Jacob Cho
Jacob Cho Цо Джеwу / 赵杰武 | |
|---|---|
 | |
 1st President of Namor | |
| In office NMR 2251 – NMR 2264 | |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Disputed Hu Xang Jung To |
| Chairman of the Liberal Democrats | |
| In office NMR 2251 – NMR 2264 | |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Jung To |
| Leader of the Democratic Brotherhood | |
| In office NMR 2230 – NMR 2251 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 8, NMR 2198 File:AntelopianDynasty.png Shuanggang, Minjian, Antelopian Empire |
| Died | September 1, NMR 2264 (aged 65) Namo, Republic of Namor |
| Nationality | Namorese |
| Political party | Democratic Brotherhood (NMR 2230 - NMR 2251) Liberal Democratic (NMR 2251 - NMR 2264) |
| Spouse | Mei Jinhuang |
| Children | Tzo Genjia Tzo Dengha |
| Alma mater | University of Talon |
Jacob Cho, Namorese name Tzo Jewu (December 8, NMR 2198 - September 1, NMR 2264) is a Namorese revolutionary and statesman who led the Namorese Democratic Brotherhood, a group dedicated to the overthrow of the Antelopian Dynasty. After coordinating the Double Fourth Revolution that deposed the Antelopians, he served as the first President of the Republic of Namor. Following a constitutional dispute between Cho's Liberal Democrats and Hu Xang's Conservatives in NMR 2255, Cho was exiled to Mojing, where he formed a government and continued to consider himself the legitimate leader of Namor. He died in NMR 2264 and was succeeded by Vice President Jung To.
Within Namor, Cho is widely viewed as one of the pioneers of the Namorese Revolution and the father of Namorese republicanism. After his death, the Republic of Namor bestowed upon him the honorific Gukfu ("Father of the Nation").
Biography
Early Life
Jacob Cho was born Tzo Jewu in December 8, NMR 2198 in the village of Shuanggang in Minjian Province. He is from a wealthy peasant family.
He was among the several young Namorese who were sent overseas to study as part of the Antelopian Dynasty's initiative to learn the ways of the outside world. Tzo studied at the University of Talon, where he was influenced by the republican ideals that had propelled the Aininian Revolution. He became convinced that republicanism was the way forward for Namor. To emphasize his fervent support for republicanism, Tzo adopted a Westernized name, Jacob, which he called "the ideal name of the new Namorese man:"
Jacob means supplanter. Supplanter has its roots in the Latin supplantare, meaning "to trip up" or "to overthrow." To many, this appears to be a normal name, but to me, it embodies the spirit that Namor needs in order to rescue herself from regression. The general trend of the world's nations today is towards republicanism and away from the concept of rule sanctioned from the gods. Only when Namor trips up her emperors can she have salvation.
Leader of the Democratic Brotherhood
Republicanism was a sensitive subject in Namor at the time and Antelopian authorities suppressed anybody who supported it. Antelopian repression intensified following the unsuccessful Yutobang Rebellion. As such, Cho moderated his stance on the Antelopian Dynasty upon returning to Namor and advocated for a constitutional monarchy instead. His ideas were reluctantly accepted, and Cho was allowed to establish the Namorese Democratic Brotherhood, a group dedicated to the study of republicanism and democracy, in NMR 2230.
Under the pressure of conservative forces, the Antelopian government renewed its crackdown on republican sympathizers, including the Democratic Brotherhood, in NMR 2249. After a lengthy debate over how it should respond, the Democratic Brotherhood agreed to sever ties with the Antelopians and encourage armed revolution. The decision was supported by Cho. With the help of dissenting elements within the Antelopian court, namely General Hu Xang, the Democratic Brotherhood launched the Double Fourth Revolution in NMR 2250, forcing Emperor Rungchi to abdicate and disbanding the Antelopian Dynasty. The Republic of Namor was established with Cho as its interim president. A year later, elections were held, with Cho leading the Liberal Democrats, who supported constitutional democracy, and Hu Xang leading the Conservatives, who supported restraints on democracy within a republican framework. The Liberal Democrats took control of Congress and Cho was elected President.
Presidency
During Cho's first term in office, tensions between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives increased, especially over the issue of decentralization. Whereas Cho believed decentralization would prevent the central government from becoming an autocracy similar to that of the Antelopians, Conservatives opposed decentralization, arguing that a strong central government is necessary to cope with internal and external threats. As the economy showed no signs of improvement, corruption became more pervasive and peasant uprisings became more common, Cho's popularity declined and the Conservatives gained momentum.
In the Republic's second election in NMR 2255, Hu Xang of the Conservatives defeated Cho in the presidential race. Cho conceded at first, stepping down from the presidency and agreeing to participate in a Conservative-led convention to adopt a new constitution. But the convention reached a gridlock as Liberal Democrats opposed Conservative moves to strengthen the powers of the central government and allow the President to serve for life by a simple majority vote in Congress. Consequently, Hu Xang barred Liberal Democrats from attending the convention. A new constitution was adopted and Hu was declared president for life.
Cho boycotted the new constitution and vowed to pressure the government into restarting bipartisan talks. Viewing Cho as a threat to his hold on power, Hu ordered agents to break into Cho's villa in Namo and assassinate him. The assassination attempt failed, as agents shot Cho's housekeeper and a bystander but were unable to find Cho himself, who was visiting a friend at the time of the attack. Upon receiving news of the failed attempt, Cho stealthily fled Namo by train. He arrived in Mojing, where he declared Hu Xang's presidency void ab initio and established a rival government with himself as president. Cho's government would stay in Mojing until NMR 2262, when his army defeated the Conservatives in Namo. Cho became the undisputed leader of all Namor and reintroduced the old constitution.
Although Cho was reelected in NMR 2259 and again in NMR 2263, he was not very active in office, allowing his cabinet and military to handle most governmental affairs. This became even more apparent as his health declined.
Death
Jacob Cho died in September 1, NMR 2264 at the age of 65, while in a Namo hospital. He had been rushed from the Presidential Palace after suffering a stroke.
A state funeral was held ten days later. A procession carried Cho's body from Namo to his birthplace in Shuanggang, Minjian, where he was buried.