THE FIGHT FOR THE REPUBLIC IN CHINA
by
B. L. PUTNAM WEALE
Author of Indiscreet Letters from Peking, etc.
With 28 Illustrations
London: Hurst & Blackett, Ltd. Paternoster House, E.C.
1918
PREFACE
This volume tells everything that the student or the casual reader needs to know about the Chinese Question. It is sufficiently exhaustive to show very clearly the new forces at work, and to bring some realisation of the great gulf which separates the thinking classes of to-day from the men of a few years ago; whilst, at the same time, it is sufficiently condensed not to overwhelm the reader with too great a multitude of facts.
Particular attention may be devoted to an unique feature--namely, the Chinese and Japanese documentation which affords a sharp contrast between varying types of Eastern brains. Thus, in the Memorandum of the Black Dragon Society (Chapter VII) we have a very clear and illuminating revelation of the Japanese political mind which has been trained to consider problems in the modern Western way, but which remains saturated with theocratic ideals in the sharpest conflict with the Twentieth Century. In the pamphlet of Yang Tu (Chapter VIII) which launched the ill-fated Monarchy Scheme and contributed so largely to the dramatic death of Yuan Shih-kai, we have an essentially Chinese mentality of the reactionary or corrupt type which expresses itself both on home and foreign issues in a naïvely dishonest way, helpful to future diplomacy. In the Letter of Protest (Chapter X) against the revival of Imperialism written by Liang Ch'i-chao--the most brilliant scholar living--we have a Chinese of the New or Liberal China, who in spite of a complete ignorance of foreign languages shows a marvellous grasp of political absolutes, and is a harbinger of the great days which must come again to Cathay. In other chapters dealing with the monarchist plot we see the official mind at work, the telegraphic despatches exchanged between Peking and the provinces being of the highest diplomatic interest. These documents prove conclusively that although the Japanese is more practical than the Chinese--and more concise--there can be no question as to which brain is the more fruitful.
Coupled with this discussion there is much matter giving an insight into the extraordinary and calamitous foreign ignorance about present-day China, an ignorance which is just as marked among those resident in the country as among those who have never visited it. The whole of the material grouped in this novel fashion should not fail to bring conviction that the Far East, with its 500 millions of people, is destined to play an important rôle in postbellum history because of the new type of modern spirit which is being there evolved. The influence of the Chinese Republic, in the opinion of the writer, cannot fail to be ultimately world-wide in view of the practically unlimited resources in man-power which it disposes of.
In the Appendices will be found every document of importance for the period under examination,--1911 to 1917. The writer desires to record his indebtedness to the columns of The Peking Gazette, a newspaper which under the brilliant editorship of Eugene Ch'en--a pure Chinese born and educated under the British flag--has fought consistently and victoriously for Liberalism and Justice and has made the Republic a reality to countless thousands who otherwise would have refused to believe in it.
PUTNAM WEALE.
PEKING, June, 1917.
CONTENTS
I.--GENERAL INTRODUCTION
II.--THE ENIGMA OF YUAN SHIH-KAI
III.--THE DREAM REPUBLIC (From the Manchu Abdication to the dissolution of Parliament)
IV.--THE DICTATOR AT WORK (From the Coup d'état of the 4th Nov. 1913 to the outbreak of the World-war, 1st August, 1914)
V.--THE FACTOR OF JAPAN
VI.--THE TWENTY-ONE DEMANDS
VII.--THE ORIGIN OF THE TWENTY-ONE DEMANDS
VIII.--THE MONARCHIST PLOT 1º The Pamphlet of Yang Tu
IX.--THE MONARCHY PLOT 2º Dr. Goodnow's Memorandum
X.--THE MONARCHY MOVEMENT IS OPPOSED The Appeal of the Scholar Liang Chi-chao
XI.--THE DREAM EMPIRE ("The People's Voice" and the action of the Powers)
XIII.--"THE THIRD REVOLUTION" (continued) Downfall and Death of Yuan Shih-kai
XIV.--THE NEW RÉGIME--FROM 1916 TO 1917
XV.--THE REPUBLIC IN COLLISION WITH REALITY: TWO TYPICAL INSTANCES OF "FOREIGN AGGRESSION"
XVI.--CHINA AND THE WAR
XVII.--THE FINAL PROBLEM:--REMODELLING THE POLITICO-ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE WORLD
APPENDICES--DOCUMENTS AND MEMORANDA
ILLUSTRATIONS
President Li Yuan-Hung
The Funeral of Yuan-Shih-kai: The Procession passing down the great Palace Approach with the famous Ch'ien Men (Gate) in the distance
The Provincial Troops of General Chang Hsun at his Headquarters of Hsuchowfu
The Funeral of Yuan Shih-kai: The Catafalque over the Coffin on its way to the Railway Station
The Funeral of Yuan Shih-kai: The Procession passing down the great Palace Approach with the famous Ch'ien Men (Gate) in the distance
An Encampment of "The Punitive Expedition" of 1916 on the Upper Yangtsze (By courtesy of Major Isaac Newell, U.S. Military Attaché.)
Revival of the Imperialistic Worship of Heaven by Yuan Shih-kai in 1914: Scene on the Altar of Heaven, with Sacrificial Officers clothed in costumes dating from 2,000 years ago.
A Manchu Country Fair: The figures in the foreground are all Manchu Women and Girls
A Manchu Woman grinding Grain
Silk-reeling done in the open under the Walls of Peking
Modern Peking: A Run on a Bank
The Re-opening of Parliament on August 1st, 1916, after three years of dictatorial rule
The Original Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1913, photographed on the Steps of the Temple of Heaven, where the Draft was completed
A Presidential Review of Troops in the Southern Hungtung Park outside Peking: Arrival of the President
President Li Yuan-Hung and the General Staff watching the Review
March-past of an Infantry Division
Modern Peking: The Palace Entrance lined with Troops. Note the New Type Chinese Policeman in the foreground
The Premier General Tuan Chi-Jui, Head of the Cabinet which decided to declare war on Germany General Feng Kuo-chang, President of the Republic The Scholar Liang Chi-chao, sometime Minister of Justice, and the foremost "Brain" in China
General Tsao-ao, the Hero of the Yunnan Rebellion of 1915-16, who died from the effects of the campaign
Liang Shih-yi, who was the Power behind Yuan Shih-kai, now proscribed and living in exile at Hong-Kong
The Famous or Infamous General Chang Hsun, the leading Reactionary in China to-day, who still commands a force of 30,000 men astride of the Pukow Railway
The Bas-relief in a Peking Temple, well illustrating Indo-Chinese Influences
The Late President Yuan Shih-kai
President Yuan Shih-kai photographed immediately after his Inauguration as Provisional President, March 10th, 1912
The National Assembly sitting as a National Convention engaged on the Draft of the Permanent Constitution. (Specially photographed by permission of the Speakers for the Present Work)
View from rear of the Hall of the National Assembly sitting as a National Convention engaged on the Draft of the Permanent Constitution. (Specially photographed by permission of the Speakers for the Present Work)