袁世凱政府與商人(1914-1916)

Abstract

The relationship between Yuan Shikai's government and merchants from 1914 to 1916 reflected the social effects caused by the reconstruction of a centralized political system and its subsequent disintegration. The political power wielded by merchants in the final years of the Qing was significantly reduced in the wake of Yuan's centralizing efforts. Even in economic matters, the merchants were able to contribute far less than before, despite their efforts to assert their views on the procedural regulation of official communications and commercial law and despite their attempts to seek the government's help in industrial and commercial developments. They had neither power to change the government's economic policies, nor the ability to resist Yuan's attempts to solve fiscal problems by imposing new taxes. When Yuan tried to become an emperor, the majority of merchants dared not to resist him openly for two reasons. First, Yuan's authoritarian rule reduced the room for civic activities to the minimum. Second, the majority of merchants worried more about economic development and political stability than the political form the government might take, whether a monarchy or a democracy. After the anti-monarchical movement developed its momentum, they gradually took the anti-Yuan side because they came to see Yuan as a destabilizing factor. Their fervent desire for political stability did not differ from earlier periods, but due to their weakened political influence, they did not play a significant role in the gradual disintegration of Yuan's power.