The Fight for the Republic in ChinaPutnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
History
The Fight for the Republic in China
Putnam Weale, B. L. (Bertram Lenox)
China -- History -- Republic, 1912-1949; China -- Politics and government
Heaven is chastening this country by the series of disturbances
that have taken place. Chang Hsun, filled with sinister designs,
has occupied the capital by bringing up his troops under the
pretext of effecting a compromise with the astounding result that
last night the Republican form of government was overthrown. The
question of the form of Government is the very fundamental
principle on which the national existence depends. It requires
assiduous efforts to settle the form of government and once a
decision has been reached on the subject, any attempt to change
the same is bound to bring on unspeakable disasters to the
country. Today the people of China are much more enlightened and
democratic in spirit than ever before. It is, therefore,
absolutely impossible to subjugate the millions by holding out to
the country the majesty of any one family.
When the Republic of China was being founded, the Ching House,
being well aware of the general inclinations of modern peoples,
sincerely and modestly abdicated its power. Believing that such
spirit deserved handsome recognition the people were willing to
place the Ching House under the protection of special treatment
and actually recorded the covenant on paper, whereby contentment
and honour were vouchsafed the Ching House. Of the end of more
than 20 dynasties of Chinese history, none can compare with the
Ching dynasty for peace and safety.
Purely for sake of satisfying his ambitions of self-elevation
Chang Hsun and others have audaciously committed a crime of
inconceivable magnitude and are guilty of high treason. Like Wang
Mang and Tung Tso he seeks to sway the whole nation by utilizing a
young and helpless emperor. Moreover he has given the country to
understand that Li Yuan-hung has memorialized the Ching House that
many evils have resulted from republicanism and that the ex-
emperor should be restored to save the masses. That Chang Hsun has
been guilty of usurpation and forging documents is plain and the
scandal is one that shocks all the world.
Can it be imagined that Chang Hsun is actuated by a patriotic
motive? Surely despotism is no longer tolerated in this stage of
modern civilization. Such a scheme can only provoke universal
opposition. Five years have already passed since the friendly
Powers accorded their recognition of the Chinese Republic and if
we think we could afford to amuse ourselves with changes in the
national fabric, we could not expect foreign powers to put up with
such childishness. Internal strife is bound to invite foreign
intervention and the end of the country will then be near.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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