THE GLORIOUS DOUBLE TENTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 17

THE GLORIOUS DOUBLE TENTH.

NATIONAL UNIFICATION IN CHINA By the Rev. G. H. M’Neur. This is the tenth day of October, and Chinese all over the world are celebrating their National Day. It was on- this date 17 years ago that the i evolution broke, out by the mutiny of troops at Wuchang, in Central China, which culminated in the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty and the establishment of the Republic. Through these 17 stormy years there has never been a time when the occasion has been celebrated so unitedly and whole-heartedly as to-day. A year ago I was in Wellington, and on the morning of the eleventh called on the Chinese Consul. That official was greatly distressed because a large section of the Chinese community wished to discard the five-barred Chinese flag for the Nationalist flag in the festivities of the previous day. He had cabled to Peking for instructions, and recited the reply to me in which he had been commended for his opposition to Nationalist Wishes and his loyalty to the Central Government, and been instructed to insist on the fivecoloured flag being used. But local sentiment had been too strong, and the •Chinese of Wellington had divided under the. two flags, the large majority rallying under the Nationalist banner. I was greatly interested in the elderly Consul’s loyalty to a Government which had left him .without salary for months, 'although he himself was a Cantonese. Perhaps fortunately for him, feeling as he did, he passed, during the year which has seen the complete overthrow of the old Government, beyond the jurisdiction of rival flags' and conflicting loyalties. I -am sure there would not be two camps in to-day’s celebrations at Wellington. CHINESE NEW TESTAMENT. Last evening -I heard the recital of Dr Sun’s last will and testament, and the strains of Chinese national anthems, followed by a banging of fire crackers from a Christian hospital anxious to get its rejoicings expressed in good time. In the early, hours of this morning I wakened with, national songs to the tunes of “God Save the King ” and “ Tramp, Tramp, Tramp ” ringing in my ears. And all through the day in all sorts of places <md under all sorts of - conditions theChinese nation is en fete. As I am writing—late in the afternoon —again come the etrains of national music from about 300 pupils in a girls’ school, and again I hear the rhythmic recital of Dr Sun’s will. I just wish you. could all listen-m. These girls -are conscious of belonging to the biggest national family on earth, and the intangible something that holds it together and pledges everincreaaing unity ie expressed for them in the dying behest of the Nationalist leader. “My experience, accumulated in these 40 years, has fully convinced me that to attain our object we must arouse the people and fight side by side with such races of the world, as have accorded us equal treatment. ’ It will be worth our while to be in that partnership Almost every street in Canton h« decorated, arches, and countless banners with patriotic inscriptions float above the moving crowds. The Nationalist flag is on every building, and portraits of Dr Sun look at you from every angle. The Chinese character for 10 is a cross, and most of the decorations and inscriptions display a double red cross to mark the fact that this is the tenth day of the tenth month. The striking emblem of the double cross reminds them of deliverance from Manchu bondage, while red is the colour of rejoicing. CONEUCIUS AND DR SUN. , A 9 have indicated, the celebrations this year are unusually hearty, and that tor several reasons. It happens that this day, is also the birthday of Confucius. The sage was born in 551 b.c.» soon after the days of the prophet Jeremiah. He has so moulded the thought and life of his people that it is said with truth that you listen in his, teachings to the national voice of China just as one can hear the Whole ocean in the shell. During those years of revolution in thought as well as m politics the. great sage has suffered a temporary dethronement, but it heeds no prophet to predict that he will come back to his own. As a matter of fact Dr Sun in his “Three Principles of the People” is largely influenced by Confucian ethics and . the opposition to the sage among young Chinese is directed to the obsolete terminology rather than to the fundamentai moral philosophy. Of this moral inheritance they could not rid themselves even if they would. But they must look outside of the Confucian system for the pqWer to apply it, and the loftiest requirements of Christianity are leading to a revalution of Confucian ethics. Dr Sun himself has some illuminating things to pay’ about the Christian doctrine of universal love, and he confessed his own faith in Chist as the Divine Teacher. It is most unusual that these two dates synchronise. The birthday of Confucius is reckoned according to the lunar calendar; coming on the 27th day of the eighth moon. The fact that this is an intercalary year, having two second months, has brought about this unusual combination. It is a happy coincidence that, thus unites the ancient with the modern in to-day’s rejoicings, and if it brings about a more wholesome appreciation of their own civilisation . the Chinese will be the better able to make a contribution to the civilisation of the future. ? NATIONAL UNIFICATION.

.Another reason for universal jubilation is the unification of the country under the new Government at Nanking. True, there are still certain rebellious elements in the north, but they are rapidly diminishing, and their weak resistance only serves to bring out in stronger relief tbs unity of ■the nation. The struggle would be at an end if it were not for the belief by some of the warring generals that the only way to get anything out of the situation is to hold on until they have been paid to stop fighting. They are mercenary traitors who think nothing of throwing away the lives of their men if their own pockets are filled with dollars. The war Spirit has a strange effect upon personal morality.

