Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-19
GLADNESS IN SERVICE:
THE CHINESE POLITICAL
POT.

CHINA is a long ways off. More
- over, the news that comes to
us from the Flowery Kingdom is
often false and contradictory. The
frequent revolutions and contests
between Chinese generals" who
maintain armies that are often or
ganized brigands more than SOL
diers, serves to create further con-
fusion. Therefore, the average
reader in this country is rather
mixed up in his ideas of Chinese
politics and what is the real sig
n~ificance of the heavy fighting OF
the past few weeks. The Springfield
Republican, which follows foreign
affairs with interest, has given US
this rather complete and clear &C
count of the various phases of Chi
nese politics since the old Man.
chu dynasty was deposed and a re-
public set up in China. AS Amer
leans are particularly interested in
China, the article which follows is
we'll worth perusal:
1.-THE return of Ii Yuang-Hung
TO the presidency of the Chinese
republic is significant both because
of the esteem in which he is held
and because of the circumstances
under which he was obliged to re-
sign the office six years ago. In
1911 the Chinese revolution began,
led by DR.. Sun Yat-Sen, head of
the Kuomintang or national party,
and the first president of the re-
public was Yuan S1ih-Kai. The
more conservative elements secured
control of the government, and in
1918 DR.. Sun Yat-Sen headed what
is sometimes called II. second rev.
olution, seeking to introduce the
democratic methods which he had
learned to admire in the United
States. But while he had the south
with him his revolution failed. and
after five months he was obliged
to seek refuge in Japan.
"In 1915, however, carne the third
revolution, which had Japanese sup
port and wa so successful that
President Yuan Shih-Kai, who had
been extoiled as the strong man
of China, was obliged to renounce
his pretensions to the throne, and
in July, 1916, he died. In 1916 Ii
Yuan-Hung, who came from Hupeh
province and had been vice presi-
dent was made president OF the re-
public and at once set about insti-
tuting reforms intended to placate
the more radical southerners. The
parliament which had been sup
pressed by Yuan Shih-Kai again
met and the republic seemed once
more fairly launched.
This hopeful development, how.
ever, was cut short by violent &C
ton on the part of reactionaries
President Ii Yuan-Hung was a,
once involved in a feud with the
cabinet headed by Tuan Chi-Jui
chief of the Anfu club and prede
cessor of Chang Tso-Lin who has
Just been defeated by Gen. WI Pei.
Flu. The president stood by the
reconstructed parliament but was
forced by the tuchuns. or provincial
military chieftains, to dissolve it
For a time interest conferred in the
war between two of these tuchuns
Chang Hsun, who tried to restore
the Manchu dynasty, and Tuan Chi
Jui. Tuan was victorious, but this
simply gave reaction another form
Ii Yuan-Hung was forced to re
sigma weakness for which he now
apologies with the humility which
custom imposes upon Chimes.
statesmen--and Feng Kuo-Chans
was made president, but the rea
ruler was Tuan Chi-Jui.
This setback drove the inflam
mable south to revolt and toware
the end of 1916 DR.. Sun Yat-Sen Sc
up a government at Canton and de
elared wal on the north; early il
1917 the fourth revolution was wei
under way. The south captured
Yochow, and Tuan Chi-Jui wa:
obliged to send forces to thu
Yangtse. 1t was at this stage tina
Chang Tso-Lin appeared upon thu
scene as tuchun of Mukden ant
then super-tuchun of Manchuria
Other military dictators arose il
other parts of China, and the revo
luton for a time was absorbed II
their struggle for supremacy. The
election in 1918, by a national as