad, mistakenly believing that foreign countries lack regulations and possess little knowledge of Western politics. However, Western politics encompasses a myriad of aspects, primarily aimed at enhancing people’s intelligence and improving their lives. Only the essence of politics can cultivate good qualities and prolong a person’s lifetime. Western countries widely promote and implement anything beneficial for people. My hard work on reforms in various systems is not mere pursuit of novelty but stems from genuine care for the people. Chinese people are the blessings of gods and descendants from ancestors, thus ensuring their happiness and harmonious lives is my duty. Additionally, the complex and oppressive international environment hampers my ability to fully utilize my capabilities and realize my vision. Despite my devotion to it, there are still many aspects unknown to the populace. Owing to incompetent officials and conservative intellectuals, not only has my vision failed to reach a wide audience, but false narratives have also spread, leading to confusion and fear among the populace. In some remote regions, many people [14] are still unaware of the new policies, which regret me deeply. Hence, I now declare my intentions for reform, addressing both domestic and international audiences, aiming for widespread understanding of my aspirations. It’s crucial for everyone to trust me, their monarch, unite, and collectively implement the new policies, thus strengthening China. I am filled with hope and anticipation for this endeavor. Best regards.’ Our emperor said this because he knows that China is so vast with rich resources and populace that we can become leisurely and carefree as well. Currently, our compatriots abroad face significant constraints, whether in their work or business activities, due to various restrictions, resulting in the severe deprivation of their rights and interests. Even those who have accumulated wealth and wish to return home have already suffered from insults and bullying. The basic cause of this lies in our conservative approach to development and weak power, which fails to uphold the country’s dignity. The turmoil in Beijing in May stemmed from treacherous officials like Prince Duan (duan wang 端王) [15], Rong Lu, Gang Yi, and others, who harbored long-standing ambitions of usurpation. They stirred up the Boxer Rebellion, leveraging them to start a war with other countries. [16]Their objective was to hinder foreigners and overseas Chinese from honoring and respecting Emperor Guangxu, obstructing their resistance against Empress Dowager’s deposal of the old emperor and enthronement of a new one. Both of us are facing a challenging situation. If now we stand on the opposite, both our situation and yours are precarious. Because if we choose to defeat you to assert our authority, it will harm the emperor and suppress the Han people who will perpetuate their status as Manchu slaves, unable to hold their heads high. Fortunately, divine intervention did not favor the treachery people. Despite their initial victories, they suffered successive defeats and ultimately fled. This resulted in their losing control of the capital city and led them to threaten the emperor went on the western inspection tour. They hoped this would reignite conflict, unleashing their ferocity and venom. However, when Gang Yi encountered the spirits of six deceased emperors in Shanxi, he realized that his time had come, shouting aloud before almost fainting and committing suicide. Recently, the influence of conservative treacherous ministers increasingly has been becoming weak, while the patriots advocating for Hundred