Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-03

eventual election of Sun Vat Sen. Presi-
dent of the Chinese republic.
In desperation, facing the rising revo-
luton, the Mancfu throne attempted to
establish before its overthrow a con-
stitutional monarchy, under which the
Manchus would still retain nominal
rulership. but the overthrow begun in
December, 1911 became effective Feb
ruary -, 1912. with the Manchu
premier as President of the succeeding
republic. His right was challenged by
the Kuomintang, which had elected
Sun Vat Sen as President. So from
the first there were two rival govern
ments of the republic and there has
never been day since then when tran
quillity perVaded China.
i A compromise settlement was effected
| for while under which the Kuomintang
accepted Yuan Shih-kai, the Manchu
premier. as President, and he accepted
the PROVISIONAL constitution formulated
by the Kuomintang. but 1t was soon
discovered that he was plotting to estab-
liSh himself as permanent President"
or Emperor, while the Kuomintang was
determined to establish a real republic
founded on the model of the United
States
Like Cromwell. Napoleon and MusSo-
lini. Dictator Yuan Shih-kai had no
patience with the ''puerile chattering'
of legislators. So in 1916 he executed
the Kuomintang leaders summarily and
unseated from the Legislature all Kuo-
mintang members.
Thereapon i've southern provinces re-
volted and set up an independent re-
public. A few months later Yuan died
a natural death-most OPPORTUNITY
from a political standpoint The Vice
President, Ii Yuan-hung. succeeded 10
the presidency. but he soon found it
necessary to Straddle in Parliament be-
tween the Kuomintang party and the
Chinputang party-"Step Ahead party"
This latter stood for strong central
government. in contrast with the ideal
of the Kuomintang. which favored
state rights for the provinces,
The Kuomintang was opposed TO
China's participation in the World War
because it feared to strengthen the mill
tariStS within its own government.
Eventually the militariStS locked the
members of Parliament out of the Capt.
toll. The South then refused To recog-
nice the Peking government. and on
January l. 1918, seven southern prov
inceS established directorate and
formed the Southern conStitutionalist
government The Kuomintang party
was behind that Southern govern
ment. and since then its armies have
been SO victorious that they have
fun control over the South and as far
north as Peking. with strong indications
of an approaching invasion of Manchuria
even in defiance of Japanese interven-
ton.
-
With this bare outline OF the develop
meut of the present situation, IL is OBJ
viouS that 1T Manchuria does now unite
with the Nationalist to form 4 peace
ful. united republic. there must have
been some under-cover influences
which have brought 1t about The Man
chuS do not unite voluntarily with the
millions whom for two centuries they
ruled as conquered aliens What powers
of diplomacy have acted and how power
ful will they be in compelling suhmis-
sion by the various independent gen.
erals commanding armies over which
the Nationalist have no control? All
tolerance of the Russia INSPIRED COM
which for while dominated
only a spirit of patriotism and defiance
Of foreign devils" now controls the pol
icieS OF the Kuomintang.
With y total population constituting a
quarter of the people OF the world. all
civilization hopes that peace will come
at last To China where II has not
dwelt since 1911
tConyFight iasS by Paul v Coliinsl