Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Lin Chang-ming

Mr. Lin Chang-ming.

林長民字宗孟

Mr. Lin Chang-ming was born at Ming Hon Hsien, Fukien in 1876. When he was a boy, he studied Chinese literature in a typical Confucian school. He commenced to study the English language in 1900. The subjects of foreign politics and law interested him very much. Mr. Lin went to Japan to study in 1902, and entered the Waseda University where he specialized in political science and economics. He studied in Japan for seven years. He returned to China in 1909 when there was a national movement for constitutional government, and when the Advising Council in Peking and provincial assemblies in the provinces had been established. Upon his arrival at his native province, Mr. Lin was made Chief Secretary of the Fukien Provincial Assembly. Shortly afterwards he became a controlling factor in the assembly and organized a political party. Owing to the conflict of old and new ideas, Mr. Lin was opposed strongly by the conservative members of Fukien gentry and had to leave his native place. When the first revolution broke out in 1911, he was at Shanghai. The new situation afforded to him an opportunity to show his politcal leadership. He travelled between Shanghai, Hangchow, Soochow and Nanking, in his efforts to persuade the governors and generals to combine their influence and organize a provisional government and declare independence of Peking. All the telegrams and declarations issued by the Provisional government during that period were drafted by him. After joining in the revolutionary movement, Fukien requested Mr. Lin to be its representative, and in that capacity, he took part in the conference of the provincial delegates held in Nanking to consider the question of breaking away from the Manchu government. Mr. Lin proposed that the election of the President to direct the provisional government should not be postponed until after the union of North and South, and for this proposal became the object of attack to his political opponents. While he was seeing a friend of his off at the Nanking Railway station, two bullets from a would-be assassin for him missed him. It was subsequently learned that the would-be assassin was in possession of a secret order from the Shanghai Taotai alleging that Mr. Lin was a traitor. The would-be assassin was arrested but released the next day on account of the exertion of higher influence. After the reunion of North and South, Mr. Lin was appointed Chief Secretary of the Provisional Parliament. At the same time he promoted the Republican Constitutional Society which later became the Republican Party. In 1913 he was elected a member of the Lower House and pointed by the Speaker its Chief Secretary. Upon the amalgamation of the Republican Party with other parties and the creation of a new political party called the Chin Pu Tang or Progressive Party, he was elected the chief of the political section of that party. In 1914 Mr. Lin was appointed Counsellor to the State Department. In 1916 he was given the position of Chief of the Law Bureau, but he refused to accept the appointment. At the time when the German submarine policy aroused the indignation of Minister of Justice. The new Cabinet at once declared war against Germany and Australia. General Tuan resigned in April of 1919. He persuaded Vice-President Feng to urge the government to break off diplomatic relations with Germany, but the opinion held by various high officials was then divided. Finally General Tuan Chi-jui, Prime Minister was dismissed on account of his war policy, following which General Chang Hsun attempted to restore the Manchu Emperor to the Throne and President Li Yuan-hung fled. Afte the restoration the Republic by General Tuan, Mr. Lin joined his Cabinet in the capacity of Minister of Justice. The new Cabinet at once declared war against Germany and Australia. General Tuan resigned in April of 1918, and Mr. Lin also resigned. After his retirement, Mr. Lin travelled in Japan. Upon the declaration of the armistice in Europe, the President sent Mr. Liang Chi-chiao to Europe as an official envoy upon his suggestion. In January 1920 he was awarded the Fourth Order of Merit. At that time Mr. Lin was a member of the Diplomatic Commission. When the news of China's failure at the Paris Peace Conference reached Peking, he wrote many articles and made a number of speeches against Japan, and strongly condemned her for trying to inherit the former German rights in Shantung. He lost favor with the government and was suspected by the Japanese as a leader of the anti-Japanese party. Mr. Lin left for Europe and America with his daughter to study foreign conditions in March 1920. He returned to China in 1923. Immediately he joined the Parliament and took part in the drafting of the Constitution. Following the election of Marshal Tsao Kun to the Presidency. Mr. Lin deserted the Peking government and together with a number of other M. P's. he went to Shanghai to devise means to fight against the absolute rule of militants.