Days’ Reform have been becoming powerful. The restoration of the emperor can be realized soon, and the advantages of the new policy obviously can be seen. I hope my compatriots will continue to endeavor and support righteous actions, which will bring enormous well-being to the populace and the country.” After the speech, all the compatriots applauded and praised. Although Mr. Liang’s frank words were an offense to the governor’s will, his cherishing for the populace could be compared to that of Emperor Yao 尧 and Emperor Shun 舜 [17], and it is still moving to tears. Therefore, the compatriots requested Mr. Liang to stay and exchange views on current affairs. Unconsciously, the clock struck twelve, so Mr. Liang was invited to take a rest at the restaurant. | 翌晨，众同志复往请安。又请先生在广生和楼上谈论时务。晚膳后，请先生 登场演说。先生起言曰：“维新之利，守旧之害，众同志已咸喻矣。但皇上于戊 戌年七月廿四日所下之上谕，真令我民万世不能忘也。谕云：‘国家振兴庶务， 兼采西法，良以为民立政，中西所同。而西人考究较勤，故可以补我所未及。今 士夫昧于域外之观者，几谓彼中全无条教，不知西国政治之学，千端万绪，主于 为民开其智慧，裕其身家，其精者乃能美人性质，延人寿命，凡生人利益之事， 务令其推广无遗。朕夙夜孜孜，改图百度，岂为崇尚新奇。乃眷怀赤子，皆上天 之所畀，祖宗之所遗，非悉使之康乐和亲，朕躬不为尽职。加以各国环交凌迫， 尤非取人之所长，不能全我之所有。朕用心至苦，而黎庶犹有未知。职由不肖官 吏，与守旧士夫，不能广宣朕意，乃反胥动浮言，使小民摇惑惊恐，山谷扶杖之 民，有不获闻新政者。朕心实为叹恨。今将变法之意，布告中外，庶使百姓咸喻 朕心，共知其君之可恃，上下同心，以成新政，以强中国，朕不胜厚望焉。钦 此。’夫皇上之用心，以中国地大物博，人民众多，亦可优游自得。乃旅外同胞 受人拘缚，为工为商，均被设法以禁制，必咸使我同胞之利权尽夺而后已。苟有 积蓄资财旋归故国者，亦已在外备受凌辱矣。此无他，皆由守旧积弱，不能伸我 国威也。五月北京之乱，乃奸臣端王、荣禄、刚毅诸贼，久藏篡杀之心，故耸动 团匪，以与外国为难。其中用意，盖以外国及外洋华民尊崇光绪皇帝，抗阻废立。 今我与尔为难，战退汝等，以示我威，则毒害皇上，压制汉人，永为我满人奴隶，不敢昂其首也。不意天心攸属，不佑奸人。始战而胜，继战则败，又战而逃。竟 致京城沦陷，挟圣主以西巡，再期死灰复燃，以肆其狠毒也。乃刚毅行至山西， 则见六君在天之灵，前天索命，大呼一声，昏仆于地而自刎焉。今者守旧奸臣日 弱，维新志士日盛，皇上复辟之期指日可待，新政之善拭目可观。凡我同胞，仍 望勉励以助义举，则万民幸甚，天下幸甚。”说毕，众同志鼓掌称善。然昧上谕 之言，固不让尧舜之爱民也，真令人感泣不已耳。众同志于是请先生座谈，交询 时事。忽忽乎不觉钟鸣十二点矣，乃请先生往酒楼安歇。 |
| On the following day on the 19th, many of his compatriots at [18] Wellingrove Port, Inverell Port, and Tingha Port sent telegrams respectfully inviting him to visit them and to deliver a speech about national affairs. On Sunday the 20th, Mr. Liang and others set out for Wellingrove port, and more than ten of his comrades prepared four carriages to take him on the way. Some of the comrades rode two horses as guides and two bicycles [19] followed. The breeze was blowing and raising the dust. After about 13 to 15 miles, Mr. Liang bid farewell to his compatriots, not wanting to be sent far away. The comrades then opened cans of alcohol and soaked up the drink, taking leave of each other with reluctance. However, eight were particularly reluctant to part with Mr. Liang and insisted on escorting him to Wellingrove before returning. They set off on horseback. When they were about three miles from Wellingrove, they encountered eight or nine friends from Wellingrove, coming with three carriages to welcome Mr. Liang. Mr. Liang dismounted and shook hands with them. These friends invited him to visit the port and escorted him to the Inn named Jinshengchang 锦生昌 to rest, while the comrades who had escorted him bid their farewells and returned. | 次日，十九号，则有威治步埠、烟卑炉（Inverell）埠、天架（Tingha）埠众同胞来电，恭请先生往游，演说国事。二十号，礼拜日，先生等启程往威治步埠， 同志十余人乃备四轮车四乘送先生出境。有同志乘马二匹为先导，又有脚车二堂 为后行。薰风拂拂，尘土腾腾。及至四、五十里之遥，先生告辞，毋劳同胞远送。 同志乃开樽畅饮，依依而别。然有同志八名眷恋先生，须送至威治步而后返，乃 策马前行。将至威治步十里之遥，乃见该埠梓里八、九名，驾车三乘前来迎迓， 先生遂下马握手为礼。该梓友即请进埠，直抵锦生昌号安歇，而送行同志即告别，旋返焉。 |
