Dr. SUN YAT-SEN
To say that Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Father of the Chinese Republic and popularly known as the Washington of China, led a life of hardship is to put it mildly, for he was always exposed to danger during his revolutionary activities, Dr. Sun has been known the world over as the most effective and practical revolutionary leader China has ever produced, and his life was devoted to liberating China from the shackles of superstition and economic backwardness and hastening China" rise to the position of a modern world power.
The great revolutionary leader was born in a small village near Hsiangshan(香山縣) in the Province of Kwangtung(廣東省) on November 12, 1866. At an early age he went to Honolulu(檀香山) where he attended the Honolulu English Bishop School.
Upon graduation he attended a high school known as the St. Louis School, and then studied for a term at the St. Louis College. His return to Hongkong and his enrollment at Queen's College marked the beginning of his career as a revolutionist, for early in life he became convinced that China's weakness was due to the inefficiency and corruption of the Manchus and he felt that the only solution was to work for their downfall. Upon his return from Honolulu he evolved at platform so that he may preach revolution to his countrymen, and his slogan at that time was "Divine Right Does Not Last Forever," which is in the nature of a protest against reverence for the throne. Although he felt that his life work lay in the salvation of China, he realized that he must choose a profession in order that he may have a cloak to cover his activities, and he regarded the medical profession as the kindly aunt w^ho could direct him to the political arena, for the Chinese looked upon medical men as being immune from politics and he could carry on his propaganda without arousing too much attention from the authorities.
It was while studying at Po Hsi Medical School(博濟醫校) that he met Cheng Sze-liang(鄭觀應), who was destined to play an important part in his early revolutionary activities, and the two discussed revolutionary topics with considerable zest. After staying for a year in the Canton Medical School, he discovered that Hongkong Medical College(香港華人西醫書院) had a wider medical programme, and during his stay in Hongkong he also received the enthusiastic support of Chen Shao-bo(陳少白), Yu Shao-chi(尤列) and Yang Ho-lin(楊鶴齡), and another man at Shanghai, Lu Ho-tung(陸皓東). Whenever they came together they did not feel happy unless they discussed revolution, and they were nicknamed "the four great and inseparable scoundrels." Their firm conviction that China can only be saved by revolution inspired them to form the Hing Chung Hwei(興中會).
HIS REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES
China's defeat at the hands of Japan dining 1894 fully convinced him that a revolution was .the only means of saving his country from destruction. There upon he organised an attack against the Yamen(衙門) at Canton in the ninth moon of 1895, but this attack proved unsuccessful. Six hundred pistols were seized on board a ship by the Manchu authorities, and Comrades Lu Ho-tung and Chu Kwei-chen(朱貴全) were executed, while 70 persons were imprisoned.
The Manchus(滿清) ordered the arrest of Dr. Sun and he fled to Hawaii, then to America, and from thence to England. While abroad he began preaching to his countrymen about the necessity for a revolution. The idea of a nationalism had not completely died out among the Chinese, even though they were ruled by their Manchu conquerers for more than two centuries. After China was conquered by the Manchus, the scholars of the Ming Dynasty(明朝) handed down their ideas, of nationalism to a secret order. This secret order existed among the Chinese emigrants abroad, so the revolutionary leader was able to get their moral and financial support in the great task of overthrowing the Manchus.
His narrowest escape from death occurred when he was kidnapped during October 11, 1896 while passing the Chinese Legation at London. Here he was confined until he managed to communicate to his old friend. Sir James Cantlie(康德黎爵士), who secured his release. His life was constantly exposed to danger, for a sleuth followed him wherever he went and he was compelled to travel in all sorts of disguises.
Returning to Japan in 1899 he leased a house about an arm's throw from the Chinese Consulate at Yokohama(橫濱) at a place known as Number 21 Yamashita Cho(山下町21號). There he carried on his activities until he organised the second revolution shortly after the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion. His schoolmate, Cheng Sze-liang(鄭士良) was actively aiding him in his revolutionary work at the time. The second revolution was successful at the very beginning, but further advancement was checked by an unexpected source, for the second attempt failed owing to the lack of supplies.
After this unsuccessful attempt he returned to Japan. In 1903 he went to Annam(安南) at the invitation of the Governor of Annam. The revolutionary forces advanced toward Chao Chow(潮州), under the leadership of General Hwang Hsing(黃興) but were defeated. Another attempt was made to overwhelm the Imperial Army at Wei Chow(惠州) but this also ended in failure.
Not to be daunted by these reverses, Dr. Sun went to Europe where he carried on revolutionary propaganda among the students. Returning in 1906, Dr. Sun managed to secure the allegiance of Kuo Jen-chow(郭人漳) and Chao Pai-shen(趙伯先), two commanders in the Imperial Army. Two comrades were sent to Japan for the purpose of buying ammunition and supplies, but owing to a dispute at the Tokyo Headquarters, the arms failed to arrive on time, and the revolutionary forces were compelled to retreat.
