Appeal to the Provinces Against Peking We have received from General Lu Yung-hsiang, Military Goyernor of Chekiang Province, a lengthy telegram urging provincial independence and_ self-government.
Last year, it will be remembered, General Lu made a suggestion that the Tuchun system should be abolished to meet the wishes of the people, but after numerous telegrams on the subject the matter was dropped.
General Lu in his present telegram, says in part:—"China has never been united because the North and the South have been divided and could not come to some amicable agreement. China to-day is worse off than ever. Never has she been so divided. This is because each province is for itself. The Central Government is as powerless as it is useless. We might as well divide the power of the Central Government between the provinces so that we can be of more use to the people. There is no need to declare independence as each province is already independent of Peking. Let each province be self-governing. Let each have its own constitution. Let each district send delegates to a suitable place to discuss the matter after which it can be passed at a Citizens' Convention. If such a scheme meets with the approval of the citizens, we shall not oppose or interfere with it. I shall then resign as an official and become an ordinary citizen. As this matter is of extreme importance, I thought it best to consult with the elders of the country first."
We learn that General Chen Shu-fan, Tuchun of Shensi, who has just been ordered to vacate his post, has agreed with General Lu's proposal.
A message from Kuangtung states that a telegram has been received from General Lu Yung-hsiang by Dr. Sun Yat-sen announcing his separation from and independence of Peking.—This does not, however, mean that he has joined hands with the worthy doctor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.