Historical Evaluation of the Revolution of 1911
Release date: year 65438+1October10/0: 41
There have always been different opinions on the historical evaluation of the Revolution of 1911. The author believes that past estimates are often too low. Although the Revolution of 1911 did not fundamentally solve the problem of China's aggression and feudal forces, it overthrew the autocratic monarchy that ruled China for thousands of years at that time and opened the way for the later revolution. This is a great achievement of the Revolution of 1911. For the reactionary Qing Dynasty, should we fight like revolutionaries or defend like constitutionalists? This is the fundamental road problem. At this point, the direction of constitutionalism is wrong; However, we can't deny its positive role.
In the modern history of China, the Revolution of 1911, which strongly inspired a generation, has been 70 years now. With the passage of time, all the events of that year have already become traces of history. However, there have been different opinions about the merits and demerits of this revolution at home and abroad. This paper does not intend to discuss the historical evaluation of the Revolution of 1911 in an all-round way, but only wants to talk about two more important issues.
First, the historical position of the Revolution of 1911.
Comrade Lin said with emotion 40 years ago: "For many young people who have not been ruled by the emperor, the significance of the Revolution of 1911 is often underestimated, which is not surprising, because they have not seen how difficult it is for authoritarian regimes to inherit for thousands of years." (Thirty Years) Lin Lao personally participated in the Revolution of 1911. How pertinent his earnest words are!
The Revolution of 1911 has many historical achievements. One of the most prominent is the autocratic monarchy that ruled China for thousands of years. This was indeed a great event at that time. We can't just regard the transition from absolute monarchy to the establishment of a republic as an insignificant change in the form of government, or even as the replacement of a brand-new brand.
China has experienced thousands of years of absolute monarchy. This is a terrible burden! For many years, the supreme monarchy has been a concentrated symbol of feudalism. Since childhood, people have been constantly instilled with the feudal ethical concept of "three cardinal guides and five permanents", which is regarded as an eternal truth. "A country cannot live without a monarch for a day". The monarch became the highest representative of God's will and stood at the top of the feudal hierarchy. In the face of this system, everyone must abide by the "inherent rights" with trepidation and are not allowed to surpass them. This is the so-called "father and son, monarch and minister, the theorem of the world, there is no escape between heaven and earth." (Volume 5 of Henan Cheng's Suicide Letter) Anyone who dares to have a little doubt is called "deviant" and "there is no saint". In fact, "traitors and thieves will be punished by everyone". Wang Xifeng in A Dream of Red Mansions has a famous saying: "I would like to cut clothes and dare to dismount the emperor." It can be seen that at that time, anyone who wanted to "dismount and claim the throne" must have the fearless spirit of "willing to cut and kill", and most people even dared not think about it.
Since modern times, the sharp intensification of class contradictions has put China society in a state of violent turmoil and change. Many people's resistance is getting higher and higher. However, until the bourgeois revolutionaries represented by Sun Yat-sen stepped onto the historical stage, no one had put forward the idea of absolute monarchy. The vigorous Taiping Revolution was the peak of the old peasant revolution in China. When Hong Xiuquan became king, he was actually an emperor. The mouth of the boxer movement is nothing more than "helping the Qing Dynasty to destroy the foreign countries". The bourgeois reformists advocated patriotism and national salvation, and introduced many western bourgeois social theories and systems into China, which played a great enlightening role. However, they regard loyalty and patriotism to the monarch as one thing. Kang Youwei's tearful phrase "ancestors and my emperor Shen Renhou Thern for hundreds of years" was the most touching word of ordinary literati at that time. At that time, the world's major capitalist countries, except France and the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia and so on all retained the monarchy. Therefore, Kang Youwei's suggestion that Peter the Great and the Meiji Restoration should be taken as examples for China to learn from is reasonable to many people.
