Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
House, that we may in grave and solemn manner inaugurate this under-
taking.
Let there be neither delay nor mistake.
A Declaration of the whole of Formosa.
[Seal in red as follows] An announcement by the whole of Formosa
(Davidson 1896; Davidson 1903, 279-80)
Davidson, an American republican, whose beliefs led him to see this
declaration as important, was disappointed in its reception. His
account of the public reaction to the declaration the next day in Taiwan
is a classic for its acuity and substance:
The first day of the new republic was greeted with a drizzling rain. The
mass of the Chinese were unable to appreciate the seriousness of their
position; in fact the Declaration of Independence appeared to them to
be of but little more importance than any other piece of official busi-
ness. I expected that the memorable day would find the streets filled
with holiday makers arrayed in their best clothes, the houses gay with
flags, and the day noisy with fire crackers. It was not so; for all jogged
along as usual. The pretty tea-girls (and Formosa has some pretty girls)
were picking tea with no addition to their old time coquettishness, the
tea-box makers and painters were working away in their usual busy
style. Not a new flag or a fire cracker in the settlement. At the presi-
dent's yamen, however, the court was crowded with enthusiasts, the
whole square was brilliant with new flags, including two large banners
which bore the characters, “The President of the Republic of Formosa”;
while above them all, floated the new flag of the nation; a blue back-
ground with the centre decorated by a hungry looking yellow tiger
possessing a tail of greater length than is customarily allotted to a real
tiger. The people, principally officials and their friends, fired off
crackers and chattered and buzzed away with the idea, no doubt, of
mutual encouragement; for the lack of enthusiasm with which the
townspeople regarded the affair must have been rather disheartening
to the leaders. It was somewhat amusing to note how many of the
Chinese merchants condemned the movement wholly, because the
ex-governor had introduced it during the busy season. As one local
tea merchant informed me: “My talkee that new fashion blong velly
good, but just now my too muchee pidgin, no have got time.” [I think
this new thing is very good, but I have too much business, and I have
no time.”]
(Davidson 1903, 281-82)
Davidson's description of the republic's flag is valuable because only
half of the flag has survived to the present. Modern re-creations of
