Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27
Japan.s Mindsterial 'Chanees.

The latest upturning in Japanese min
isterial circles does not concern the United
States in the least. That country has
formally declared that she has no obiec-
tons to the annexation of Hawaii by this
government. asking only that her treaty
rights be preserved and hoping doubtless
to secure material advantages in the way
of trade concessions and immigration priv
!leges in the union of the two republics
The Japanese are deeply concerned over
affairs that are close at hand. The situa-
ton at their very doors is indeed alarming.
They see the European powers creeping in
upon them, surrounding them with forti-
fled ports and threatening them with the
absorption of ali China. In such a state
of affairs the item of Hawaiis future is
OF very small moment to the cabinet at
Tokyo. 1t will be seen from the dispatches
that the strife between the ruling class
constituting the ministries of one admin
1stration after another. and the legislative
BODY, is again acute. 1t is believed that
the war with China was precipitated by
the ministry then in power to prevent a
legislative crisis that might have led to
more serious results That war gave the
people one common rallying cry and drew
sentiment to focus for the preservation
OF the national honor The conflict be-
tween the ministry and the legislature IL
of long standing and will doubtless re-
main persistent cause for frequent
changes in the cabinet of the government
with perhaps al occasional furry of pa
triotic pride to distract the attention of
the common people and their representa-
tives in the diet. The action of the en-
peror in proroguing the diet Immediately
after it convened indicates that the min
isterial party feared defeat in that body
Indeed the dispatches state that the oppi-
sitioa had combined with a sufficient
ST. ength to declare lack of confidence in
the administration. 1t IS possible that re-
cent history will repeat itself Japan has
good cause for going to war at present,
but she will have a more powerful foe to
combat than China. The natural trend of
affairs would produce an alliance between
her and England. upon whose attitude
much now seems to depend. With England
cooperating with Japan against Russia
and Germany an interesting conflict would
result. not at all one-sided in view of the
prcponderance of the Japanese and Brit
ish naval forces now in tine Chinese waters
and of Japan's strong army, by means of
which material advantages could be gained
III tLt early Stages III lUe campaign. SC
far as the change in the ministry indicates
that the government at Tokyo is being
pressed by popular sentiment, it is in order
to look for further developments in the
international situation. Inasmuch as Japan
has deliberately sought one war for purely
domestic reasons it is not at all unreason-
able to anticipate that she may now seek
another, If the people are growing i'm
/ patienl ".t;i tt.a:eir fuieFs. the JAPANESE
people were convinced at the close of the
war with China that they could whip the
Russians in Asia, and one OF the causes OF
| the voluntary and temporary retirement
of Ito from power the strong popular
resentment aroused against him by his
yielding to Russia in the matter of Japan's
| retention Of Port Arthur. The japanese
opii ion of the national power has not been
diminished by the wonderful army and
navy Development which has been accom-
plished by the island empire since the
war with China ended.