It is under such historical conditions that the bourgeois revolutionaries headed by Sun Yat-sen put forward the idea of absolute monarchy and building a harmonious country for the first time in the history of China. Sun Yat-sen clearly pointed out in many speeches: "China has been an absolute monarchy for thousands of years, which is unacceptable to equal citizens." (See "Three Righteousness and the Future of China") "And the constitutionalism in the world will be made of bloodshed, which can be called true constitutionalism. The same bloodshed, why not be straightforward and take this as a reason for endless constitutionalism? " (See "The Importance of China Revolution")1Established in August, 905, the China League clearly took "founding" as one of its goals. The following winter, the General Program of Revolution was promulgated by hit the floor: "Today's civilian revolution is to build the people." "Those who dare to have an imperial system will be attacked by the world!" This was indeed a groundbreaking theory at that time! By comparison, from "traitors and traitors, everyone will be punished" to "those who dare to have an imperial system will be attacked by the world", what a huge fundamental change!
They persevered through the propaganda of newspapers and secret propaganda, which made this concept more and more popular. By the time the Revolution of 1911 broke out, overthrowing the absolute monarchy and establishing a harmonious country had become the general trend and the aspiration of the people. No reactionary forces can reverse it any more.
The Revolution of 1911 really overthrew the "emperor" and the autocratic monarchy that ruled China for thousands of years. This is really "a big hole in the sky". It has at least two direct consequences.
First, the reactionary rulers of China are chaotic in the world. China feudal society had a head, and that was the emperor. It is the absolute authority of monopoly power and the center of gravity on which the reactionary ruling order depends to maintain stability. The revolution of 1911 cut off this head at once, and the whole reactionary rule was in chaos. Since then, from Yuan Shikai to Yuan Shikai, they have appeared one after another like a lantern, but they have never been able to establish a unified and stable ruling order. Needless to say, revolution after revolution, even the reactionary camp can no longer maintain unity. There are many reasons for this. The great role played by the Revolution of 1911 here is undeniable, which opened the way for the victory of the China Revolution.
Second, China was liberated ideologically. The emperor is supreme and sacred. Now that it can be overthrown, what stale things can't be doubted and broken? On the eve of the May Fourth Movement, Chen Duxiu wrote an article on the Destruction of Idols, saying: "The monarch is also an idol, and he has no sacred and amazing role; Only by relying on the superstition and respect of all people, once the whole country, known as the head of state, dies, just like the Qing Emperor Puyi and Emperor Nicholas II at this time, it is even more pitiful than ordinary people. Such a conquered monarch, like an idol of clay sculpture and wood carving, was thrown into the dung bucket. What's so great about him? But these idols, before they were destroyed, were very troublesome; Please look at Chinese and foreign history books. Are these idols harmful? " Once the floodgate of thought is opened, this torrent of ideological emancipation will rush forward and be unstoppable. Although the situation was still very dangerous at that moment after the Revolution of 1911, people boldly sought new ways to save China. Coupled with the voice of the October Revolution and the development of the working class in China, the May 4th Movement soon came and a new history of China began. In this sense, it can be said that without the Revolution of 1911, there would be no May 4th Movement.
The rule of feudal forces in China is so deeply rooted! It can never be accomplished by the impact of one or two revolutionary movements. It is true that the Revolution of 1911 failed to fundamentally solve this problem (this point must always be clearly estimated), but under the historical conditions at that time, it overthrew the autocratic monarchy that ruled China for thousands of years, thus opening the way for the later revolution. Isn't this immortal achievement worthy of our warm praise today?
For a long time in the past, as Comrade Lin said, the historical position of the Revolution of 1911 was often underestimated. In addition to the reasons for understanding, there are also reasons for the times. Although the Revolution of 1911 defeated the emperor, it was not fundamentally ruled by feudalism, and "the revolution has not yet succeeded". This is a fact. Therefore, in the revolutionary stage led by our party, many comrades often stressed that the Revolution of 1911 did not fundamentally solve the problem, so as to inspire people to continue to forge ahead and win victory under the leadership of the proletariat. This is what people feel more strongly in real life. This was correct at the time. But at this time, the great achievements of the Revolution of 1911 in history are often too late to make enough estimates, or even ignored or belittled intentionally or unintentionally. By the time the Gang of Four was rampant, the ultra-left trend of thought was rampant, and affirming the historical achievements of the Revolution of 1911 seemed to be a great crime to whitewash the bourgeoisie. In this case, naturally, let alone make a fair evaluation of the Revolution of 1911.
