The morning call., 1890-12-21
THE FIRST CONGRESS- OF JAPAN.

The formal Inauguration of the Congress
of Japan, which took llace on November
Goth, is the most important event of the
day. There has never been, in modern
times, successful instance of the establish
ment In an Asiatic country of the institu-
tons on which a representative government
rests. An attempt was made some years
ago to plant representative body in Egypt;
but when it was explained that the successful
working of a pa Elementary regime required
the coworkipg of an opposition party as
well as an administration party, not one of
the Egyptians was willing to place himself
in open opposition TO the Government, and
the experiment was abandoned. Indeed, in
countries outside of Asia and Africa. where
the people had not been previously educated
by local self-goyernment, 1t has been found
impossible to Undue national representation
with healthy life. Throughout Latin
America, the election of members of ma
tional congresses is TO this day a farce.
Outside of the United States, Great Britain
and its colonies. France, Germany, Italy,
Holland and Belgium, there is 10 real
representative government anywhere In the
world.
This does not imply that no such Govern
ment shall ever exist outside OF these coun-
tries. The world moves. and men learn as
they live. France has made wonderful prog
ress since the States General met to register
the DEGREES of the King. Spain is slowly
learning that the citizens first duty is to
take part in public business. And from the
Jal anese press it appears that the japanese
people are resolved to give their new par
liamentary system fair trial.
To the American observer it seems that
fha,- k,, ID ,t,air zoe II 1,ar
need have been by borrowing from the
feudal system features which are being dis
caIded by enlightened nations. Orders Of
nobility are falling into diseredit wherever
intelligence is making Roadway in Europe
and property qualifications are being dis
carded on ali sides. The royal prerogative
is being abolished or abridged. Americans
cannot understand Why the Japanese adopted
these relics of the ancient regime, unless
they felt that they ought to proceed gradu-
ally, step by step, and not 10 shock the feel
insS of the people by transition at single
bound from ali autocratic despotism to a
democratic republic. The calculation will
probably prove erroneous. Political changes
are never gradual. One extreme follows an
,, other. No people ever wants 10 wait for a
boon which it is hidden TO expect at some
future period. If it is good 10 have at all,
people Want it at once.
The working of the new parliamentary
regime will possess intense interest for the
political student. Unlike other Asatics,
the japanese are highly educated people.
Their learning is not like that of the Chi
nese, which is a thing of words and phrases
and Intellectual platitudes. In Japan the
modern sciences are studied, and the lessons
of history thoroughly conned, while the
standard works of law and philosophy are
| familiar and the use of the newspaper press
| is understood. The political revolution
through which the country is passing is
complicated by religious controversies.
| Three parties are contending for supremacy
| in matters ecclesiastical: Buddhists, who
comprise tile great mass of the common
people; Christian converts, who are numer-
| Gus in cities. and indfferentists, who are
| agnostics. and include in their number
many of the leading minds Of the
| empire. The first named would be
| quite willing to revive the prosecutions Of
Christians. and would have demonstrated
some time ago but for the restraining hand
OF the Emperor; WHILE on the other hand,
the missionaries, who believe that Christi
anity and representative government should
90 hand in hand, have been indiscreet in
announcing the coming conversion of the
| whole people of Japan. Between these
two, the court party and the leading pub
| lcists interpose as mediators and preservers
of the peace.