The China of Chiang K'ai-Shek: A Political StudyLinebarger, Paul Myron Anthony
History
The China of Chiang K'ai-Shek: A Political Study
Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony
Chiang, Kai-shek, 1887-1975; China -- Politics and government -- 1912-1949
Secondly, he has found the pragmatic elements of Sun's philosophy highly
palatable. Apart from his public life, he has always made a fetish of
action, and has stood for getting something done. His orthodox but
modified Sunyatsenism and his practicality can best be shown by excerpts
from a recent essay of his which states his position.[17] One notes the
stress on practicality, the Christian influence in the matter of love,
and the opinions of Communism, Fascism, and Democracy:
In order to make a scientific study of any subject it is
best to use the analytical, deductive and inductive methods.
By applying this principle to the study of the _San Min Chu
I_, I have made a chart showing its system and working
procedure.... In order to realize his ideas, Sun invented
the most complete and the most practical political
principles, the _San Min Chu I_. At the present there are
mainly three schools of political thought, namely, Democracy
so-called, Communism, and Fascism. None of them is perfect.
For instance, take Communism. It attaches enough importance
to the economic side of life and resembles the Principle of
Livelihood, but it ignores the ideas embodied in the
Principles of Nationalism and Democracy. Furthermore, it
considers the economic interests of only one class of
people, and not of all. The Fascist school stresses only
those ideas as embodied in the Principle of Nationalism and
ignores the other two principles. Besides, it ignores the
interests and welfare of other nationalities. So-called
Democracy is too much involved with capitalism and can
hardly solve the problems of _min shêng_. The Three
Principles of Sun are different from these in that they
originate from the idea that _the world belongs to the
public_. His aim is to bring about the real equality of the
people without any distinction of classes, religion, and
occupations. After this is realized in China, it is expected
that the equality of all nationalities in the whole world
can be brought about by means of the spirit of mutual help
and sincere cooperation.
Of all the common human feelings, the sentiment of
nationality is the most worthy one. The Principle of
Nationalism is based on this point. Laws specifically define
the popular responsibilities and privileges which underlie
the Principle of Democracy. And lastly, in Livelihood, each
man's reasoning power is used to advantage in working out
the most rational way of distribution, whereby people will
be put in an equitable position economically. Thus it can be
seen that the Three Principles are very adaptable to China
as well as to any other nation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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