Now is the time! It has been 70 years since the Revolution of 1911. China's feudal rule was overthrown by China under the leadership of the Party. We should also be able to make a more realistic evaluation of the historical position of the Revolution of 1911 according to the true colors of history!
Second, the evaluation of the constitutionalists.
It is directly related to the historical evaluation of the Revolution of 1911, and another issue that scholars at home and abroad have talked a lot about in recent years is the evaluation of constitutionalism.
Some comrades pointed out that both the Constitutionalists and the Revolutionaries represent the bourgeoisie, and their essence or goals are the same, but their methods are different. In other words, in the preparatory period of the Revolution of 1911, the constitutionalists did more than they did, and their positive effects were greater than their negative ones. Some foreign scholars even think that constitutionalism played a leading role in the victory of the Revolution of 1911, and its role was greater than that of revolutionaries.
This involves a fundamental question: under the historical conditions at that time, is it necessary for revolutionaries to persist in fighting against the Qing Dynasty by means of revolution and armed uprising? Is this unnecessary or dispensable? I think, in any case, we should not come to the latter conclusion.
To discuss the major issues of right and wrong in history, we must never leave the overall situation of the objective situation at that time, the focus of contradictions and the key to promoting historical progress, but examine specific issues in isolation.
When we look back at the beginning of the 20th century, China was in a deep national crisis. Mountains and rivers are broken, the national situation is at stake, and the survival of the Chinese nation is at a critical juncture. The threat of national subjugation and extinction, like a terrible shadow, always hangs over every patriot's heart. The Qing Dynasty, which ruled China at that time, was not only a stubborn fortress of feudal forces, but also a "foreigner's court". Huang Huang's imperial edict publicly declared that he wanted to "measure China's material resources and win the favor of the country". The patriotic actions of the Rightists were blind and strict. This reactionary peace has been vividly demonstrated. People really can't hope for it any more.
What's your attitude towards such reactionaries? Are you willing to shed your blood for it? Or maintain it and ask it to make some local reforms? This is a sharp problem that every patriot can't avoid.
In order to answer this question, many patriots have to endure many sleepless nights and painful ideological struggles before making their own decisions. Huang Xingzai 1902 went to Japan to study with many international students, seeking the truth of saving the country. At that time, there was a heated debate among overseas students about revolution or constitutionalism. Huang Xing was so angry that he dropped the teapot in his hand during the debate, which showed that he had resolutely chosen the road of revolution. Read Lin Juemin's suicide note in Huanghuagang's seventy-two martyrs again. In his letter, he said to his wife, "I love you dearly, that is, I love you so much that I dare to die." "We live in today's China. The country has no land and we can't die." . "I am healthy with you today. There are countless people who die unjustly and don't want to leave. Can people who love like our generation do it? This is why I dare to die spontaneously, regardless of you. " This childlike love for the motherland and this noble revolutionary sentiment can still touch the heartstrings of every reader so strongly after decades!
Revolutionaries believe that under this rule, any fundamental reform is impossible. No, China is hopeless. This is the conclusion that reality forces them to draw. Constitutionalists, on the other hand, keep asking people to kowtow to this reactionary, hoping that it will carry out some local reforms; It is absolutely impossible to stand up again and again to stop people from going to the revolution and threaten that the revolution will cause civil strife and partition. Liang Qichao even said: "Today, our party's fight to the death is the second meaning, but the first meaning is to fight to the death with the revolutionary party." It is not surprising that they aroused the strong indignation and opposition of countless patriots at that time. Without their firm and ruthless criticism, there can be no victory in the future revolution.
This debate began in the early 20th century, and the debate between People's Daily and Xinmin Cong Daily reached 1906. As a result of the debate, the revolutionaries won a decisive victory. After the end of this year, the focus of both sides turned to practical actions: revolutionaries went to the south to launch an armed uprising; Constitutionalists organized a preparatory constitutional association and a political news agency, which later developed into a constitutional movement. This is actually a continuation of that debate in practice.
Of course, this is not a local side issue, or just a dispute over methods, but two diametrically opposed roads. Facts have proved that the direction of the revolutionaries is right and that of the constitutionalists is wrong.
I think this is not a "cliche", but a prerequisite that cannot be said. Otherwise, the blood shed by the martyrs of the Revolution of 1911 will become redundant. This will not only make it difficult for the martyrs to close their eyes on the ground, but also make right and wrong unclear, and even make future generations feel serious anxiety.
