UNDER-TWO FLAGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3417, 8 January 1912, Page 5

UNDER-TWO FLAGS.

A CELESTIAL’S BANNER. AND WHY FOR. If the weather be propitious and the wind not too' boisterous (says the “Dominion”) any passer-by may see waving gallantly above the premises of Wah Lee on, Lambton Quay l —opposite the Bank of New Zealand—a. bright emerald green flag having in its centre a circle of white with, a serrated or star-like edge—a plain blit effective device, and one withal that is striking terror into the heart of the Maurira at the present time-

The flag is the peace flag of the new Chinese Republic, and it flies over the fruit shop on the Quay, because its owner is a. hot revolutionary who has the cause of the- Republic at heart with many hundreds of other Chinese residents in New Zealand. . —- This green-green bit of bunting is called the “Peace Flag,” for the reason that the party has another and more ominous banner—a war flag, one of which is also in possession of Wah Lee. The blood flag is of the same device as that described—with this important difference that the ground colour of the flag (all green in peace) is divided vertically in halves—oiie half green and the other red —bold colours for a bold cause, which are to supplant the yellow dragon of the Manehu dynasty,, if Providence. or the Chinese gods, will it so. Wah Lee is a prosperous trader, and a man of ediication. His enterprises are not restricted to Wellington, and whenever he takes his walks abroad he spares no effort to spread the propaganda of the new Republic. Not only tliis, but he lectures to the Chinese community about the political situation in Celestia, and translates in flowing Cantonese the cabled news of the war now m progress. Wah .says that, when the Maneliu is fired from the throne, and 1 the Republic is established —believing that a Republic is the only solution of China’s national problem—there will be very few Chinese left in New Zealand. In explanation,, he says that many, of tlie Chinese who have settled, in New Zealand, Australia, and America, have been forced to seek homes oyer the sea for political reasons, and owing to the extortionate demands of the Maneliu Government and its hirelings. But with the> establishment of the Republic, a change will come over the scene in the home country. The ancient conservatism, wliich has blocked progress and prevented the development of the Empire’s great resources, will be swept away in favor of a policy which will make China one of the foremost nations on earth. The policy of tlie Republic will favor the ooening np of the great back country and the working of vast areas of land known to be rich in copper, gold, coal, and other minerals. There will be inducement for. Chinese to leave their own country; indeed, the inducement will be for “foreign” Chinese to return to the land of their fathers, for at heart, the Chinaman is fervently patriotic and home-loving. Hundreds of pounds . have already been subscribed in Wellington for the Republican cause, and there are those, it is stated, who are prepared to give, their all to help to remove from the throne the Manehu Dynasty.