Li Shun is dead after a long illness, during which he has had to devote: himself to a conflict with the various groups seeking to dominate the Yangtze. Tuchun of Kiangsu, head at one time of the League of Tuchuns which inaugurate ed the events leading to the downfall of Tuan Chih-jui and the Anfu Club, he was almost entirely ignored by the militarists controlling Peking when the spoils were divided. He was offered the Inspectorate-General of the Yangtze which is at best an empty title. This he declined and finally was made Inspector-General of three Yangtze Provinces Kiangsi, Kiang-ssu and Anhui.. Also, he was not' permitted to resign the office of Chief Northern Delegate to bring about peace in the land.
Errorts ror Peace.
Li Shun was a progressive. More than any other militarist he enjoyed at one time the friendship and support of the liberal elements in China. He might have been President after Feng Kuo-chang, but he could quarrel with no one for any length of time and so, ultimately he lost the friendship of all aggressive groups. He always remained neutral, indefinite.
The last year has indeed been a dificult one for him. Seriousty ill during the entire period, he valiantly laboured to bring about peace among the contesting groups. As Chief Northern Delegate, he attempted to bring harmony into the warring southern camps and travelling between Nanking, Peking, Canton, and Yunnanfu. However, even his pacific efforts brought him constant worry and difficulties. Even while Tang o-yi was chief Southern Peace Delegate, Li Shun was conducting separate negotiations with Tsen Chun-hsuan, and this perhaps more than any other factor destroyed the Shanghai Conferences. The delegates on both sides knew that terms were being arranged without their knowledge. They could not but resign.
Tae ANFU-Carmit QvarRet.
During the struggle against Tuan, 4 Li Shun naturally stood by the Chihli faction, He sided with Tsao Kun and the President but not with Chang Tso-lin. When Lu Yung-hsiang of Chekiang attempted to march on Nanking. Li Shuo tore up the tracks of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway and prevented fighting in this province.
One of his most potent enemies was Wang I-tang. Living in Shanghai, mingling with Chinese and foreigners here, the latter was able to carry on an active propaganda against the Kiangsu Tuchun. Li Shun was really worried about Wang's activities, but he did nothing until Tuan and the Anfu Club were defeated. Then he issued a rant fore Wang I-tang's arrest, which came' to mean Wang's exile from China.
Cometex and Patriotic.
Li Shun was a curious complex of the man who knew what was right, who wanted to do the right thing, but who could not offend anyone and could not fight a former associate. He suffered from misplaced loyalty. His every personal desire was to support such movements as the Student movement and Wu Pei-fu. But he could not attack the President and he did not care for an open rupture with the Peking militarists. He surrounded himself with the most liberal and unselfish advisors, both Chinese and foreign.
Of him it can be said that he was truly patriotic. He was never a "mei kwo jen" never a traitor. He had sold nothing in Kiangsu to Japan.
His Previovs Career.
Li Shun was born in Chibli 51 years ago. He studied at the Peiyang Military Academy where he was a pupil of Hsu Shih-chang, now President. His first. military' post was a captaincy under Yuan Shih-kai. He joined the Republic forces during the revolution with the entire division which he commanded. He was appointed to Kiangsi, where at one time he was Defence Commissioner of Kiukiang and later Chief Civil Commissioner and acting Tutuh. It was Li Shun who his representatives were constantly drove Li Lich-chun out of Kiangsi during the second revolution and thus raised himself into the Tuchunate of that province. His close association with Feng Kuo-chang made him the latter's logical successor to the Tuchunate at Nanking. In August 1917, he succeeded to that post when Feng Kuo-chang went to Peking to become President of the Republic. He held that position until his death yesterday.
Li Shun leaves a wife but no issue.
The question of succession already has excited considerable comment among all classes here. Two names stand out: Chang Hsun and Wu Pei-fu. But the people of Kiangsu do not want a Tuchun. They say that now that Li Shun is no longer at Nanking, his post should remain vacant until the Tuchun ate is destroyed by act of Parliament or Presidential Man-late.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.