The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-19
FROM thu Post-Intelhgencer's Special Ger
re<rsoraRrf

From thu Post-Intssngencer' Special Cor
respondent.
YOKOHAMA, Nov. ia new cabinet
vas established after en- interval Of i've
weeks following the resi- gnSsio1 OF Marquis
Ito. After TO little discussion and consul
satson Count Natzakata was appointed
minister president and financial minister
on the 18th Of September last Al his rec
o-nne1sSatlon the following ministers were
appointed, or confirmed in their former
Positions. as follows
Marquis Saigo. minister 81 nava, affairs:
count oSurna. foreign affairs: Count Ka-
oayaIna. home affairs; VsscoQnS Taxa
sailna, colonial affairs and war; yisccuHt
fenonoto. agricultural ard commercial
arasrs; Fisoount Nornura. communion
ueDs: Mr.. kiyoura. justice: Marquis Ha-
chtsuka, education.
MS $ the fourth cabinet change since
the PRONUNCIATION OF the imperial constitu-
ton AS regards Count Matsukata this Is
the second time he has been called upon
10 organize cabinet. Yet there is q great
contrast between the tive occasions Dur
ing his first administration Count Matsu-
kaIa was The leader in a elan government.
While this time his ministry Is, or wishes
70 oe based upon the public interests OF
japan His first cabinet was almost iso-
Ia ted and fought blindly with the combined
forces Of the Liberals and Progresslonists,
whEe now he and his colleagues are in
tending 10 face the opposition OF the LIB
erals by the aid OF the ProgresSionlsts and
others on their side.
The reconstruction OF the japanese caba-
net Is a change in the politics OF Japan that
has been evident for some time OF the
three changes advised teissraphicatlv
Count Matsukata TO be premier and minis
ter OF finance. Viscoant Takashima to Re
minister OF war. and Count OHuna 20 be
ri zfa r<
mos, important. Count Matsukata has
been known mostly TO foreigners for his
tenure OF the national finances At a pre-
vious period. Count okum g a more cen
trail figure. however, and his appointment
means more, apparently. than would sp-
pear evident at first sight. II may be
stated that he IS intensely japanese. his
patriotism extending almost 10 jlncoism.
He first came forward after the revolution
OF 1sss. and after some minor Offices be-
came minister or finance IN 1873, which post
he held TIL 1881. throughout a period, that
Is. when Japan's finances were not con-
splcuousay f'ourlshing, and satsu were at
considerable discount nearly all the time.
Resigning office, he espousAd advanced
Radicalism. and played leading. though
transformations part. To the public his at
tachment to the strong foreign policy
party was the most conspicuous. He
then again accepted Office as head OF the
ministry OF foreign affairs. and II was dur
ing his tenure OF ofi e that the revised trea-
ties with the United States and Germany
were signed. though, as IS known. they
came to no ratification. These contained
the provision for the mixed tribunals
which figured so long with the new codes
ss the piece de resistance for the abolition
OF extra territorial privileges attaching 10
the foreign treaties. The publication OF
the terms ted 10 the most vituperative ut
l. a.. a.
tempt made on his life. when the injuries
Inflicted on him by the assassin's bomb
necessitated the amputation OF one OF his
legs. HIS life for a time being IN danger.
Resignation naturally followed. and after
his recovery 10 health again he took up
his views OF RadIcalism. and so laid his
plans that the Kaishinto assembled a very
fair force when Japan's first diet was
called into being. He il believed 70 SIM
favor a strong foreign policy. and he GER
tasnly believes In foreign loans. develop
ment OF Internal trade and. above all. par
~ government on an English model His
entry into the cabinet may bring this ques-
ton OF party government. which is SO
burning IN japanese politics. more to the
front. Party government on the British
model Is what many Japanese politicians.
and none more earnestly than the new
minister OF foreign affairs. crave for; wha,
they have is administration on the Prus-
sian model. and ever since the promulga-
ton OF the constitution and the first as
semblage OF the diet the question has been
growing in intensity Though Marquis
Ito the late premier and Count okuma
had been colleagues in the same cabinet.
they had never pulled together. and 1to's
resignation seems to have been the out
come of the pressure exerted by the clique
who have now placed Okuma in a rezpon-
sibie position Of Office and power.
~rRf chs rraxf h.
personnel OF the higher grades OF the civil
service executing In cases where positions
are vacant on account OF designations or
promotions II we examine the more i'm
portant official appointments after the re-
cent cabinet change We see the following
vhsnorrena:
Mr.. Tskahashi Keno, chief secretary Of
N. cabinet. Mr.. Konuchi Tomotsune.
chief Of the legislative and pension bureaus
In ehe cabinet: Prince Kenoye, president
OF the house ~ lords; Mr.. Yokota Kunio-
mi vice minister OF justice: Mr.. Takagi
Tovoxo. chief OF the civil law bureau IN
the de-artruent Of Justice: Mr.. Yamada
Tauneakl chief Of the police service.
The Office OF chief secretary ~ the cahi-
net was formerly occupied by Baron Ito.
while those OF the head Of the legislative
and pension bureaus was Baron Suyernst-
81 a sofl-ln-law OF Marquis Ito Mr.. Taxa
hashf. ex-chief OF the oficisi Gazette bu-
rea., was recently the chief Editor OF the
Osaka asaShi Shimbun (an illustrated daily
rewsparer OF osaka. and wrote boldly
against the government during Marquis
Ifo's administration. Mr.. komuchi Is one
Of the distinguishes members OF the lower
house Prince Eonoye IL vosfng peer Of
much ability. He was e4ueated IN Ger
many. He was proposed by some as a
rou,oafe1t candidate for the portfolio Of
eass-sfion, but on account % Marquis Ha-
ehssuka's entrance into the cabinet Re Sue
eeefe~i % the marquis former position As
for Messra Tokota. TakaEi and Yamada.
- wifi be sufficient % say that they have
beer promoted as the natural result OF the
pronosion OF their predecessors
HERBERT r. BRUCE