"‘There will be boundless daily improvement. May the "silken sounds" descend to inform the empire and fix the road for ten thousand years, comforting the hopes of the myriads who long for peace.’ "Fourteen laws are then submitted, as follows: "1. The Ta Ch’ing Emperor will rule supreme over the Ta Ch’ing Empire for one thousand generations in succession, and be honored forever. "2. Majesty of the sovereign. "3. Right of promulgating laws. "4. Convocation, suspension, extension and dissolution of parliament. "5. Appointment, payment, promotion, degradation of officials. "6. Command over army and navy. "7. Power to make war, peace, treaties; to receive and appoint ambassadors. "8. Martial law. "9. Rewards and pardons. "10. Right over judges and the administration of laws. "11. Injunction. " 12. Right of raising funds when parliament is not in session. "13. Right of fixing the expenses of the imperial household. "14. Respecting authority over the imperial clan. "‘We look to our Empress Dowager and Emperor and see that they take the measure of heaven and earth as their measure and the heart of the people as their heart. The officials and people within the wide seas are reverently grateful. "‘The people should earnestly fulfil all the duties without selfish reservations, which would hinder the public welfare, and without rash impatience, which would confuse the regulation; not looking on the matter as too easy, so that the deliberations become empty wrangling, not failing to understand the limitation of powers, so as to make laws which overstep authority. "‘The sovereign has absolute power, which he exercises in constitutional form.’ "It is then set forth that on the dissolution of parliament the people shall be called on to elect a new parliament, and the document continues: "‘Mercy is from above; officials, below, may not arrogate it to themselves. "‘Officers and people who keep within the law will have freedom of speech, of the press and of assembly. They shall not be disturbed without cause in their possession of property, nor interfered with in their dwellings; and they have the obligation to pay taxes and render military service and the duty of obedience to the law of the land. "‘Members of parliament shall not speak disrespectfully of the court or slander others. Violation of this law will be punished.’ "The nine year programme is as follows: "‘Thirty-fourth year of Kwang Hsu, or 1908—Local self-government; rules for reorganization of finance; fusion of the Manchu and Chinese military; revision of criminal code.