It Is Time to Launch a “Hunan Self-Government
Movement” (September 26,1920)
In any matter whatsoever, if there is a “theory” but no “movement” to carry it
through, the aim of this theory cannot be realized. Hunan self-government should
encourage and promote such theories as “the necessity for self-government,” “now is the
best opportunity for planning Hunan self-government,” and “Hunan and the Hunanese
people do indeed have the ingredients and the capacity for independence and self-government” in order to arouse the interest and courage of those Hunanese who are as
yet unenlightened. But if these are not followed up with a real movement, then Hunan
self-government will remain just a pretty thing on paper, or a nice-sounding phrase on
our lips, and will never become a reality. In theory, moreover, a great many people,
after undergoing direct experience with more than their share of misery, have already
understood. Thus the only thing lacking now is a real movement, and what is most
urgent at present is precisely this real movement.


I believe that there are two kinds of real movements: one is the kind of movement
that works from the inside to engage in concrete construction; the other is the kind of
movement that is set up on the outside to push things forward. Both are important, but
the second kind of movement is especially important right now and in the immediate
future. It can probably be said that the success or failure of Hunan self-government,
and whether it is good or bad, depend on this kind of movement.


I also feel that the Hunan self-government movement should start from the “people.”
Even if Hunan self-government really happens this time, but it comes not from the
“people,” but from outside the “people,” then I venture to say that this kind of self-government will not last long. Even though it may have the external form, when it is
opened up it will be seen to be without content, or its content will definitely be rotten,
false, hollow, or withered.


Now is definitely the time to launch the “Hunan self-government movement.” We do
not necessarily have to engage in a concrete movement to establish it, but we certainly
must not fail to engage in a movement that promotes it. We need not avoid doing it
just because our numbers are few. Even though our numbers are few, if we are sincere
we will have an effect. Nothing ever succeeds right at the beginning, or is met with
sympathy and support right from the start. Rather, everything grows from near to far,
from few to many, from small to large. If
there are some who say that the Hunanese people are still unenlightened, and communications are not convenient, so it would be hard for self-government to work well,
I don’t think that people generally will believe such nonsense.