Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-19
JAPAN'S PROGRESS.
The Recent Change of Government In
That Wide-Awaks Country.

1 Ino Recent OnOuge OF Governments In
That Wide-Awaks Country.
The most important and significant
event which has happened this year is
the PRONUNCIATION by imperial edict of q
constitution for Japan. BY this mani
festO the absolute monarchy form Of
government, which has existed in Japan
for 2, $50 years, is changed to a consti-
tutional form. and marks another step
In the forward liberal progress of that
interesting country. The japanese
themselves claim that their Empire was
founded 600 b. G. by their first Emper-
or. Jimmu, and that the present
Mikado. Mutso Hito. belongs to his
| dynasty. From Jimmu TO Mutsu Hito
the absolute form of government has
prevailed. the power of the Mikado
having been unlimited in every depart
ment OF government. The first step in
the direction Of liberalism was taken in
1869, when a Parliament was formed.
Its life, however, was short. In 1875
a Senate was established with legisla-
tive power. but its decisions had to DO
affirmed by the Mikado. In 1881 a
Council OF State was established with
powers somewhat resembling those of
our House of Representatives. The
popular drift had been in the direction
OF constitutional form Of government
for some time indeed, and in 1881 the
Mikado yielded to it sufficiently to issue
an imperial rescript announcing that
constitutional government would be
adopted in 1890. and that in the same
year the first National Assembly should
meet.
AS the first step toward this import
ant change Count Ito, the Minister
President, was commissioned by the
Mikado TO examine the constitutions OF
different countries and prepare one for
Japan. The intervening time has been
spent by the Count in this duty, and at
last he has formulated a constitution,
based upon that of Germany, aided by
lawyers and officials of that country,
and recently it was promulgated from
the throne by the Mikado himself 1t
establishes House OF Peers, the MEM
bers OF which are partly hereditary,
partly elective, and partly nominated
by the Mikado. The House of Com
mons is TO consist OF 800 members elect
ed by the people. The suffrage is ex-
tended to all men over rs years OF ago
who pay taxes annually to the amount
of $25. The Parliament possesses leg
islative functions and the control Of the
finances under certain limitations. Lib
erty OF religion, freedom OF speech, and
the right of public meeting are also de-
clared. Thus peacefully the Govern
ment OF the Empire is changed, and
from now until 1890 the people will
have time to adapt themselves to their
new conditions and get ready to elect
their representatives.
During the last quarter OF century
Japan has been gradually preparing
herself Tor his important change. She
has greatly enlarged ner intercourse
with the Western world and American
influences have been strongly at work.
Her army and navy, her post-ofiice de-
partment, schools and colleges have
been modelled upon our own, and she
has adopted many customs, both Amer
lean and European, besides availing
herself OF our latest improvements in
railroad, telegraph and telephone SER
vice II she has not adopted consti-
tuition modelled upon our own and de-
clared full-fledged republic it is prob
ably because the Government wisely
apprehends that the people are not yet
far enough advanced for so radical q
change. Still, the step from On abso-
lutte to a constitutional form OF govern
ment, based upon popular representa-
ton, is long step forward toward free
popular government and is in striking
contrast with the conservatism of China |
and her other Asiatic neighbors, who
are centuries behind the little empire in
all that goes to make up advanced civ
ilization e CHICAGO Tribune