The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-19
Significance of the Marquis
lto's Coming Visit to
Petersburg.
THE MILITARY PARTY TO RULE
Japanese Statesmen Considering the
Best Means of Preventing North.
ern Encroachment.


of the Japanese Minister of State for Home
Affairs is the first untoward result brought
about by the difficulties attending work
ing alliance between the Government and
the Liberals. In Japan each Government
bill is introduced by the department i'm
mediately concerned, and its conduct
through the houses is entrusted to the
Minister of that department and his dele
gates. This session the Government sub
mitted to the lower house a measure pro-
viding special metropolitan system of
government for Toxic, and erecting the
suburban districts into separate prefec-
ture. The project aroused strong opposi-
ton among the citizens of Toxic as we'll as
among the Liberal party, and the Govern
ment finally withdrew the bill.
This alone would have greatly discred-
tied the Minister principally engaged in
compiling the measures and in CARRYING
them through the houses. But more
humiliating issue subsequently arose in
connection with bill introduced by the
Liberals for the amendment of the local
government system throughout the en-
pire. AT present the headmen of divisions,
in view of the important and responsible
functions devolving upon them, are nomi.
mated by the Central Government. Fur
ther, at the election of certain local Off
Gals the system OF scrutin de liste is fol-
lowed. The Liberals, regarding both of
these processes as opposed to the spirit of
local autonomy, introduced bill making
the position of headman elective and abol-
lshing scrutin de liste. To both changes
the d elegates of the Department of State
for Home Affairs announced at first the
Governments opposition in the lower
house ond were subsequently obliged to
withdraw their protest. The Minister of
Home Affairs finds that under such cir
cumstances his position is intolerable and
has submitted his resignation. Being one
OF the ablest statesmen Japan possesses
his secession is great blow to the Cabi-
net, especially since all ruptures between
the statesmen in office have hitherto been
carefully avoided during the Diets ses-
sion.
Rumors grow more and more persist
ent that Marquis Ito intends to visit
Petersburg so as to be present at the
coronation of the Gar on which occasion
the Emperor of Japan will be represented
by his Imperial Highness Prince
Fushimi. Should the Marquis take such
step great political significance will be
attached to it by the public, nor can there
be much doubt that his Excellency
would utilize the occasion to remove the
misconceptions that now so often threaten
the entente between Japan and her great
northern neighbor. But it is difficult to
believe that the Prime Minister will leave
Japan before the Diet rises, which will
not be until the 28th of March. In the
event of his departure political indications
now point to Count Matsukata as his sue
cessor, which would mean the restoration
OF the so-called military party" to power.
The term military party" is supposed
to signify body of statesmen radically
opposed to the system of responsible Cabi-
nets, and determined to hold in stern
check the growing power of the Diet. But
Count MatSukata does not really entertain
any views of that nature During his
leadership of the Cabinet, when the Diet
met for the first time, he came much
nearer to an understanding with the Lib
erals than was ever supposed by the gen.
eral public, and if he resumed Office now,
he would probably be found in alliance
with Count Okuma's party. the extreme
wing of the opposition and the bitterest
enemies of the Liberals. This late consid-
U
Marquis Ito's resignation before the Diet
rises. His association with the Liberals
could not have been intended to have SUCH
ephemeral duration. 1t must have been
designed to last throughout one session of
the Diet at least.
In discussing the oudgetary items re-
lating to military and naval expansion
the japanese House of Representatives
has observed great privacy. Twice its de-
bates have been held with closed doors,
but enough has transpired to afford
glimpse OF one important phase of national
policy. Debating the periods fixed by the
Government for completing its schemes of
expanded armaments the House naturally |
considered the fact that, after the compile
ton of the Siberian railway, Russia will |
be able gradually to concentrate at Vladi- |
vostock force aggregating 100000 men.
In what degree would Japan be menaced |
by such contingency, and what capacity
to meet it would she possess at the time ?
These were among the questions debated |
by the Representatives, and they arrived at |
the conclusion that. although Russia
might perhaps succeed in massing great |
army at Vladivostock, she could not DOS
sibly maintain it at such an immense dis |
lance from its base of supplies by means |
OF solitary railway. Maritime commu-
nication would be essential, and any line |
of sea communications would be exposed |
to attacks by the Japanese navy. which,
by that time. will be fully three times as
strong as the Russian squadron now as
sembled in eastern waters.
The application of the Sanyo Railway
Company to purchase the state railroad |
between Toxic and Kobe with the object
of doubling the line, altering it to the
broad gauge system and bringing the whole
main trunk line from Toxic to Simon
oseki under one management, has been re-
jected by the Government. But there can
be little doubt that the attention attracted
by this great project, coming at time |
when people recognize the unwisdom of |
employing the narrowgauge on the
numerous lines now projected, has fixed
the nations resolve to make a bold de-
parture from the narrow-gauge system.
The Japanese Government Is about to