THE COMMEMORATION OF SUN YAT-SEN

A commemorative ceremony was held yesterday in the amphitheater of the Oceanographic Institute in honor of Sun Yat-sen, who died in Beijing on March 11th. The political actions of the famous revolutionary, who became the leader of the Southern Republicans, have given rise, in recent years, to varying assessments in Europe, especially France. But the Chinese cannot forget that without his patience and courage, their country would undoubtedly still be subject to the foreign Manchu dynasty, and it is with good reason that they have called him "the founder of the Chinese Republic."

He has been criticized for opposing China's entry into the European war in March 1917, and, more recently, for showing sympathy for Russian communism. Both facts are true: Sun Yat-sen was anti-militarist and feared any demonstrations that could increase the power of the military parties in China. Deeply patriotic at the same time, he put what he believed to be the interest of his country before all other considerations. As for his ideas on property, it was not the Russians who had taught them to him. From his earliest youth, he had found them all formulated on Chinese soil. Born in Canton in 1867, he knew, in fact, the survivors of the great Taiping insurrection, which means Great Peace. At that time, the insurrection had been bloodily suppressed, but the doctrine survived. The Christian spirit was mixed with the feeling of national independence and principles of absolute equality. "When you happen to have money, make it common property and do not think that it belongs to anyone in particular." This precept is enshrined in a proclamation issued by the leader of the Taiping dated April 23, 1851.

When the republic was proclaimed in China, Sun Yat-sen was appointed president of the provisional government of Nanking on January 2, 1912. This was a tribute to the sincerity of his convictions and the distinguished services he had continually rendered to the cause of republican and national emancipation during the long years of an almost hopeless struggle against an unscrupulous government that had put a price on his head and would have seized him in London, against the law of nations, without the energetic protest of the British Ministry. But Sun Yat-sen declined the high office offered to him and stepped aside for Yuan Che-k'ai, who was appointed in his place on January 13. He then felt that his role was over and that, having led his troops to victory, he should leave the task of organizing the new regime to others, better versed in politics.

When he then saw Yuan Che-k'ai betray the republican cause, he returned to the fight, out of duty and reluctantly. He was an idealist. Hence his greatness, his prestige, his power of action, and also some uncertainties of conduct that have not failed to be seized upon by slander. But realists too are prone to error, without the excuse of good faith.

The ceremony was as simple as it was moving. In the amphitheater, decorated with banners, where addresses sent by the Chinese groups in France were read, the audience rose at the command, as in Catholic services at the time of the Gospel, and bowed three times before the portrait of Sun Yat-sen surrounded by a garland of roses. After several Chinese speakers, Mr. Marius Moutet, who represented the Parliament of France alone, was able to evoke in a few noble and fitting words the memory of "a man of high conscience, a great citizen, a wise politician, a sincere patriot," and was unanimously applauded.

LOUIS LALOY.