New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-27
JAtAN'S FIRST ELECTION.
THE PEOPLE READILY TAKING HOLD OF
PRACTICAL POLITICS.

Toxic, July 3.
Japan has held its first Parliamentary election.
With the Constitutional measures and various
preparations that have led up to this event you
have already been made acquainted, as also WIN
the manner of holding the elections. Interest IN
it has, of course, been very great But there has
been none of that childish curiosity which so
nShy expected Indeed, the curiosity has been
all on the side of the foreign residents, who APP
parenty expected that TO see Japanse voting would
he equal to a circus. In this they were disap-
pointed. There were at the polls none of those
picturcsquely comcal scenes that had been looked
for Everything was practical and businessike.
The qualified electors came to the polls, deposited
their ballots and went away. There was about
the same sort of electioneerng that one sees In
the United Stats, minus the purchasing OF VOTES
that Is reputed to prevail In Some districts. Inc
poingplaces were open from in the morning
TO at night. Then the ballot-boxes were locked
up and taken away 10 he opened ana the votes
counted at leisure the next day. Thus was ac-
| complished with signal success one OF the most
remarkable experiments in all the history OF gov
eminent.
The present Government Of Japan Is one Of the
most ancient in the world, hoving existed since
nearly 900 years before the Christian era But
in late years it has passed through number OF
crucial changes in quick succession. America hrst
opened the island empire TO the outer world. In
1868 the Tvcoons overthrown and the MI
kndo made supreme In 1871 feudallsm was alto-
gether swept away and the era Of reform was Ne
gun For the first time politics became matter
Of popular interest and definite parties were
formed In 1881 the Constitution was promised,
and in 1850 il was actually granted. Now the
first election has taken place and in November
L.. ,,.;n Lana
De q limited and liberal constitutional monarchy
Concerning Parliament 1t may be stated that the
Upper House consists Of members Of the Imperial
family who hold office for life nobemcn OF high
rank. chosen by their peers, who hold Office for
seven years; men specially recommended by the
Emperor on account of their great learning or
services to the State, who arc also elected Tor
life by popular VOTE and men chosen one from
each municipality by the fifteen highest taxpayers
therein Who hold Office for FIVE years All men,
hers Of the Lower House chosen for four years
by popular vote, and are appOrl0ned to cities anu
provinces according to population
The form of procedure in Parliament will be
simple and practical. Parliament will meet for
three months each year, and both houses must be
in session together. Each House shall have
President with Il salary Of $4,000 year, ana
Vce-Prrsidcnt with n salary of S2,lO 90 One-
third of House is n quorum, but vote can only
bc carried by an absolute majority. The meet
ings will generally be public, but may be made
private whenever House so votes Most of the
details Of business are like those in the BrltlSll
Parliament But there are some original feat
urcs If a member does not attend the session
within a week of its opening lie is ~ be eX-
pellcd but then if he be reelected by his con-
,ttuents, the House cannot again eypel him. NO
member may absent himself from the sittines
without the Presidents leave, and that leave can
not I've for more than week. The House may by
vote extend the leave but not for an indefinite
period Any violation of this rule will render
the member liable 10 expulsion.
II will thus n, seen that there Is n large amount
of practical politics TO be found in Japan; prac-
teal stat"-crait perhaps one should say indeed,
there are now three great political parties in eA-
istcnce and numerous minor ones, and government
IN party seems sure 10 he an accomplished fact.
And this growth Of parties is one OF the notable
features Of japanese politics Previous 10 the
revolution of / s6S there was none. Indeed. no
ore knew what political party was But they
soon found out The formation Of parties was
largely due "a the press, but perhaps still more 81
the public platform. The average japanese is
born orator lie has been accustomed from his
childhood 10 exercise his voice by reading aloud
IL may De- that lie has enjoyed fame as public
storv-teller within the circle Of his own friends
and acquantances be is active in his gestures,
lively in his mode of speech. and he usually likes
90 hear himself talk. This. by the way. may
cud 10 a terrible lot Of speechmaking In Paria-
nent Al any rate, It has greatly contributed 10
the formation and growth Of parties. large
number Of young men who have been educated by
hundreds In foreign countries are unable on their
prI Pal la ep,nloyueut nd thpN
take naturally 10 the stump In recent years
they have been going about in bands from town 10
town throughout the country. lecturing. speaking
and debating current questions Political
agitation has become an institution. and very
successful institution. in Japan.
The first definite political party was established
in 1874 II was at first called " The Association
Of Men with Purpose, but afterward simply the
Patriotic Party Its platform rather
vague. but included the extension of personal
liberty and personal rights, and the establishment
Of a Constitutional form of government II was
really a Radical party. BIT with the prospect of
success. ii persisted. That is 10 say when the
MiIado, in 1881, definitely pledged himself 10
give Japan Constitution and the personal liberty
and rights which these Radicals had demanded,
the party Immediately went to pieces and others
arose in its stead. The chief party of the present
daS IL cdlIcu TIC bIoeIcSslNc party III d"
European State IL would be called the Moderate
Liberal. II was founded by Count Okuma when
he retired from the Cabinet in 1892 He scpa-
rated from his colleagues on the ground that the
year 1890, which was that appointed for the sum
mOning Of a National Assembly, was in his opinion
too far oil A. soon as hc went ont OF office, being
followed in his retirement by large number OF
the higher class OF officials he established tins !
party, with "A programme which had |
a certain approach 10 detnicncSS. Il |
purposed 10 devote itself 10 the dccentral- |
ization OF the administration and to the iarthcr |
nncc OF local government. Among the other !
blanks OF It's platform wee he pIa'ng OF the eur
rrncy which was teh III a very unsatisfactory |
condition. on n metallic basis; the gradual cN- !
tension of the franchise, end in foreign Affairs !
the increase of commercial, but the restriction OF
political, relations with foreign countries. There
u.s. OF course, Conservative party called here the
Nationalist, whose ann Is 10 preserve all the old |
national characteristics of Japan and resist the !
LLnl.., llcu. n IN mo lnt mntIcc llnLf !