Wu Jinglian And The Republic Of Politics: 1916 To 1923

In 1916, Wu Ching-lien, the former speaker of Peking temporary senate andvice-president of KMT council, could not be a member of the cabinet because of hissmall achievement. But he refused the place of the nomarch of Hubei province, just bewilling to be an ordinary assemblyman and the chairman of the party of YiYuShe, abranch of KMT. In the end of May 1917, Wu held over the speaker of the House.Although he insisted that the president has no privilege of disbanding the parliament,facing the warlords he had to receive the impasse.In August 1917, Wu went to Canton to take part in Hufa movement. Wu argued aHufa member must firstly abide by the constitution. At the same time it is necessary tounite the strength. So, Wu and YiYouShe reorganized the military government, letT'ang Chi-yao and Lu Jung-t'ing in. In 1919 peace conference, Wu advanced a sloganof "beginning for constitution, no ending in damage".In 1920 and 1921, Wu did not go to Canton again following Sun Yat-sen butadvocated Federal Provincial Autonomy. Wu decided to found a third government inChangjiang area depend on T'ang Chi-yao, Li Ch'un, etc. But it fell through..In 1922 Wu backed to Peking and resumed the old parliament again under theChi clique warlord. Wu combined with Wang Ch'eng-pin toppled the WangCh'ung-hui cabinet backed by Wu P'ei-fu by disclosing a sensitive diplomatic affairof Lo Wenkan case. Wu made a deal with Ts'ao Kun that Wu preside over theparliament to elect Ts'ao the president while Ts'ao appoint him the prime misnister.On October 5th 1923, Ts'ao winned the president but he broke his promise. Wuvetoed any other candidate and thus displeased Ts'ao. As a result, Wu left Peking.Wu's story from 1916-1923 showed that the parliament was not only a signboardbut had some energy. Compare to Anfu parliament the old parliament was dismissedtwice but still resumed and maintained its validity.Morality cannot be the main factor to explain Wu and the old parliament's defeat.In 1923, Wu's backer Wang Ch'eng-pin could not break from Ts'ao Kun. And onOctober 10th 1923 the old parliament legal term ended. In the end, the defeat of theold parliament cannot be equal to parliamentarism's won't do.