Chapter 177 discuss politics

In 1922, sixteen scholars, including Cai Yuanpei, Li Dazhao, Tao Xingzhi, and Hu Shi, published this famous article in the May 14th "Kung Fu Weekly", proposing the political reform goal of establishing a "good government".After the article was published, a debate about "gradual progress and revolution" was triggered. Wang Zhenjun, Zheng Zhenxia and others asked: "Should we use revolutionary means? Or should we adopt improved means? Or destroy first and then build? Or build on evil foundations?" What about a good government?" Hu Shi replied: "We can use your own words to make the answer: 'It is best for both parties to divide the labor and advance side by side, and achieve the same goal by different routes'. If it can be improved, we might as well start with the improvement and improve it bit by bit. Too If it is broken and cannot be improved, or if the evil forces refuse to accept this kind of bit by bit improvement, then it is necessary to adopt revolutionary means." The next year, Wu Peifu supported Wang Chonghui to form a cabinet, and Luo Wenqian, Tang Erhe and others entered the cabinet. Cabinet, the current government is called "the government of good people".But this "good government" lasted only 73 days before stepping down.

Hu Shi always opposed violence and advocated peaceful settlement of disputes.Because he participated in Duan Qirui's aftermath meeting, he was not tolerated by the Communist Party.He said to Chen Duxiu: "Is the thugs burning the Morning Post this time also an act of fighting for freedom?" Chen Duxiu said: "The Morning Post is controlled by the New Moon faction. With such a class standpoint, how can we not burn it?" Hu Shi was very angry: "Zhongfu, you can't tolerate even the slightest dissenting thoughts? If society is like this, how dark and cruel is it?" Chen Duxiu said: "It is precisely because of society's cruelty that we cannot tolerate it. When they hunted down the Communist Party, they could Has there ever been tolerance? The May 30th tragedy, has there ever been tolerance? I have been imprisoned several times, how have they ever tolerated it?" Hu Shi said: "But when you were in prison, old scholars such as Ma Tongbo and Yao Shujie signed to rescue You, after you were released from prison, everyone was still talking and laughing, and the human relationship is still there, have you forgotten?" Chen Duxiu was a little at a loss for words, but immediately asked: "But why did you attend the aftermath meeting?" Hu Shi said: "In a peaceful way It’s just to resolve the dispute between the North and the South.” Chen Duxiu said: “Duan Qirui is a running dog of imperialism, don’t you know?” Hu Shi said: “What is imperialism? Where is imperialism?” Chen Duxiu said with a smile: “So you and I different class."

Hu Shi talked about democracy: Democratic politics is often the politics of common sense, while enlightened autocracy is the politics of special heroes. Special heroes are not inevitable, but common sense is easier to train. Hu Shi, editor-in-chief of "Independent Review", always worked for the magazine all day every Monday, and often wrote articles until 3 o'clock at night, and this was the case for three years.Every time my wife gets offended, Hu Shi said that this is the only day of the week where I don't eat or honor, but just do official business, "so I feel the most comfortable in my heart."

Hu Shi always supported Wang Jingwei.Until the death of Wang Jingwei in 1944, Hu Shi not only condemned Wang as a traitor for treason without a single word in the 13th November, on the contrary, he wrote with great compassion: "Wang Jingwei died in a Japanese hospital. Poor. Jingwei lived his whole life." The disadvantage is that he is famous as a 'martyr', and he will inevitably have a 'martyr' complex throughout his life. He always feels, 'I don't care about my life, can you still believe me?'” Someone asked Hu Shi what to do if he was really nominated to be elected president. Hu Shi said: "If someone nominates, I will definitely deny it; if elected, I will declare it invalid. I am a liberal, and of course I have the freedom not to be president."

In his later years, Hu Shi publicly told the American media that his expectations for a "free China" certainly included the mainland, and that he opposed "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan."