Guangqiu, Zhu Houzheng, Wang Qufei, Mao Douwen, Huang Ying, Yi Xun, Zhong
Xiu, Cao Yangli, Gao Yeyu, and Li Zhenpian.
Declaration on the Occasion of the Founding of the
Association for Promoting Reform in Hunan (April
1,1920)99
Since he arrived in Hunan, Zhang Jingyao has gone to extremes in plundering,
looting, raping, and killing. The people of Hunan have endured heavy sufferings, which
can scarcely be described. As a result of many days of effort on all sides, the present
movement to drive Zhang out of Hunan has gained the sympathy of the people both
in the south and in the north who advocate justice and humanity. By now we can
begin to hope that Zhang will be driven out of Hunan. We must not, however, become
overly optimistic. Why? First of all, when one Zhang Jingyao is gone, a hundred
Zhang Jingyaos may want to come. By then we may be too tired of the difficulties
and hardships of driving them out of Hunan, so that we “chop and change,” have a
“brave beginning but a weak ending,”100 or settle for “a change in form but not in
essence.” Would that not show how shortsighted we are? Since Hunan became part of
the Republic, it has been invaded by troops three times.101 It has endured the most
terrible sufferings and made particularly great sacrifices. If we want to trace the origin
of the sufferings, it is none other than the evil system of the “military governorship.”
This is the root of the calamity. As long as the military governorship is not abolished,
the turmoil in Hunan cannot be stopped. It simply doesn’t matter whether those in
authority are linked to the south or to the north, or whether the people in power
are good or bad. If today’s methods continue to prevail, today’s customs cannot be
changed, and there is no hope of maintaining public order in Hunan. This has long been
the hard and invariable fact. If even such a great sacrifice as this is still not enough to
arouse the consciousness of the Hunanese, then their minds have truly become deathly
still. With such apathy, it is very difficult to survive in a world full of surging new
tides. Moreover, the efforts to solve the problems in China today are constrained by
various kinds of special forces, and there is no chance for a comprehensive solution to
succeed. The practical approach is for
the masses to take the initiative in one local area. In our humble opinion, if we want
to build an ideal Hunan, we must start with “fundamental reform,” but we should first
put forward some minimum demands and suggest some conditions which fit the situation in order to appeal to the public opinion of Hunanese living both inside and outside
the province. We should also eradicate all the selfish opinions and selfish interests. With
such a program, we can direct the mass movement in a reasonable and continuous way
and carry it through to the end. Some people regard Hunan as the Switzerland of the
East. We can indeed look at Switzerland as a model for our “ideal Hunan.” From now
on, if our 30 million people thoroughly reform themselves and strive to march forward,
there should be no reason why we cannot bring this about one day. The world situation clearly tells us that the tide of change is already sweeping through wild Siberia,
and Korea, which has lost its national existence, also wants self-determination. This
is a general trend, and no one can resist it. Now look at this area of rivers and lakes,
which extends south from the great lake,102 and north from Cangwu.103 This area is
rich in natural and human resources. It is exactly the right stage on which to act out
our self-rule and self-determination. In addition, its proud sons, who are young and
talented and have attracted the world’s increasing respect, can be relied on to improve
themselves. As for the affairs of Hunan, we suggest that the first step is to “get rid of
Zhang”; the second step is to consider “how to carry out reconstruction after Zhang is
gone.” Now we list our recommendations for military affairs, finance, education, selfrule, the rights and freedom of the people, and transportation. On each of these major
topics, we invite comments and suggestions from Hunanese everywhere. The spirit of
these recommendations lies in the two major proposals for “overthrowing military force”
and “implementing people’s rule.” We should abolish the military governorship and cut
the size of the army in order to achieve the goal of “overthrowing military force.” We
should establish banks run by the people, make education independent, promote selfrule, guarantee the people’s rights and freedoms, and facilitate transportation in order
to achieve the goal of “implementing the self-rule of the people.” We must disregard
all obstacles, maintain our faith, and strive forward. The realization of civil rights and
human rights in every country in the world has come only after active struggles and
movements. We can make greater progress. Hunan is a part of China, and the reform
of Hunan is one part of the reform of China. Its impact, direct or indirect, is indeed
great. We earnestly hope that people all over the country will show their support and
sympathy for us, helping us fulfill our wish and giving us encouragement. Organized by
our comrades, this association takes as its sole aim the promotion of reform in Hunan.
The methods of promotion include putting forward opinions and advocating ideas for
the masses of the people. As for actual political activity, we hope that certain talented
and knowledgeable people will get involved in it. We ourselves, however, do not wish
to take part in it. At this moment of the founding of the Association, we hereby issue
this declaration. The headquarters of the Association is located at 29 South Minhou
Lane, Hatong Road, Shanghai.
Conditions for the Reconstruction of Hunan (for discussion)104
1. Military affairs
2. Abolish the military governorship.
3. The largest unit in the army is to be one division; these will be stationed respectively in Yueyang, Changde, Hengyang, Baoqing, and Hongjiang. Public order
in the provincial capital will be maintained by the police under the jurisdiction
of the provincial governor, and troops must absolutely not be stationed there.
Public order in each xian will be maintained by the police under the jurisdiction
of the xian magistrate. The garrison forces and the title of defense commissioner
are to be abolished.
4. Total military expenditure must not exceed one-twelfth of the total provincial
revenue.
5. Finance
6. The Bank of Hunan is to be run by the people. The Bank will be supervised by
the Provincial Assembly as regards the issuance of paper currency and setting the
amount of the reserve fund. The ratio between the reserve fund held by the bank
and the volume of the paper currency issued is set by the Provincial Assembly,
which will also have the authority to review the bank’s accounts at any time.
7. An inheritance tax and an income tax will be introduced, and the tax on salt
reduced. All the exorbitant taxes imposed during the past three years will be
abolished.
8. Hunan No. 1 Textile Mill will be run by the people.
9. Education
10. The education fund is to be independent. The amount is set at one million
yuan, and should subsequently be increased as appropriate. The source of the
education fund must be determined. Authority for maintaining the education
fund is exercised by the “Office for Managing Educational Expenditure” to be
organized and established by all the provincial public schools.
11. A policy of universal compulsory education is to be adopted, and within a period
of no more than fifteen years, compulsory education shall be fully established in
the seventy-five xian.
12. Self-Rule
13. Preparations will be made to establish genuine organs of popular self-government
in the smallest subdivisions of various xian.

--- Notes

99 On Guo Renzhang, see note 8 to the text of January 18, 1920.
100 According to the editors of the Wengao, this document was drafted in final form on April 1,1920,
but openly published only on June 14 of the same year.
101 Literally, “a tiger’s head and a snake’s tail.”


102 Between 1913 and 1920 Hunan was ruled by the Beiyang warlords Tang Xiang- ming, Fu Liangzuo,
and Zhang Jingyao.
103 Lake Dongting, on the northern boundary of Hunan.
104 A locality in Guangxi, not far south of the Hunanese border.