In 1907, Dr. Sun personally led his comrades in an attack upon Jen Nan Kwan(鎮南關) and captured three forts, but as reinforcements failed to arrive on time. Dr. Sun was foroeid to retreat back to Annam. General Hwang Hsing was then ordered to proceed to the Lien and Tien districts and attempt their seizure, but owing to the lack of ammunition. General Hwang's forces were forced to withdraw after a campaign of several months. In the meantime, the Manchu authorities exerted pressure upon the French Government to drive Dr. Sun out of Annam, so he went to Singapore. In the meantime, Huang Ming-tang(黃明堂) led a successful campaign in Hokow(河口) and captured more than 1,000 soldiers of the Imperial Army. As an able leader was needed at that time. Dr. Sun telegraphed to General Hwang Hsing asking him to proceed immediately to the scene. But unfortunately. General Hwang was detained by the French authorties, so the eighth attempt ended in failure.
In 1909 the great revolationary leader went to America to enlist the support of his countrymen there. During his sojourn abroad, his comrades at home attempted to storm the city of Canton, but they were routed. Dr. Sun was in the United States at that time, and upon receipt of the news, he hurried, back to China and found his followers entirely discouraged by the series of failures ; so he called a meeting together at Penang(檳城) to discuss future revolutionary tactics and instill new courage into their hearts. After the meeting, he again returned to America for the purpose of raising funds. During his absence another attempt was made to capture Kwangtung Province and this incident, which later became known as the Huang Hua Kang Martyrdom(黃花岡起義), again failed but it gave the Manchu rulers many sleepless nights.
CHINA PROCLAIMED A REPUBLIC
The eleventh attempt was destined to change the course of events in China, for Wuhan was captured without any difficulty on October 10, 1911, and province after province rallied to the support of the revolutionary cause. The Manchus were at last driven from the throne and China was proclaimed a Republic. Hurrying back from America, the "Father of the Chinese Republic" was unanimously elected First President of China(第一任臨時大總統).
Dr. Sun resigned in favour of Yuan Shih-kai(袁世凱), but it later proved to be a mistake, for Yuan Shih-kai secretly coveted the throne. Shortly after assuming office, Yuan caused the assassination of Sung Chao-jen(宋教仁), the Kuomintang candidate for Prime Minister. The next step was to outlaw the Kuomintang and dissolve Parliament. Then Yuan Shih-kai proclaimed himself Emperor, a fresh uprising took place and he was driven from the throne.
As a result of Yuan Shih-kai s suppression of the Kuomintang, Dr. Sun was driven to take refuge in Japan. With the assistance of Dr. Wu Ting-fang(伍廷芳), however. Dr. Sun Yat-sen succeedied in establishing a Government at Canton in opposition to the former Peking Government during the latter part of the year 1917. Dr. Sun was then Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy(陸海軍大元帥), but in 1921 he was elected President of the Constitutional Government of Canton(廣州非常大總統) by an overwhelming majority. After his inauguration, he organised an Expedition against the northern militarists, but while his army was entering Kwangsi(廣西省) his erstwhile trusted subordinate, Chen Chiung-ming(陳炯明), revolted against him during 1922. But in 1923 Dr. Sun drove out these hostile forces and re-established the Canton Government.
During the latter part of 1924 hostilities broke out between the Fengtien(奉系) and Chihli(直系) parties, so Dr. Sun lost no time in mobilising his forces for another Northern Expedition. After Tsao Kun(曹錕) was overthrown, the Kuominchun(國民軍) leader[即 馮玉祥] invited Dr. Sun to proceed north to hold a round-table conference. The "Father of the Chinese Republic" reached Tientsin(天津市) on December 4th, and although he contracted illness, he arrived at the former Northern Capital(即 北京市) on New Year's Eve. He was then removed to Peking Union Hospital(北平協和醫院), where he was operated upon but after attempts to save his life were of no avail, he passed away on March 12, 1925. The parting words at his death-bed were "Peace — Struggle — Save China." (和平、奮鬥、救中國)
Although he did not live to see the realisation of the aims for which he had struggled during the last forty years of his life, his spirit and enthusiasm are still alive among his followers, who are doing their utmost to carry out his aims and aspirations. To-day many people who were formerly his bitterest opponents are staunch supporters of his cause and are endeavouring to carry out his Three Principles of Nationalism(民族), Democracy(民權) and Livelihood(民生) for the people. The National Government (國民政府) is conscientiously following the wishes of Dr. Sun by establishing the Five-Yuan system(五院制) of government with its five powers of the executive(行政), the judiciary(司法), the legislature(立法), the censorate(監察) and the civil service examinations(考試). During the period from Political Tutelage to Constitutionism, the masses will be taught the four powers of the people, namely: — suffrage(選舉), recall(罷免), initiative(創制) and referendum(複決).
