《走向共和》在中央电视台的热播又一次把对若干历史人物的认识和评价的问题提了出来,这是件好事。无论它现在的评价是否都对了,它至少让人们意识到,过去的评价大体是错了。对李鸿章的评价就是一例。其实,这不是个新问题。比如,唐振常先生多年前就曾经撰文:《李二先生非汉奸》。只是史学界的种种观点,似乎一直不太为大家所了解,不如电视剧的热播,能够有众所周知的效果。 It is a good thing that the issue of “Towards republicanism” on CCTV hitherto raised the issue of recognizing and appraising certain historical figures. Whether or not it is right now, at least it makes people realize that the past evaluation is generally wrong. The assessment of Li Hung-chang is an example. In fact, this is not a new issue. For example, Mr. Tang Zhen-long had written many years ago: “Mr. Li Er is not a traitor.” It is only the viewpoints of the historiography that seem to have not been well understood by all people. It is not as good as the hit of a television series and can have a well-known effect.