The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-07
THE FERMENT IN JAPAN.

The next steamer from Japan will bring
news of the progress of the electoral cam
paign in that empire. 1t is the most i'm
pOrtant that has taken place since japan
adopted representative institutions. The
new Parliament will probably be convened
early this month.
a retrospect is necessary TO understand
the situation. The first actual collision be-
tween the Government and the Diet too K
place in November, 1892. when the latter
refused TO vote the supplies. The Em-
peror prorogued the Parliament, negoti-
atoms enSued and the body reassembled
on February o. 1898. 1t remained in
session for four or five weeks and adj
journed without settling any Of the ques-
tiOns in dispute. 1t was convoked again
on November o. but the Government and
the Diet being as far from agreeing as
ever, it was again prorogued to January
II of this year. On its rsassembling, it
being evident that no change Of mind had
occurred among the delegates. 1t was
dissolved by the Emperor and new cleo
ton ordered. 1t is the Parliament chosen
at that election which will meet this month.
A number of questions are in dispute.
but of these only two are of commanding
importance. At present the Government
is mainly in the hands of the old powerful
clans OF Satsuma and Shoshiu. The men,
bers of the other clans insist on sharing
power with these dominant descendants of
the old Dsimjos. But the chief bone of
contention is the citations of Japan with
the foreign world. The opponents OF for
eigners include Japanese who would resort
to the old policy Of isolation. and likewise
more moderate men who would be content
with denying to foreigners the right to
hold land and to settle among the JAP
anese in the interior. The Emperor OPP
poses the anti-foreign movement. In a
speech delivered to the Diet last year Mr.
Mutsu. the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
ascribed the recent progress of Japan 10
the steadfast policy OF the Emperor in
promoting intercourse with foreign nations.
and characterized the present cry of Japan
for the japanese" as a policy incompatible
with the national and fundamental pro-
gramme of opening the country as fol-
lowed ever since the restoration of the
Mikado.
The party which promises to be DOM
inant IN the new Diet is the National
Union party, which believes in the exclu-
sicn of foreign mercantile firms and for
eign steamship lines from Japan. and.
while approving a liberal treaty policy,
holds that the time has not yet come to
open the country to immigration or to
sanction mixed settlements. II does not
appear thatithis party demands the expul-
sion OF foreigners from Yokohama or
Kobe, but ii askssthat they remain in the
foreign settlements, and be debarred from
forming mixed settlements In the interior.
At the head Of this party is the distin-
guished statesman and scholar, Mr..
Inouye. who is well known in this coun-
try. He says that the fate Of India i'm
ponds over Japan If mixed settlements
are tolerated, and he quotes an opinion of
Bismarck to the effect that it is too soon
to open Japan to promiscuous foreign i'm
migration by at least fifty years. Which
ever party carries the day in the Diet 1t is
plain that foreigners in Japan are going 20
have an unpleasant experi ence.