“DR SUN THE MENDER.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17350, 15 May 1924, Page 11

“DR SUN THE MENDER.”

DEATH OF CHINESE PRESIDENT. MAN WHO ABOLISHED PIGTAILS. Bv Telurrarli—P.e.l A»«oc:stion—Cnpj-rlstit Australian and N.Z. Cabl® Association. * TURIN. May 13. The death is announced of Dr Sun Yat Sen. Without parallel in history is the strange situation in China, where a worn, stoop-shouldered man, decisively beaten in battle and practically a fugitive, is being entreated by his victors to become their leader and the bead of 400,000.000 people (wrote Neil Hitt in the “ San Francisco Chronicle ’’ in 1922). The man is T>r Sun Yat Sen. deposed President of the Southern Republic and at one time President of all China. Incidentally, ho was born in Honolulu and is a follower of Christianity. Eleven years ago. at his behest. Chines© numbering about three times the populat/n of the United States cut off their queues in token of freedom and stamped out the rule of. their masters, the Mnnclius. China became a republic, with a Parliament elected by the people and Dr Sun at the head of it. Unfortunately, Dr Sun gave his position to a man he thought better fitted to govern than himself. This gentleman. witli all the reins of government in his hands, saw no reason why lie should not be the emperor of China instead of President, and proceeded to star himself in that role.' Fortunately for China, he died before he had a chance to do greater damage than bring in Japanese troops, to hold his indignant subjects in check. Militarists in the north then gained control of China and Dr Sun. who had been a fugitive from imperial wratli most of his life, was again a hunted

bounded creature, a price on his head and an axe awaiting his neck in Pekin should he be taken. Withal he was the only leader ever chosen by the people and they never forgot him. The grip of the militarists was upon their throats, but Dr Sun’s hold, far stronger, was upon their sentiments. About two years ago he rallied the people’s old Parliament about him in Canton, formed Southern Republic and was elected President. Tn a year of quiet be tore down the ancient wall about Canton, built great highways and was engineering other great improvements when his trusted General. Chen Chiung Ming, betrayed him to his enemies of the north, seized the city and compelled Dr Sun to flee to his ships.

Now. with nothing back of him save his own tireless determination and a few sailors, Dr Sun demands that his victors lay down their arms and submit to his programme for the reunification of China. Word comes from the peat'e conference. just closed at Shanghai, that his victors are about to comply. >

T)r Sun’s chief demand was that, the old Parliament, elected by the people, 1-e restored to power and held inviolable. Next, he wants General ‘Clien punished for Ids treason. Li Yuan Hung. President of the northern government at Pekin, has agreed to surrender the Presidency to the. vanquished Dr Sun. Parliament willing. General Wu Pci Fu. military master of China, who liters IK* “ appointed ’’ President Li, is willing

to lay down his arms, but fears that his soldiers. “ having no homes to go to. will become outlaws when disbanded and will pillage, destroy and

murder. The truth of the matter is said to he that President T.i’s Government is bankrupt and General Wu. having no money with which to pay his soldier';, j i* afraid they will mutiny. Dr Sun’s answer to President Li is that he will consider taking China upon his shoulders again when he can see a way to clear the country of its almost- hopeless financial difficulties. Fabulous loans made by other countries in support of various loaders of contending factions have been squandered, yet must be repaid to insure lasting peace. Dr Sun. turning In's eyes to America, expresses the vague hope that this countrv mav take over China’s debts to the Allies in. part cancellation of what the Abies owe America. He suggests to General Wu that he give his soldiers hoes in place of guns, let them wm-k our, the lemainder of their enlistments on farms, thus disbanding them gradualIv and at once making them self-sup-porting. At nnv rate China is broken—financially. politically. there is but one man within the confines of its vast expanse who can mend it. ; f it can be mended. That man is the patient Dr Sun Yat Sen. whose stooped back must bend once mere to the task of piecing together the fragments of his shattered idol of one constitutional government for all China.