The herald., 1895-05-31
EVENTS IN ORIENTAL LANDS
A Proclamation of the MikadO
of Much Import
TRUE POSITION OF AFFAIRS
The Japanese Get an Insight Into What
Is Going On
All viii Not Be Pleasant for the 1inistry in
the Kingdom of the Little
Brown Hen

10th. but not published until May 18th, at
last gives the people of Japan an insight
into the true position Of affairs and en-
ables them to open investigation on their
own account, the eagerness and energy
of which will presently bring all hidden
facts to light. Criticism can never be
! directed against an edict issued IN the
sovereign's name, but events which the
document records may be considered
apart from the recital in particular form
and will be discussed with view to as
ccrtaining the exact responsibility of the
leading ministers of state and with the
| purpose of holding them to strict account
/ for occurrences which are pronouncei
disohnorable to the dignity and prestige
of the nation. There can be no mistak-
ing the depth this intensity of the popu-
lar feeling has reached. The angry ex-
ctement of the multitude recalls the ex-
perences OF six years ago when the ma
tion showed for the first time IN its his :
tory, what it was capable OF in an ex-
cess of blind pass ION.
In the summer of 1889 Count Okum a,
as miniser OF foreign affairs, was the idol
of the community. He was supposed to
have settled the vexed question of treaty
revision on terms advantageous to the
empire, and was honoreu accordingly. In
the autumn of the same year his country
men fancied that they had detected flaw
in his negotiations by which the national
independence was endangered. They
turned upon him with such fury as to
| overthrow his administration. While
| the agitation was at its height Count
| Okuma was attacked by an assassin OF
| the stamp OF the fanatic who shot LII
| Hung Chang and was crippled for life.
| Yet the accusation then leveled against
the ministry OF which Okuma was the lead
ing spirit was as nothing compared with
| the arraignment which awaits Count
| Ito's cabinet The ground of offense in
| Okuma's case was tnat he proposed to
introduce foreign Judges for a limited
period into the highest japanese tribu-
mails. Ito will be charged with treachery,
cowardice and conni7ance in the disgrace
of the empire. His manifold services to
the state and his industrious labors
throughout the war will be wholly lost
sight of and nothing remembered but
his failure to assert the territorial claims
of Japan in defiance OF the peremptory
commands of the three great European
| powers. The conclusion drawn BY all
who know the position OF affairs is that.
inasmuch as the administration of 1883
was thrown out in consequence OF an IN
discretion which the people exaggerated
| IL TO u crime, tHc pltseHb - @
hundred times more surely doomed
since the allegations will, in this case, be
infinitely harsher and severer. 1t is the
expectation of the whole official class
that the prime minister will resign his
office before the various political organi-
zation have time to consolidate against
him. The recognition by intelligent men
of the power of the people to shape the
destinies OF the administration is one OF
the most singular social developments
of modern japan.
Fifty years age the country was ruled
by an aristocracy which took no more
heed of the populace than if the latter
had been animals Twent-hve years ago
when the control of the government
passed into the hands OF an oligarcby-of
whom Count Ito soon rose to be "ne-the
masses were still considered as having no
voice in the state. But the attempt to
introduce democratic institutions has
been followed by results which advocates
of the constitutional system never an
tcipated. The PEOPLE have not only
taken what was offered them. but have
grasped at infinitely more. until now. in
extremity, they find themselves endowed
with strength TO destroy ministries II
such is their pleasure. 1t always has
been said hy certain number of conser-
vatives that the encroachments of the
multitude could be kept in check by a
firm and resolute government but since
the esta blishment of parliament no cab
met has ventured to oppose the popular
Will by force. The present cabinet is
least of all likely to tako so vigorous a
stand. 1t does not now appear that the
abandonment of the Manchurian territory
will be lamented by the Japanese for any
length OF time. After the hrst fit OF irrl-
tation is over they will probably realize
that the possession of Shing King
province would have been pecunlaTy
| burden and the cause of permanent
anxiety. What they cannot forgive is the
alleged negligence OF the government in
| failing to ascertain in advance whether
the ACQUISITION could or could not be re-
tained They entirely overlook the efforts
which unquestionahly were made to elicit
the views of European powers, because
these efforts were unsuccessful. They
furthermore aver that the ministry failed
to maintain the dignity of the nation
throughout the negotiations with Russia,
France and Germany. First, by yielding
prematurely when much might nave been
gained by prolonged diplomatic endeav-
ors to better the situation; next, by tell
dering proposal which was sure to be
rejected by the league and which had to
be followed by additional humiliation.
and finally by accepting defeat without
striving to secure alternative advantages
that should compensate for the lnevita-
bic sacrifice.
The fact that they are as yet totally ig-
uOraut of the circum stances under which
the ministers were constrained to act
does not in the least deter the angry crit
les from lavshing invectives on every
one supposed to be accountable for what
they call the betrayal Of the nation. One
of their bitterest of com plants, indeed
is the ignorance III which they w r. Kept
from the beginning to the end. 1t is quite
true that very extreme measures were
adopted to prevent the dissemination OF
the news. During the period OF mystery
no less than forty-iive Journals were sus-
pended for attempting to- throw llght on
the forbidden subject. Some OF these
were friendly to the administration and
one was an official organ. The authorities
declare that but for these precautions.
disordery parts of the community might
have been melted to reckless demonstra-
tions and acts of violence against prom
inent representatives of three allied coun-
tries, and that 1T was their duty to use
every agency at their command to prevent
dangers of this description. There is no
denying thai many of the newspapers IN
Japan can put in any amount OF mis-
| chief If allowed to have their way. The
government is evidently in earnest i'll its
| determination to insure the safety OF Tor"
eigners, not only those who may be OBJ
jects of dislike. but the entire body OF
| aliens. The police are constantly on the
alert, and if their eXertions should not
| prove su tficient for every emergency,
other resources would be invoked. The
| precautions are probably in excess OF
what is really needful. A frcnzied fanatic
may cause trouble by faacylng himself