It should also be pointed out that the Constitutionalists represent the upper bourgeoisie, which has just changed from the landlord class or is changing. They often have a lot of feudalism, and they are closely related to feudal officials. They are two-term landlords and bourgeoisie. Therefore, the negative aspect of their duality is not only the weakness of the general bourgeoisie, but also strong feudalism. This in turn determines their attitude. In the face of the revolutionary storm, they often tried their best to oppose the revolution and defend many things of feudalism. This is its reactionary side, and it has profound roots.
So, is it necessary to completely deny the constitutionalists? No, it should be admitted that in the study of modern history in the past, the constitutionalists after the Reform Movement of 1898 were often dismissed. Their positive contributions to ideological enlightenment and participation in patriotic movements have not been recognized as they should. Constitutionalists also lack specific descriptions of complex situations. This should be corrected.
As the Constitutionalists represent the upper bourgeoisie, they are still a wing of the bourgeoisie, which is still in contradiction with the feudal forces. Therefore, in its duality, there is both a negative and even reactionary side and a positive side. This duality runs through the whole process of the 1911 Revolution. For example, in their propaganda work, they publicized patriotism, exposed the Qing Dynasty, advocated people's responsibilities, and introduced many western bourgeois social and ethical theories, which should be affirmed. In action, some patriotic movements they participated in or initiated also played a positive role in raising the level of public awareness. Even the constitutional movement, objectively, can't say that it didn't play a positive role. In particular, the revolutionaries at that time focused on the propaganda of the necessity of revolution and the actual activities of armed uprising, and often neglected the propaganda and education in other aspects and relaxed. At the same time, they can't do public activities in the mainland, and constitutionalists can generally. In places where the feudal forces are relatively strong and the revolutionary forces have not yet arrived, the constitutionalists have played a more active role in enlightenment. For all this, we should give a fair and positive evaluation, and should not take an attitude of scolding everything.
The internal situation of the constitutionalists is also quite complicated and needs to be concretized. There is a difference between overseas kangliang and domestic constitutionalists. Even the constitutionalists in China are very complicated, and there are at least three situations. First, it is the part of the bourgeoisie that is directly related to railway investment. Especially in the provinces along Chuanhan Road and Yuehan Road, many people invest more in railways than in factories. Later, the Qing Dynasty announced that the railway was nationalized, which had a sharp conflict with their economic interests and they had to rise up and fight. This part of the constitutionalists showed the fiercest performance and made more positive contributions. Second, we mainly invest in industries and farms. , but also protected by feudal officials. Zhang Jian is one of the representatives. They are particularly afraid that "once the order is broken, it cannot be restored." Although there were strong dissatisfaction with the Qing Dynasty on some issues, the general attitude was maintained by various means. I didn't change my attitude until I saw that the Qing Dynasty was going to fall and the old order could no longer be maintained. Third, there are still some economically backward areas where there is really not much capitalism. Although it is also called constitutionalism, it is not much different from feudal gentry. It's hard to say how many positive contributions these people have made. Personally, some revolutionaries became very bad and some constitutionalists became very good. This is another question, and I don't need to say more here. In addition, the situation of constitutionalism is different in different periods, especially after the third failure in the winter of 19 10, it split itself, as some comrades pointed out: some turned to revolution; Some people disapprove of the revolution, but despair of the Qing dynasty; Some are still maintained until the general trend forces them to change their attitude; Some always insist on reaction. All these should be truly and properly estimated.
Historical phenomena are always complicated. Someone pointed out: "In a specific historical environment, everything has its own individual circumstances. If we grasp the facts from the sum of the facts and from the facts, then the facts are not only things that speak louder than words, but also things with conclusive evidence. If you don't grasp the facts from the sum, but pick out the facts in a piecemeal and casual way, then the facts can only be child's play, or even worse. " (See Statistics and Sociology) Historical researchers must grasp the facts from the sum of facts and put everything in an appropriate position. Otherwise, we will hold our own opinions, which is not conducive to the solution of the problem, and even lead the problem to an incorrect path.
(Originally published in. 04. 13 Daily/Jin Chongji)