The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-29
AFFAIRS IN CHINA
Geo. E. LerrigO Writes OF the
Political Upheavals.
He Is the Y. NJ. c. A. Secretary
at Canton Now.
MORE REVOLUTION STIRS
Former TOpekan Expects Chi
nese To Fight Some More.
He Tells of a Battle That Last
ed for Weeks.

for the association at that point, gives
some interesting sidelights on the con-
duct of the recent political upheavals
in the land of the dragon and the
reaction of the people to the temporary
success of the various factions. Ler-
rigo was probably the first secretary
OF the Y. NJ. c. A in Topeka, and from
the very inception of the work IN TINS
city he was active in bringing the Y
M. C. A. and its work before the peo-
pie.
It was largely thru the efforts and
work of George Z. Lerrigo that the
funds were raised that made possible
the removal of the Y NJ. Z. A from
it's old quarters on East Eighth street
into the fine modern building it now
occupies. About ten years ago Ler-
rigo received a call to the Orient, and
Immediately responded. On applying
for a passport he discovered that he
was not an American citizen, owing TO
the fact that his father had not com
pleted naturalization before George
was 81 years old. A special bill was
introduced in congress to confer c1tl-
ZenShip rights on him, and LerrlGo
soon became a figure of national
prominence He is a brother of Capt
c. H. Lerrigo of the Washburn Ambu-
lance company.
In his report, under the heading,
IAN Open Window Into China's Pub
lie Affairs" Lerrigo. says: "A year
ago at this time september 80, 191D,
Canton was the scene of fierce con-
flict between the forces of Lung Chat
Kwong, the representative of the
regime of Yuan Shi Kai. and the re-
publican forces of the south For
weeks the battle ragged in three differ
ent parts of the city. Day and night
the sharp reports of rifle fire and the
rat-tat-tat of the machine guns,
together with the occasional sound of
heavier guns and the bursting of
shrapnel. could be heard.
Business at fStandstiII.
Business was at a standstill; shops
were closed and their doors barred to
prevent looting. Large numbers or
the natives had taken refuge in Hong
kong and Macao. Then mediator
| came and a compromise was arranged.
Lung and his forces were allowed to
leave the city for the southern island
| of Hainan and order was once more
restored. September brought peace.
The fighting and disturbance incident
to the third revolution within six years
HAD passed away. Now as COM
mence my annual report we are ex-
| periencing another phase of this long
| struggle, and one which 1 suppose will
be referred to by some as a fourth
revolution. In order to give our
friends at home better understand
| ing of the situation 1 wish to make Il
few statements concerning it.
! The national parliament was dis
missed summarily by President Ii
| Yuan Hung under compulsion of the
military leaders of the north. One of
these leaders, Chang Hsun, having
failed in his efforts to re-establish
the old Manchu dynasty, was defeated
| by the very generals on whom he had
counted for support. These generals
then established a government in
Picking under the acting presidency
of Feng Kwo Chang, and the active
administration of the ex-premier
| Tuan Chi Jul.
1.-THE remnant of the national par
lament, together with the leading
members of the Kwok Ming Tong are
publican party), gathered in Shang-
hal and then decided to come south
The reason for this was that the
emphatic stand for preservation of the
constitution and recognition of the
parliament
Navy Stood Loyal.
THE navy, under the leadership of
Admiral Cheng, also stood loyal to
parliament and the constitution. and
Joined the southern provinces, taking
up their headquarters at the port of
Canton. These leaders, who must be
recognized as the constitutionalists of
China, have now assembled in Can
ton and have organized an extraor-
binary session of the national parlia-
ment here. Our friend and ex-nationaI
general secretary, c. T. Wang, is here
as vice president of the senate. Rep
reSentatiYeS of seventeen of the prov
inces are also here. Whether the re-
suit will be compromise or civil wal
remains to be seen. China is strug-
Cling along the hard and stony path
which leads to democratic govern
ment The victory which resulted in
the Punishment of the reigning house
of the Manchus in 1911 did not solve
the problem of China's political fu.
ture. It did not create a real repub.
lie. 1t simply opened the campaign
All of these revolutions and counter
revolutions since are phases OF ths
same struggle. group of the more
enlightened leaders is struggling t.
awaken and educate the people anC
lead them to proper understanding
and appreciation of the meaning o.
representative government. On tn,
other hand there are strong reaction
airy leaders who long to see the OLD
state of affairs restored
AH sorts of news has been flashed
over the wires from China and unles
one is able to see the great movemen
which is behind all the tumult thus de
scribed one can easily be led to form
snap judgment and come to the con
clusion that there is no hope for tn,
land and that the leaders are bu
rushing on to destruction both q
themselves and of this ancient nation
Even those of us living here in Chin;
cannot foresee what is to be the out
come of the conflict but we know per
sonally many of those struggling 70
the preservation of the constitution
We have confidence in them and tn
honesty of their purpose. We are ais,
able to see the great constructive worl
which is taking place all over tn
land in the schools and colleges of tn
country. We are able to gauge some
thing of the growing power and vital
ity of the Christian church. We Sc
the increasing influence of our ow1
movement for young men, Becaus
we see these things we are not over
anxious even in the face of disturb
ances. We take courage and believ
that God is leading. He will obtai
the victory, right will triumph. goo
government viii be established on
firm and sustained basis. piracy wi