As China's international standing sank lower and lower, many overseas Chinese came firmly to believe that the welfare of its citizens abroad could not be protected without a strong nation backing them up at home.
由於當時中國的國際地位日低，清廷對外割地賠款之事層出不窮，根本無力護僑。華人在夏威夷又受到排華法案的歧視與其他法律之限制，因此多數移民深信，要想增進華人的福祉，先得有個強大的國家為後盾。只是，有心卻不知如何著手行動。