Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-26
Tide o, Democracy in China


Tide Of Democracy in China
r. ne Editor Of the Eurrino rnb'ic Ledger:
S,r.-l'robab!y all leading Phi'adci.
min journals of the last week prougn,
,,,,t tbc fact that the c,oud OF cNH
risr il ohout To break out in China.
Unfortunately many of our sympatnet'c
American friends have taken TINS taci
merely as the proof OF our natlonn'
hopclessness and perpetual c'us'T ~:
One of the Philadelphia papers OF tne
Stltb went 40 far even as to say that
China is not yet prepared for an occi-
dental form OF democratic government
j that we need, at present and Tor nh
indefinitely prolonged time to come an
energetic despot, even an emperor 70
eubdue all militarists and dictate the
country in order that China may nave
q rest. Co.
from all fact that l cannot accept
Il without great deal OF sus-
picion. We appreciate the SYM
rathy of the writer. but he is cvi.
IDENTITY not aware Of the situation OF
our country for 1t was this very, idea
Of our need Of strong dcspot that
few years ago gave Yum SUI XII y
chance to cnthrone himself. and stirred
Chang Sun to restore the child en-
back to one mans China had been ap,,
piled and failed again and again; ana
fhe only result we obtained was the
retarding Of the progress OF the repuo-
liz and ,loublingp Of the work ot the
reformers. Now. should either Chang
Tsao-lin or Wu Pei-fu succeed In gain
ing supremacy you will see that there
N another. sooner or later. VINO sp!''Ss
I'M 10 defeat him: because the Chinese
people as a whole. including the mill
tarists. are tired of n dcspot. No one Is
more familiar with q deSpot than we.
for we have enough Of it in the last five
thousand years Now We want chance
to guide ourselves with our own wings.
which we never have had before.
il would be well to bear in mind
that the failure Of Yum Shi-kai was
not due to the shortness OF his life o,
the attack of another despot who was
superior to him in power. but the peo-
PIES hatred Of despot and protest from
nh parts Of China. Chang Shun was
not defeated by the army OF General
Tun Chi -ju, but the outcry OF Down
with the traitor OF all twenty two
provinces. Therefore. China fails to
attain the stage Of prosperity and peace
not because the people arc not ready
Tor a democratic form Of government.
hut because the militarists are in our
wny, but the militarist does not repre-
sent China. Would you say that China
lhould not. at present. have demo =
cratic government because there arc ten
or twelve men who are not ready for
IL,
II is true that China needs a rest
from the militarists' annoyance which
had 80 long ravaged the country. but
we will not employ lion for the pur-
nose Of chasing out tiger. 1t Is the
rssponsibiiity Of the Chinese people to
wipe out all shamefulness of the mill
tarists, and that Is the very task we
are accomplishing in South China
under the leadership of DR.. Sun lat-
sen. 1t may take a long time or many
more failures. but we will not adopt
the let go policy until we shall have
rot what we have SO long been trying
to get. There is no honor for battle
won from a pillow case.
DR.. Sun Yat sen, on the other hand.
- not a militarist. He is merely the
director of our people to overthrow the
militarists. So purely Americanized.
honest. upright and patriot is he that
we Chinese of all foreign countries arc
rushing to help him in his recent cx-
pedition against the Pekin Government.
The rent Of all Canton city's dwelling
places for one month has been given
TO him for his soldiers without his
asking for IT. A large contribution from
the people Of Hupeh province residing
in Shanghai reaches him unexpectedly.
He was, month ago. welcomed 10
Kwai.lin to form his headquarters by
the people of Kwangsi province. which
was conquered by Suns troops not
long ago. to say nothing about the
support given to him continuously by
Chinese in various foreign countries.
Various helps of these kinds enable
him not only to carry on successfully
his expedition. but to enlarge the edu
cation plan. road building and cutting
out of all evil business such rs gam.
bling. the tax on which would add &c
i, the Government more than $4,000, ,O0t
annually Remember. that our present
support to DIR. Sun Yat-scn mems tC
shed the blood of our own brothers. ant
YOU may do we'll to imagine that We dc
it only because we have 70.
JOHN 4. PAU.
900 Spruce street. Philadelphia, Apr.
-, 1922.