New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-23
THE JAPANESE CABINET.
BROUGHT TO GRIEF AGAIN ON TREATY
REVISION.

lost his office, ana came perllOuslN near loSlhS
his life by the murderous attack upon him which
is still fresh in the memory, and which did, In
deed. cost him a limb The reason of the failure
of the policy which he advocated, and when
under his mastery guidance nearly achieved
success, is to he attributed solely TO political
rivalrics and factional spirit His opponents dId
not object to his policy but they objected 10 see
ing him score triumph. II nothing but
the prospect of his success that reused his rivals
to such mad fury of opposition and called forth
that torrent of angry and exaggerated dcclain"-
ton. seasoned with infammatory appeals 10 'ne
peoples pride, which, and not because oil any
lack of merit in itself, this fourth attempt !"
solve the terrible problem of the trea1es Has
come TO grief after year of struggle IL Is no'
TOO much TO say that, in the calmer moo" Vi d
twclvemonth ago, the very measure now over
whelmed in the strife of parties would nave "eeh
accepted gratefully by the mass OF the people
The real importance and magnitude oil the work
achieved by Count Okuma and his anle preueccs-
sor Count Inouye, in the most uiihcul' oil all
posts in the japanese Administration, though lor
Tho while lost sight of in the din of political
warfare. will be fully recognized and appreciated
hereafter. when men cool enough TO realize
the 1rne causes of failure, and TO measure the
value of the seeds which those distinguished men
have sown.
The new Cabinet was announced ten days after
Count Okumas resignation of the Foreign Office.
One looks over its roll in vain for the names of
Counts Ito Inouye and Okuma men who are
almost as we'll and favorably known abroad as at
home. and the loss of whose services TO the State
at this important epoch is greatly 10 he regretted
for the countrys sake On the other hand. Count
Yamagata's appointment as Minster-Prcsldent OF
State, in succession TO Prince Sanjo. is guarantee
of harmony in the new organization. NO puphc
man in Japan is at present his equal in popularity
with all parties: 10 which may he added that he
is Minister of long experience and great prudence
and moderation and that hc enjoys IN a nigh
degree the confidence and respect of the people
He retains the portfolio of Home Affairs Inc
Foreign Office falls TO Niscount Aokl, formerly
Envoy TO Berlin. and for some years past wee
Minister of the Department. under the leaGeishlp'
successively of Counts 1nouyc and ONuma. lie
brincs 70 his new post a wide experience of Japans
foreign relations especially in the matter oil the
treaties together with liberal ana Cosmopolitan
breadth Of view. The only other Cabinet changes
are that Count Inouye is succeeded IN the DEPART
ment of Agriculture and Commerce by his late
Vicc-Ninister. Mr.. Iwamura, and that Count HOS
most a. President of the Prvy Council is now taken
IL, Count OlI. Count Okuma becomes a PriNy
Councillor. and Count Inouyc has been appointed
"a the office of Jakonoma Giko. or Lord-in-N ant
inc hitherto held exclusively by members OF inc
old feudal nobility.
Count Okuma would hardly be recognized IN
America as typical japanese lie does not phy-
sically resemble the majority of his coun'ryhch'
lie is tall. and has a large face and high fore
head. his set and somewhat stern expression
is very unusual among The mobile japanese lie
is about the only man in Japan holding high
Office, except Prince Sanio. the late Prime MIN
lister and Chancellor, who has never travelled
abroad and he speaks no foreign language count
Ol<uma is a native Of the Province of llzcn ana
filed various offices in the reformed Administer
ticn between 1S6s and 1851. For number OF
wears he was Minister of Finance, and his policy
while in that Office. especially in reference 10
the paper currency and The Government conncc-
ton with industrial undertakings, was the sub
ject of much unfavoIabe criticism; but the enor-
nous difficulties with which he had TO contend
were never adequately acknowledged japanese
finances when the present Government came INTO
pOwcr we're in q state Of chaos. The civil war
and the disturbances of previous years would
have unsettled the finances of any country; III
JAPAN in addition. the semi-independcnt position
OF the feudal nobility in regard to the finances
of their territory, as 10 almost everything else.
added to the confusion. The statesmen Of the
Restoration found themselves forced 10 take over
the debts OF the fcudal MOBILES who had been pnr-
chasing foreign steamers. modern arms and other
expensive objects al cnOrmous prices; they had 10
meet the cost Of the war and of the new admins
traton built up the ruins Of the old system Of
a new army, navy and police, of the introduction
Of local government and educational sys-
TENS added to all these, in few years
they had to provide pensions for the ter
ritoria mobiles and their rctainers whose occnpa-
tons were gone with the destruction Of the fcudal
system. For ten years after the restoration OF the
Mikado the internal conditions of the country re-
qurcd slecplcss vigilance and constant preparation
10 meet the outbreaks Of the members Of the ola
military class; several rebelions Of greater or less
magnitude had 10 be suppressed IN various parts
of the country; and finally came the Sa'suma re-
bellon Of 1877. which for the greater part Of a
wear demanded the whole energies Of the Imperial
forces Tor its suppression. Throughout the greater
part of this trying period Count Okuma was the
Finance Minister. At one time the paper currency
was from 30 TO 50 per cent below par as com
pared with silver but when all the difficulties o.
the country are considered the wonder is that the
depreciation not greater.
In 1851 Count Okuma suddenly resigned his
seat in the Cabinet. and was followed into pri
vate life By a considerable number Of officials. II
was understood that he took this serious step be-
cause Of his dissatisfaction with the measures OF
the date for the first meeting Of the Representa-
ton lie was believed 10 object specifically 10
the date for the first meeting Of tie Repre- scnt!-
tive Assembly. 1889, as being too remote II
NAV have been that the discomfort of some OF MS
colleagues with his financial administration
FASTENED this step In 1880 and 1851 japanese
finance was at its lowest. and after Count Okumas
resignation it began 10 improve. 50 that at the
beginning Of last year the paper currency was
made redeemable at par. This was due, no doubt,
10 the effect Of Count Okurna's own measures as
we'll as 10 those Of his Count Matsueata
Since 1881 Count Okuma, though taking no
an opponent of the Government. party, call
inc itself the Liberal party, OF which his adhcr
cnts were the principal members, was formed,
ond one of the ablest journals in Japan cstab
lished 20 a1vOcatc IFS views. Nhcn thc new or