Evening star., 1923-10-15
EAST is EAST
BY FRANK III. HEDGES

george washington Is a Vltai idc-
tor in China today. He is the symbol
of patriotic democracy to many OF the
Chinese statesmen and military lead
ers who are cropping and stumbling
in the direction of sound republican
form of government for their coun-
try. The Chinese Is accustomed to
searching the past to gain inspiration
and precedents for the present and
the future, and those Chinese who
have committed themselves whole
heartedly to the rearing of great
! republic in their homeland ma
George Washington their chief inspi-
ration.
The American patriots military
career during his fight for freedom ana
Justice, his subsequent administration
OF the nation as head of the state, his
refusal to aspire to royal honofS anu
finally, his retirement from PUBIC
life TO pursue a quiet, leisurely old
age all carry a tremendous appeal 10
the Chinese. They are in conformity
with the teachings of the great sage
Confucius. but they are the working
out of those teachings under modern
conditions.
There can be but little question
that il was the struggle of the thir-
teen colonies and the creation OF the
United States of America that con-
stituted the ideal OF the republican
leaders who. twelve years ago rose
in revolt against the Manchu dynasty
and overturned the throne of the en-
pire. America was their beacon
torch. and it was torch whose glare
lit the whole vast dome or SKY
Nl.A f..,
south to Mukden, many miles north
of the great wall.
4 II 4 x
Adverse criticism of China today is
widespread and in large degree is
justified. The ideal held by Sun Yat-
sen and his followers of 1911 has not
yet Powered and borne fruit to any
great extent. The Chinese is fond Of
comparing the present state of his
country with the period Of trouble
that this republic and the republic of
France went through when they were
born into the nations of the world.
He pleads with his critic for time,
and he is entitled to it, Twelve
years is very short, especially for
I people to make over institutions
and customs that have come down
through the centuries with but little
change.
Ii Yuan-hung. twice president of
the republic, is the latest Chinese
statesman TO voice publicly his ad
, miratfon of George Washington and
his desire to follow in the American
patriots footsteps. From the city Of
Shanghai. whittier President l4l has
fed after having been virtualiy
driven from the presidents palace in
Pekfng last June. he has said that he
is most anxious to follow the notable
example set by Washington" and has
emerged from a retired life to work
in politics toward this end.
= 1t is natural that President Iii
should see an analogy between his
career and that of Americas first
president. Although it may have
i been against his will. Ii fuan-hung
bellious troops in 1911 when they
struck at the power of the reigninS
family and brought about the birth
of the republic. He did not go in as
president, but as vice president, in
| the first constitutional election. The
death of the president 4 few years
later elevated Ii to that post. Re-
signing in 1917, he was recalled TO
Office moro than a year ago as the
legal heir to the presidency, which
had been usurped by northern mill
tarists.
The abilities and qualifications OF
| President Ii are one question: the
ideal OF Washington that spurs him
on to give his service to his country
men is another. To him. and, as Il
consequence, to all who support him,
George Washington Is a living force
in the working out of the destiny of
| the oldest OF the new republics of
Asia
Gen. WI Pei-fu, one of the four
strongest and most powerful men in
/ China today, has consistently looked
! to the early days of Americas strug-
gle to become nation as an example
and a prophecy of what lay bofore
! his own country. Wu's personal hero
has long been George Washington.
the military leader who turned from
the ways of war to the paths of
peace once his victories were won
and his cause triumphant. WI real
ICES the curse of Chinas many mill
tary chieftains and burdensome ar
mics and would. end their power.
His belief that China will parallel
the American commonwealth amounts
almost to an obsesston. He points
out that the people of China rose
against the Manchu household just as
| the people of America rebelled
| q against the crown of England. There
! followed the national gathering at
the Temple of Heaven in Peking
when the provisional constitution was
drawn up and the new government
actually began to function. This. to
j him, is a duplicate of the articles of
confederation.
| * x
| For more than three years Gen.
WI has insisted that China must
take the third step. There must be
another national convention when Il
permanent constitution will be
drafted and offered to the nation for
ratification. Even before he became
a major power in China Gen. Wu
| advocated such scheme, and he will
! never rest contented until his coun-
try. like this, shall have held a con-
stitutional convention. 1t is the
foremost plank in his program.
| That Sun Yat-sen, hero of the revo-
| luton and outstanding advocate of
4! the republican form Of government,
/ should look to George Washington
| with teellnS AKIN 10 dtN otioh IL 10
| be expected. The example of Amer
| ica has long been his guide. Going
! in as provisional president, he
stepped aside when Yuan Shih-kai
( was elected to that office. and as long
! as China seemed to be governed
/ wisely and we'll was content to re-
main in obscurity. 1t is because his
| country has fallen a prey to ambi-
! tious and self-centered politician
| warriors that Sun has re-entered the
! troubled arena
| know of nothing that gives as
| graphic and accurate picture OF
| Sun Yat-sen as does his Shanghai