The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-12-26
ENEMIES Within CH|NA'S PRQRI M
Hon. Thomas R. Jernigan Dis.
cusses the New Form of
Government for That Bio
Country

He Draws q Parallel Between the Sow
ereisnty OF the States in the United
States Before the Revolution and
tie Condition I'm China Nhere Peo-
pie Regard Themselves as Rather
Than of China.
The whole world is Interested in the
problem which the Chinese are now
trying to solve. After long submission
to 4 despised central authority. the
people have put an end to Manchu
rule and are trying to frame a gov
ernment that Will be stable and will
insure justice and government by, for
ana OF the people It is no easy task
and many fear the Chinese are not
yet capable Of self-government.
The China Press, published at
in it's issue Of November
18th, has as it's leading article a
communication by Hon. Thos. r. Jer-
nlgan on "A Decision Necessary" MI.
Jernigan is a native OF North Carolina,
SerVed as consul in Japan in CIeye-
lands administration, and as Consul
General to Shanghai from 1894 to
1897 or 8 upon his retirement from
that post. which he filled with mark
ed ability, Mr.. Jernigan remained in
Shanghai, where he has commanded a
large practice n is held in high es-
TEEN. His article in the China Press
is as follows:
Il Decision Necessary.
(By Z. II. Jernisan.)
The central government of china
1,~~ 1S-~o&I -
provincial affairs with so much indif-
ference and negligence that there
should be no reasonable surprise, dur
ing the present revolution. because
each province may regard itself as in
dependent. The inhabitants Of a pro-
vince have been educated by this lax
ity Of the central government, to con-
slider themselves rather more the res
idents OF a province and, to a greater
extent, responsible for what ia
place within their own province, than
for occurrences in the Empire at large.
Now when the people OF China have
risen up with arms in their hands to
put an end to the injustice OF Nanchu
rule effort should not be deprecated
because they do not seem more united
The want of cohesion is the natural
and logical consequence OF years OF
administrative custom, and If the rev.
olution succeeds there will hardly be
entire harmony for some time after.
It would be a remarkable incident in
the history Of revolutions if there
should Immediately pDe uniformity
Of assent, ever on the great subject as
to the form Of government desired,
and the details Of domestic admins
tration will seriously engage the most
thoushtful minds China can entrust in
Legislative stations
Although the American c~olonists
= 3 Y:.--l Gov -or 7
government than that OF China, and
had irnbibed in a much greater degree
the spirit and meaning OF constitution
al liberty, when they declared their
independence Of Great Britain the col
Onies, then changed into States, were
AS earnest in the assertion Of their in
dividuaI sovereignties as the provinces
of China are now seen to be- me
contention OF each State that 1t was
sovereign, and the reluctance with
which any paramount authority was
delegated to the general
the union, nearly resulted in all the
States being conquered into subn1is-
sion to the British government. And
after the independence Of the United
calmer counsel prevailed the consti-
tutionaI form Of government then
adopted did not include the express
power to prevent a State from claim
ing the sovereign right to withdraw
from the union nus formed by all the
States. However patriotic in a ma
tioral sense the American peonIe
proved themselves in their successful
war for Independence the love of in
dividuai liberty. embodied IN the idea
OF the sovereignty OF a State. not only
teopardized the cause Of American IN
more than British bullets
but ended in a civil war that conid not
be averted by the sober patriotism OF
the country.
II the revolution IN China succeeds
the question will be presented whethe-
the form of the present
will be continued or. II chan~ed, what
other form will be best? Too much
insistence ought not tn he made on
the formation OF a goVernnfent De-
eia Tfv suited to the customs and laws
of the Chinese. for both are rata-
rio uv defective. and the defects
should not be allowed to enter into
IT.