The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-03-28
JAPAN'S PROGRESS,

The Recent Change Of Government in
That widc-Awakc Country.
The most important and significant
event which has happened this year is
.he PRONUNCIATION by imperial edrct of a
constitution for Japan. By this mani
!esto the absolute monarchy form of
government, which has existed in Japan
Tor 2. $50 years, is changed to q consti-
.utional form, and marks another step
in the forward liberal progress Of that
interesting country. The Japanese
claim that their Empire was
founded 600 B. c. by their first Emper-
Dr.. 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 n Parliament was formed.
Its life, however, was short. In 1875
Senate was established with legisla-
tive power, but its decisions had to be
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 a
constitutional government would be
adopted in 1890. and that in the same
year the first National Assembly should
meet.
As tho 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 constitution,
based upon that OF Germany. aided by
lawyers and officials of that country,
and recently it was promulgated from
the throne by tho Miisado himself. II
establishes House OF Peers, the mems
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 IS years Of age
who pay taxes annually to the amount
Of So. 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-
clarol. 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 for this important change. She
has greatly enlarged her intercourse
with the Western world and American
influences haro hesn strongly at work,
Her army and navy. her post-ofiice do
partment. schools and colleges have
been modelled upon our own, and she
has adopted manx customs. both Amer
lean and European. besides availing
hcpself OF orr latest Improvements in
railroad, telegraph and telephone SER
vice. II she has not adopted consti-
tuition modelled upon our own and de-
clared fnll-nedged republic it is prob
ably because the Government wisely
applehcnds that tho people arc not yet
far enough advanced for so radical q
change. Still. the step from IN abso-
lutte to q constitutional form OF govern
nent, based ApsSc popular representa-.
ton. is q long step forward toward FREQ
popular government ana is in striking
contrast with the conservatism Of China
md her other Asiatie neighbors, wing
are centuries behind tho iittls empire in
I'll that goes to make up advanced civ.
ilization. Chicago Tribune