| Last Sunday the 20th, Mr. Liang Zhuoru [20] and others arrived at Wellingrove port. That evening, fellow friends invited Mr. Liang to give a speech, assembling an audience of over a hundred people. Later, some comrades proposed the establishment of the Emperor Society. However, because of the disagreement at the time, the number of members did not grow significantly, and the future remains uncertain. On Tuesday, Mr. Liang and others arrived at Inverell port, accompanied by Huang Huanan 黄焕楠 from Glen Innes Guangshenghe brand. According to a letter from the comrades, the local fellow friends, upon hearing Mr. Liang’s speeches and witnessing his demeanor, were all greatly inspired and enthusiastic. Although there were only about twenty fellow friends in that port, they eagerly joined the society and generously donated membership fees. Mr. Liang gave speeches for two nights, with Tang Lutang 汤禄堂 serving as the chairman and Liu Xianglan 刘湘兰 and Fang Jinma 方金满 actively participating in dealing with the affairs. | 上礼拜日二十号，梁卓如先生等抵威治步埠，是晚梓友请先生演说，集听者 百余人。后 有同志议开保皇会，而当时人心不一，入会未得众盛，未卜将来如 何耳。礼拜二日，先生等到 烟卑炉埠，坚连尼士广生和号之黄君焕楠等随陪前 往焉。兹据同志来书，极言该埠之梓友得 闻先生之言论，能视先生之丰采，无 不激发忠爱，眉喜色飞，该埠仅廿余梓友，相率入会，乐捐 会项焉。然先生演 说两晚，汤君禄堂为主席，刘君湘兰、方君金满，皆为办事踊跃云。 |
| On Thursday, Mr. Liang set off for Tingha port. Three comrades from Inverell Port accompanied him on his journey. Sun Shuyuan 孙述远 and Guo Qing 郭庆, who lived in Tingha, greeted Mr. Liang 6 miles away from Tingha, which showed their deep admiration for Mr. Liang. As for the meeting progress, it was not clear yet and would be reported later with detailed information. | 礼拜四日，先生启程往天架埠。烟卑炉亦有同志三人随送而去。而天架之孙 君述远、郭君庆二人，出境六英里相迎云，足见其爱敬先生之情深款款矣。至其 会事如何，未闻其详，尚俟探悉续报。 |
| Mr. Liang has visited Glen Innes Port, Inverell Port, Wellingrove Port, Tingha Port, and other ports, and learned who stood with him. Then Mr. Liang visited Tamworth port. Compatriots there had already raised funds for Mr. Liang’s travel. Last Monday, Mr. Liang arrived in Tamworth. Compatriots there were very happy after hearing the news and went to greet him. They supplied Mr. Liang with comfortable accommodation, exquisite viands, and warm hospitality. At night, Mr. Liang gave a speech to list China’s rights and wrongs, gains and losses in all fields, feeling heartbroken. There were only about one hundred compatriots in Tamworth, and most of them came to listen to the speech. As a result, people got angrier and more patriotic, and everyone knew about the emperor’s noble character and the benefits of reform. They supported the emperor to regain power and lead China to become powerful. | 梁卓如先生既游坚连尼士、威治步、烟卑炉、天架等埠，人心可用，已可概 见。后往贪麻 （Tamworth）埠一游。该埠梓友早筹多金，以备先生来往之经费。 上礼拜一日，先生抵其埠，梓友欣闻，远出迎迓，居处、饮食、款待，悉臻美盛。 是晚，先生演说，举中国之是非得失，历落而痛陈之。该埠只有百十梓友，多赴 听焉。由是人心愈愤，忠爱激昂，咸知皇上之圣德，维新之有益，固当保其复辟， 以图中国之自强焉。 |
| The second night, Mr. Liang made another speech, and then compatriots there established the Emperor Society and elected Zhou Youding 周有定 as chairman, Zhou Zaigeng 周载赓 as deputy chairman, Zhou Pangui 周攀桂 and Zhou Bing’an 周炳安 as treasurers, and Zhou Jin Huai 周金怀 as secretary and treasurer. Zhou Jinhu 周金 湖, Xie Weizhang 谢渭璋, Zhou Jiabao 周家保, Zhang Feng 张逢, Guo Sheng 郭生, Huang Futao 黄富滔, Chen Guanhang 陈观杭, Zhong Jinmu 钟金木, Zhai Jian’an 翟 见安,Zhou Guien 周贵恩, Zhou Xiaofa 周肖发, Zhou Guozhen 周国祯, Ren Chunhe 任春河, Zhou Yin’an 周荫安, Zhou Rongduan 周容端, Zhang Jiale 张家乐, Zhou Zehua 周泽华 and others were on-duty chairman. For a time, people persuaded each other to donate and many of them joined the Emperor Society. Bao Chi, Luo Chang, and Chen Shou were also encouraged and bravely fought for it. All members were united with the same goal. | 先生次晚再演说，众同胞遂开保皇会，公举周君有定为总理，周君载赓为副 总理，周君攀桂、周君炳安为司库，周君金怀为书记兼司库焉。周君金湖、谢君 渭璋、周君家保、张君逢、郭君生、黄君富滔、陈君观杭、钟君金木、翟君见安、 周君贵恩、周君肖发、周君国祯、任君春河、 周君荫安、周君容端、张君家乐、 周君泽华等，皆为值理。一时互相劝捐，入会甚众。而鲍君炽、罗君昌、陈君寿亦从中鼓舞，以作其勇往之气，可谓同声相应，同气相求矣。 |
