Evening star., 1912-09-03
LETTER BY A. P. BROWN
Comments Upon the Visit of Gen.
Ian Tien Wei.
VIEWS OF LEADING CHNAMEN
Extract From Appeal Forwarded by
Wu Ting-fang-Country Needs
Financial Aid.

Financial Aid.
The visit to Washington Of Gen. Ian
Tien Wei, representative Of the Chinese
government, seeking to secure the formal
recognition of the republic by the United
States, revives interest In that subject. in
connection with which letter written by
Austin p Brown of this city and New
York, addressed to Representative Sulzer,
chairman Of the House committee on for
eign affairs, possesses immediate impor-
tance. In this letter Mr.. Brown notes
communication recently received by him
from Wu Ting-fang, former minister to
the United States from China, with refer
ence to a report that he was to be made
the diplomatic representative at this cap
ital. and accompanying copies of a plea
for the Recognition OF the Chinese Repub
lic.'' written by his son. Chao-Chu WI.
BY this pamphlet Mr.. Brown points out.
in his letter to Mr.. Sulzer. it is to be seen
how very seriously the delay of this gov
ernment In extending official recognition
to the Chinese republic Is regarded by
representative Cinnamon. The closing
paragraph of the plea, which was dated
April II, 1912, lis as follows:
In recognizing the new government.
the powers. especially those possessing
free and popular government, will only be
doing an act demanded by common JUS
tice and fairness. In the past these pow
ers have encouraged and helped the
growth of constitutional and popular gov
ernment in this country They have well
coined every step, short and ineffectual
though Ii has been owing to the weight of
Manchu incompetence and unwillingness.
which China has taken in that direction.
Yet, when she at last with one bound
reached the goal. instead of receiving some
practical expression of good will. some real
cooperation which will help to smooth her
path. she finds nothing but hesitation and
inaction. The friends who urged her on
and whom she counted on being the first
to do this graceful act are holding back
just as much as those governments which
regard her change with jealousy and un-
easiness, and those which in a mercenary
spirit expect s some aud pro quo for, for
costs them nothing Frankly she is dis
appointed. She still hopes. however, that
they will, as quickly as may be. repair
the injury, however unintentional. and
render to her that which by International
law and common justice is and has too
long been her due"
Chinese People Congratulated.
Mr.. Brown notes that since the plea"
was written the Senate and House have
passed concurrent resolution congratu-
lating the people of China upon their
assumption of the powers. duties and re-
sponsibilities of self-government. but 1t
remains for the President to extend to
them the formal and official recognition
for which they are now asking:
Mr.. Brown goes on to say:
The StupendOus achievement of the
learned Chinese patriots, some Of whom
were educated In our universities. in
encompassing the overthrow of their
cruel. tyrannical. corrupt and intolerable
Manchu dynasty with the shedding of
but little blood, and setting up a most
intelligent form of republican government
in lieu thereof, has no parallel in his
tory. and. therefore. must go upon rec
ord as the greatest of all known intel
lectual accomplishments in governmental
science: that the Manchu government
was weak and impotent at the time of
Its overthrow there Is no question never
theless, that this condition was produced
through the skillful manipulation and
eonsummate ability Of the learned. broad
minded and strong men who overturned
II and set UP a highly comprehensive re-
publican government in its stead must
be admitted.
"And Ii Is an established fact which
cannot be controverted that the Manchu
dynasty was overthrown in fourteen out
Of the eighteen Chinese provinces and a
new republican government established
therein some time previous to November
i. 1911. the date OF the appeal of this
new government to the world for recog-
milton made through DIR. Wu Ting-fang,
the director Of foreign affairs.
President by Unanimous Vote.
Then on December % following DR..
Sun Vat Sen was unanimously elected
president OF the republic by accredited
representatives from the entire eighteen
provinces constituting China proper, and
In the early part of February. 19l2. the
already powerless Manchu rulers, through
compulsion. but ostensibly for the pur-
pose of avoiding bloodshed and the pres
ervation Of harmony and tranquility
throughout the empire. in compliance
with the terms OF an agreement made
and entered into by President Sun Vat
republic and Prince Yuan Shi-kai, on
their part. vacated the throne in favor
OF the republic in consideration OF a
stipulatD pension to be paid them.
"Thereupon. DIR. Sun Vat Sen, from a
high sense of patriotic duty. resigned
from the office of president and, through
his instrumentality and influence. caused
Prince Yuan Shi-Kai to be elected presi-
dent by the republican assembly
AFTER this unparalleled self-sacrificing
and patriotic act DIR. Sun Vat Sen re-
turned to private life and Immediately
started upon an educational lecturing
tour Of the empire in behalf Of the COM
pletely organized de facto. ana. accord
ing to my view. de jure republican gov
ernment.
And that patriotic. noble and esteemed
citizen. DIR. WI Ting-fang. with the part
he undertook. as we'll accomplished as
possible. also then retired to private life
yet still continues to work with all his
heart and soul in behalf Of his new gov
ernpent without expectation Of compen-
sation or reward.
Orderly Form of Government.
"An1 President Yuan shi-Kai. with the
executive. legislative and judicial
branches of the government in full run
ming order. has for several months been
discharging the functions of his office in
an orderly manner.
And our great sister republic is hold
ing inviolate all foreign treaty and finan-
cial obligations entered into by the out
going Manchu dynasty: yet the revolu-
tionary disturbances interfered somewhat
with the commerce and industry of the
country. the estimated revenue of $685.
0OO.OCO for the past year will be some
what smaller this year. and as unusual
debts were incurred because of the revo-
luton IL became necessary to provide
funds for the payment of these obliga-
tions and a foreign loan was sought for
that purpose.