According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung (Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy), Huynh Thuc Khang was a representative figure of the patriotic movement in the early 20th century, a character who created a historical "link" connecting the patriotic movement of the reformist fighters with the revolutionary movement under the leadership of the Party. According to her, the newspaper Tieng Dan (Voice of the People) was a newspaper with a distinctly political character, published openly, and brought together a number of intellectuals who were both modern and Confucian scholars with a nationalist, democratic, and progressive spirit, and who collaborated very closely with each other.
Meanwhile, researcher Cao Chu argues that reading his works reveals honesty as paramount, and language that is intuitive and straightforward. This honesty in journalism is evident in Huynh's very first issue of the newspaper Tiếng Dân: "If I don't have the right to say everything I want to say, at least I have the right not to say what I am forced to say." Facing colonial and feudal rule, he didn't need to hide his thoughts, even if expressing them was somewhat dangerous.
Researcher Cao Chu argues that the essence of the people of Quang Nam is clearly reflected in the personality and thoughts of Huynh Thuc Khang. “In Huynh Thuc Khang’s literature and journalism, it’s difficult to find a single truly excellent sentence or poem, or a word that is polished and ornate. The beauty of Huynh Thuc Khang’s writing lies in its ideas, its ideological depth, and its practicality. In Quang Nam, from their lifestyle to their way of thinking and speaking, few people value form; they value substance more,” researcher Cao Chu wrote.
According to him, even in debates, Mr. Huynh didn't need to hide his "Quang Nam argumentative" nature; he would argue until the argument was a complete disaster. This reveals another characteristic of people from Quang Nam: they clearly distinguish between love and hate, disliking ambiguity.
Huynh Thuc Khang was one of the Vietnamese intellectuals of the early 20th century who clearly demonstrated an awareness of the issue of maritime sovereignty , especially in the issues of Tieng Dan newspaper where he served as editor-in-chief. This is an aspect that is rarely mentioned but is of particular significance in his intellectual legacy.
The newspaper Tiếng Dân published four consecutive issues about the Paracel Islands. The issue dated July 12, 1938 (issue 1280) featured articles such as "The Paracels Islands and France," "The Paracels Islands Become an Important Issue" (Tiếng Dân, issue 1281), "France Officially Acknowledges Sovereignty Over the Paracels" (Tiếng Dân, issue 1282), and "Traces of the Paracels Islands in Vietnamese History and the Value of the Phủ Biên Tạp Lục" (Tiếng Dân, issue 1284, July 23, 1938).
Through Tiếng Dân (Voice of the People), many documents related to the history of exploration and management of Vietnam's seas and islands have been introduced to the public. This is considered a notable contribution of Mr. Huynh, as he used historical and legal documents as the basis for affirming sovereignty. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Dung believes that, with his profound historical knowledge, Huynh Thuc Khang exploited the cultural heritage of his ancestors with a serious and respectful attitude, fostering a sense of sovereignty in the hearts of the people.
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Nearly 150 years after the birth of Huynh Thuc Khang, many of the values he pursued remain relevant. Fortunately, three locations—three houses—relics in Da Nang , Hue, and Quang Ngai serve as reminders to future generations of Huynh's life and deeds. Each place holds traces that recall the talent and integrity of a distinguished figure. And there, the glories of the past, or the anxieties of the times, remain present, shining brightly despite the vicissitudes of time.
Among them, the Huynh Thuc Khang Memorial House in Thanh Binh commune (Da Nang city), before becoming a national historical site, was a house of the Huynh family, a meeting place for the Duy Tan (Modernization) movement in Quang Nam province. In 2017, a project to promote the value of the Huynh Thuc Khang Memorial House was implemented, including the restoration and preservation of the original historical site, upgrading the road leading to the site, investing in a site promotion area, and many other landscaping and technical infrastructure projects.
Recently, at a meeting of the City People's Committee, representatives from Thanh Binh commune requested that the City People's Committee allocate funds to expand the exhibition space at the Huynh Thuc Khang Memorial House, and organize thematic exhibitions such as the life and career of Mr. Huynh, and an exhibition of the Tieng Dan newspaper...
Source: https://baodanang.vn/doi-nguoi-tran-tro-chuyen-nuoc-non-3340976.html
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