In Commemoration of Dr. Sun Yixian

#PUBLICATION NOTE

This edition of In Commemoration of Dr. Sun Yixian has been prepared and revised for digital publication by the Institute of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism under the Central Committee of the Communist Party in Switzerland on the basis of the following edition: In Commemoration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, First English Edition, Vol. 5, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1977.

#INTRODUCTION NOTE

This is an article written by Comrade Mao Zedong in commemoration of Sun Yixian's 90th birthday. It was first published in the Renmin Ribao (12th of November, 1956).

#Workers and oppressed people of the world, unite!

#IN COMMEMORATION OF DR. SUN YIXIAN

#Mao Zedong

#Before the 12th of November, 1956

#★

Let us pay tribute to our great revolutionary forerunner, Dr. Sun Yixian!

We pay tribute to him for the intense struggle he waged in the preparatory period of our democratic revolution against the Chinese reformists, taking the clear-cut standpoint of a Chinese revolutionary democrat. In this struggle, he was the standard-bearer of China's revolutionary democrats.

We pay tribute to him for the signal contribution he made in the period of the Revolution of 1911, when he led the people in overthrowing the monarchy and founding the Republic.

We pay tribute to him for his signal contribution in developing the new «Three People's Principles» from the old «Three People's Principles» in the first period of Nationalist-Communist cooperation.

He bequeathed to us much that is useful in the sphere of political thought.

Save for a handful of reactionaries, the people of modern China are all successors in the revolutionary cause to which Dr. Sun Yixian dedicated himself.

We have completed the democratic revolution left unfinished by Dr. Sun Yixian and developed it into a socialist revolution. We are now in the midst of this revolution.

Things are always progressing. It is only 45 years since the Revolution of 1911, but the face of China has entirely changed. In another 45 years, that is, by the year 2001, at the beginning of the 21st century, China will have undergone an even greater change. It will have become a powerful industrial socialist country. And that is as it should be. China is a land with an area of 9'600'000 square kilometres and a population of 600'000'000, and it ought to make a greater contribution to humanity. But for a long time in the past, its contribution was far too small. For this we are regretful.

However, we should be modest — not only now, but 45 years hence, and indeed always. In international relations, the Chinese people should rid themselves of great-nation chauvinism resolutely, thoroughly, wholly, and completely.

Dr. Sun was a modest person. I heard him speak on many occasions and was impressed by the force of his character. From the way he applied himself to the study both of China's past and present and of foreign countries, including the Council Union, I knew he was a person with a receptive mind.

He worked heart and soul for the transformation of China, devoting his whole life to the cause; of him it can be justly said that he gave his best, gave his all, until his heart ceased to beat.

Like many great figures in history who stood in the forefront guiding the march of events, Dr. Sun, too, had his shortcomings. These shortcomings should be explained in the light of the historical conditions, so that people can understand; we should not be too critical of our predecessors.