左、李塞防与海防之争新论

清同治、光绪年间,统治阶级内部在国防部署上曾有过一次塞防与海防之争.海防派以李鸿章为首,认为东南沿海千里海防是国防重点,主张弃新疆,专注海防.塞防派以左宗棠为首,主张塞防、海防并重,强调新疆在国防上的重要地位,坚决要求收复新疆.这场争论的实质是国防前线的战略部署和国家有限的财力如何分配;争论的焦点则是收复新疆还是放弃新疆.这场争论是公开的、正常的,其主张有正确与错误之分,其见解有高低之别,但不是爱国与卖国之争,不应因此给李鸿章戴上卖国或投降主义的帽子.

Comment on the quarrel about boundary defence and coastal defence between Zuo Zong-tang and Li Hong-zhang

During the period from the years of Tongzhi to the years of Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty,a quarrel about boundary defence and coastal defence occurred in the national defence disposition among the ruling class.Those who were for coastal defence and headed by Li Hong-zhang held the viewpoint that coastal defence along the coastal area in the southeast was the focus of the national defence,and they insisted on abandoning Xinjiang and concentrating on coastal defence;while those who were for boundary defence and headed by Zuo Zong-tang thought that boundary defence and coastal defence were of equal importance,and they emphasized the important position of Xinjiang in national defence and insisted on conquering Xinjiang.The essence of the quarrel was what strategies of frontier national defence to take and how to distribute the limited national financial resources.It focused on whether to abandon it or conquer it.The quarrel was public and normal.The assertion and the view of both parties were different,some of which were right,some of which were wrong,some of which were wise and some of which were degraded.But it was not the quarrel between the patriotic and the treason;therefore Li Hong-zhong shouldn't be pinned the label of the betrayer or surrender.