【答案解析】In 1895, after defeated in the war of 1894, China was in a deep national crisis, for the big powers threatened to partition China. Scholars who were worded about the fate of the country called for reform, not only in industry and military affairs, but also in the political system. Outstanding among these people were Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong. Kang and over 1,300 other scholars submitted a memorial to Emperor Guangxu, suggesting political reform. Kang was for the substitution of constitutional monarchy for feudal autocracy. Liang, once a student of Kang, helped Kang by writing articles propagating reformist ideas. Tan was more radical than the others. He wrote On Benevolence criticizing traditional ideas. The reformists frequently made speeches, published books and wrote articles in newspapers to explain the necessity of reform. They were in a way helped by the critical situation of the country, which showed that China had no way out except reform. But conservatives, or diehards, were still a strong force, especially in the ruling class. They were against all changes and contended what was necessary was to change men, not law, for all faults came from men's wrong thinking. In 1898 Kang Youwei submitted to the emperor another memorial, in which he warned that only political changes could save the country, and that the country would perish without major, changes. This time Emperor Guangxu was persuaded and agreed to Kang's views and suggestions. In June 1898 he gave Kang and a few other reformists important positions in the government and empowered them to carry out reform. They took mainly economic and educational measures, such as the encouragement of industry and commerce, the establishment of schools, the reform of the civil service examination system, and the abolition of some unnecessary government organs. But the conservative force led by Empress Dowager Cixi, who had real power, bitterly hated and strongly opposed these measures. With the help of some military men, Cixi counter-attacked in September. She put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest, and killed Tan Sitong and five other reformists. Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao narrowly, escaped. The hundred-day reform was thus brought to an end. The failure of the reformists taught the progressive people a lesson: it would be impossible to change the political system under Qing role. Shortly afterwards, people with more radical ideas led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen began preparing for armed uprisings to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. After a series of failures, they finally succeeded in 1911.