MAKING A GOVERNMENT. The past few weeks have seen the gradual organisation of the central Government as outlined in my last letter. When I wrote there was a fear that the abolition of the local political councils in the various centres would be keenly resented. At Canton that resentment has been overcome by drawing the military governor of the province, Marshal Li Chai-sum, into the centre of things at Nanking. He has been absent ever since my last report, and in his absence the (ocal political council has slowly diminished in influence until now it is impossible to get a quorum for its meetings. Marshal Li has been given a large part in the reorganisation of the central Government, and has a place on the newlyappointed State Council. CHINESE FEATURES. The five boards responsible for government are the executive, legislative, judicial, examination, and censorship. The last is intended to function as auditors do, with the significant addition that it has the power of impeachment. The Board of Examination is to select candidates for public office by educational test. These two departments are peculiarly Chinese, and represent what has had a long and useful history in Chinese politics. The censor has had an important place in the royal court from the beginnings of China’s history. The censorate was the only body which had the power, not only to pass judgment on the manner in which lesser officials performed their duties but to criticise the conduct of the “ Son of Heaven ” himself. This power was often utilised in the interests of justice with a boldness and courage mostunusual under a despotic rule. Then the path to official position in China has always led through the gate of competitive examination. In Canton the old examination hall, which I used to visit occasionally, had 11,616 cells 54 feet long -by 3 2-3 feet wide in which the candidates were confined while they wrote their three-legged essays. Now the same site is occupied by the Chung Shan University, a modern institution. It is interesting to notice how the new China is recognising that she must not become a mere imitator of other nations but must be faithful to her age-old inheritance. Along such lines a sane progress lies. The boards on censorship and examination, along with the Judiciary Board, are simply constituted, each having a president and vice-president, and each having power in its own department to introduce legislation in the Board of Legislators. This last will have between 50 and 100 nominated members and will discuss the making of laws and their revision and amendment, and also discuss budgets for public expenditure. Above it is the Executive Board, which establishes Ministries and carries out the legislation passed by the Board of Legislation. There is still one more body—the Council of State—-to be composed of from 12 to 16 councillors, including the presidents and vice-presidents of the five boards and the President of China. Whether this somewhat complicated machinery will function smoothly remains to be seen. It borrows certain features from different foreign Governments; and is based on the teaching of Dr Suri. If it is found defective the Chinese have sense enough to change it. The fact must be remembered that this form of Government is only a stage in their progress towards democracy. In the meantime, while it may be claimed to be “ of the people for the people,” it certainly is not “ by the people.” PERSONNEL. The names of the presidents or chairmen of the different boards have just been announced, and to-day at Nanking they are to be sworn into office. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, commander-in-chief of the Nationalist army, has been elected president of the National Government. In this capacity he will represent the Government in receiving foreign diplomats and in officiating at State functions. As President he is also commander-in-chief of land, naval, and air forces. It will be noticed that his title is not President of the Republic although he is the acknowledged leader of the Government. There was some discussion as to whether a President should be appointed at all in the meantime, and a compromise has been reached in the manner indicated. tnt it phiang belongs to the province Cnehkiang, and is a devoted disciple of Dr Sun. He is still a young man, and has proved himself a military leader of no mean order. His somewhat spectacular career in the cause of revolution has made him a favourite with the populace, but he has many powerful enemies. Last year he married Madame Sun’s sister, and this adds to his prestige. He seems sincerely anxious to serve his nation but 18 9omewhat mercurial in temperament. The chairmen of the five boards are well known leaders who will be acceptable to the great majority of Chinese. J. he two highest positions in the Government. are held by military men, General lan-Yankai being chairman of the Executive Board. Two of the chairmen are Cantonese, one of whom, Dr Wang Chinghui, of the Judicial Board, has long served his country at Peking. The most interesting feature in the membership of the State Council is that General Chang Hseuh-liang, son and successor of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, late leader of the Northern Government, has a place upon it. If he accepts this honour it will mean much for the permanent unification of China. — This Chinese ’way of consolidating peace by calling the late enemy into partnership has something to be said for it. Another comforting feature of the list is. that it is composed of members of the Moderate Wing in the Nationalist Party. This will invite the confidence of foreign governments while closing the door more effectively against Russian propaganda. PRO-BRITISH ELEMENTS. The chairman of the Legislative Board is Mr Hu Han-min, who has just recently returned from Europe. While in Britain he had interviews with Sir Austen Chamberlain, Mr Ramsay Macdonald, and other leaders. His return brought about an immediate strengthening of the Moderate Party in the Government. Mr Hu was one of Dr Sun’s closest friends and the first governor of the Kwangtung Province after the revolution. Mr Sun Fo, son of Dr Sun, has also returned from abroad, and is bringing before the Government

an ambitious scheme of national reconstruction. Both these leaders have been strongly impressed by British friendliness and Mr Sun is constantly advocating the securing of advisory and financial help from Britain in the carrying out of his plans. PARTY AND GOVERNMENT.

One of the most difficult things for a foreign observer to understand in this new Government machinery which China has adopted is the relation between the Nationalist Party and the Nationalist Government. It would seem that the Nationalist Party, or Kuomintang, is considered as representing the- people of China. It is claimed that it is the only political party in China, and that thus the Kuomintang may be called the State, and has the right to nominate the Council of State, which in turn appoints the five boards. Marsbu'.l Chiang, in taking the oath, is to pledge .the obedience of himself and his colleagues to Dr Sun’s teachings and to the instructions of the Kuomintang. ' Again, when we are inclined to criticise such party domination and the enforced absence of healthy Opposition, we have to remember that even party government has its drawbacks, and that such a bureaucracy may be the most effective under the ci-rumstances. Canton, China, Octree 10.