| On Wednesday night, people gathered, including Chinese and Westerners. Mr. Liang gave a speech, with the Western upper class [21] as the chairman and Bao Chi as the translator. There were hundreds of audiences in total. After the speech, the audience applauded in approval. It was late at night, so people left separately. The next morning, Mr. Liang took the train back to Sydney. Members of the Emperor Society of Sydney gave Mr. Liang a gold medal as a commemoration. Since compatriots from each port adored the Emperor deeply and admired Mr. Liang firmly, the Emperor had a good chance to regain power. Also, Mr. Liang’s loyal character would be remembered. | 礼拜三晚，大聚会，中西人咸集。先生演说，西人大绅为主席，鲍君炽传以 英语，听众数百人。演毕，听众鼓掌称善。是时，入夜既深，乃各散场而去。翌 晨，先生附火车返雪梨。该埠保皇会同志且赠先生金牌一枚，以为纪念焉。观各 埠同志之热心爱戴皇上如此其深，爱敬先生如此其笃，则皇上复辟之机大有可望， 而先生忠爱之德益不可忘矣。 |
Footnotes
[1] Liang Qichao (Chinese: 梁啓超; Wade-Giles: Liang Chʻi-chʻao; Yale: Lèuhng Kái-chīu) (February 23, 1873 – January 19, 1929) was a Chinese politician, social and political activist, journalist, and intellectual. His thought had a significant influence on the political reformation of modern China. He inspired Chinese scholars and activists with his writings and reform movements. His translations of Western and Japanese books into Chinese further introduced new theories and ideas and inspired young activists.
[2] There is a contraction and we are not sure if the hotel is named 西人大酒店 or if it is a random hotel and its owner is Western people.
[3] The elder Nanhua here can be dealt with as Zhuangzi, as there is also much controversy in China, some think that the god of Nanhua is a god of Taoism, and is not Zhuangzi; others, however, think that it is Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi, Burton Watson, and Columbia, The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu (New York: Columbia University Press, 2002).
[4] All the Emperor in the article is the Guangxu Emperor. The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871 – 14 November 1908[1]), also known by his temple name Emperor Dezong of Qing, personal name Zaitian,[2] was the tenth emperor of the Qing dynasty,[3] and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, which lasted from 1875 to 1908, was largely dominated by his aunt Empress Dowager Cixi. Guangxu initiated the radical Hundred Days’ Reform but was abruptly stopped when the empress dowager launched a coup in 1898, after which he was held under virtual house arrest until his death.
[5] If you want to know more about the background and the meaning of the sentence, you can read articles below. An Sheng and Xu Jie 安生 许结, “Liyuezhidu yu chuhancifu de yanbian” 礼乐制度与楚汉辞赋的演变 [The Evolution of Rituals, Music Systems, and the Chu Ci and Han Fu Poetry], Journal of Sichuan Normal University: Social Sciences Edition 四川师范大学学报:社会科学版 48, no. 2 (January 1, 2021): 140–50. Zhu Xi and Zhao Changzheng 朱熹 赵长征, Shi Ji Zhuan 诗集传[Poetry collection] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2018), 373.
[6] You can find more details about why and how Empress Dowager Cixi deposed the Emperor Guangxu in this journal article. Jia Shucun 贾熟村 “Yihetuan shiqi de Guangxu di,” 义和团时期的光绪帝[The Emperor Guangxu during the Boxer Rebellion period] Journal of Hunan University of Science and Technology 湖南科技学院学报, no. 5 (January 1, 2010): 1–4.
[7] The Baohuang hui 保皇会 is the Protect the Emperor Society, one of the first political parties in Chinese History. K. Scott, Wong, “Liang Qichao and the Chinese of America: A Re-Evaluation of His ‘Selected Memoir of Travels in the New World”, Journal of American Ethnic History 11, no. 4 (1992): 3–24.
[8] Kang Youwei (19 March 1858 – 31 March 1927), who used to be Liang Qichao’s teacher, was a prominent political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty. He was also an advocate of constitutional monarchy. Luke SK., Kwong, “Chinese politics at the crossroads: Reflections on the Hundred Days Reform of 1898”, Modern Asian Studies 34, no. 3 (2000): 663-695.
