A Republic for China The Cornell Era Jan., 1912. pp. 240-242. Cornell Papers. The New Year bells, as Tennyson sang, did "Ring out the old, ring in the new." Amidst their merry chimes there was brought forth, in the ancient land of China, a republic. Liberty rejoices in it. China's sons are rejoicing in it. Yet the world hesitates to join in our voices of rapture and gratification. There are still sneers and laughter at the idea of a republic for China. It is in the defense of this"chosen music" of Liberty for China that I venture to submit to our American friends a justification of that new birth in China. The world seems to have the misconception that democracy is entirely a new thing to the Chinese. I call it a misconception because, though China has been under monarchical government fo…