[9] Juan-Na System” was a political policy implemented in ancient China which granted certain political benefits such as government official positions to the financial donors of the government.
[10] It refers to Rong Lu荣禄 and Gang Yi刚毅. Li Yu李煜, “Didang Houdang Gainian zhi Liubian” “帝党” “后党” 概念之流变[The change of the concept of “Imperial Party” and “post-Party”], Journal of Pingdingshan University 平顶山学院学报, 36, no. 3 (2021), 84.
[11] “Rule behind the curtain” was the system in imperial China in which the de facto ruler of the state was not the Emperor but a woman. This occurred when the the Emperor could not effectively exercise his powers because he was still a child or because he was incapacitated. Ying-kit, Chan, A Precious Mirror for Governing the Peace: A Primer for Empress Dowager Cixi, Nan Nü 17, no. 2 (2015): 214-244.
[12] Yingtai is an island in the South Lake (Nanhai 南海) Beijing, one of the chain of lakes located on the west side of the Forbidden City. Lewis C. Arlington, and Lewisohn William, In search of old Peking, Journal of the American Oriental Society 88, no. 2 (1968), 96.
[13] Since the original text is “西正月十七号”, the “西” means the Gregorian calendar, which is different from the lunar calendar used before.
[14] In the original text, “山谷扶杖之民” literally means old, disabled, and sick people who live in a valley. We found that it should be a metaphor, which refers to the policy still unknown by people who live in the remote region, not just the valley. And for “扶杖”, we chose not to translate it literally and broad its scope to ‘many people’ because according to the context, we think the emperor not only wanted these people to be aware of the new policy.
[15] According to the reference, Prince Duan is a title associated with the Aisin Gioro clan of the Qing Dynasty. The man in the original text, who held the title of Prince Duan, was called Zaiyi (载漪, 1856–1923). Zaiyi was involved in the Boxer Rebellion and was exiled at the end of 1901, only briefly returning to Beijing in 1911. Fabienne Jagou, “Life in China and Tibet (from 1903 to 1958),” in Gongga Laoren (1903-1997), (Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2021),10-35.
[16] This article shows the detail of the contradictions between Manchu and Han. And about the the Boxer Rebellion, they were utilized by the Empress Dowager Cixi, starting wars with eight countries at the same time, leading China to face the destruction. Xue Weiqiang 薛伟强,“Manhan maodun yu wanqing zhengju 1884-1912 yi tongzhijieji shangceng weizhongxin dekaocha” 满汉矛盾与晚清政局（1884-1912）——以统治阶级上层为中心的考察 [The Contradictions between Manchu and Han and the Late Qing Council (1884-1912)——The Upper Ruling Class as the Research Center], Hebeishifan daxue 河北师范大学(2012).
[17] Emperor Yao 尧, and Emperor Shun 舜, were the heroes of traditional China’s golden age’s sage emperors during the original period, who according to Chinese tradition lived from 2356 to 217. B.C. Jean Gates, “Model Emperors of the Golden Age in Chinese Lore,” Journal of the American Oriental Society 56, no. 1 (March 1936): 51, https://doi.org/10.2307/593882.
[18] The only place name in the source text that is not annotated in English is 威治步, and although it is possible to transliterate the place name phonetically using the Wade-Giles phonetic transcription of Cantonese, the translator felt that it was important to maintain uniformity with the exact place name. Therefore, according to the map of New South Wales, we found Wellingrove near Inverell and Tingha, which is similar to the pronunciation of 威治步, and it is only twenty kilometres away from Glen Innes, which appears in the text several times. Based on the previous article, it is very likely that Wellingrove is the name of the 威治步. “Inverell%EF%BC%8Ctingha,” Bing, accessed June 5, 2024, https://www.bing.com/search?q=inverell%EF%BC%8Ctingha&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=- 1&lq=0&sm=csrmain&pq=inverell%EF%BC%8Ctingha&sc=1- 15&sk=&cvid=57652F05BEB84E32852A3159EE40CB8B&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=.
[19] A bicycle is also known as a 脚车 or 脚踏车.
[20] Liang Qichao’s alias is also known as Zhuoru. 梁启超. “梁启超.” 档案春秋 7 (2014): 3-3.
[21] We translated “大绅” as upper class (士绅). However, “大绅” may also be a name in the context but we didn’t find any reference to it.
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