The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-10-14
Count 0lVna, Leading Publcist Of
the Realm.
the HERALD Of POPULAR RULE
release From Coverueest BY Cias- Career
ssd Nome Life Of the 10.
terestias Premier.

A new figure has sprung into the
political arena of the worlds nations
the figure of little Jap, with one leg, |
says one Of the leading papers Of the |
States. He is Count Shigenobu Oku-
ma, the new premier Of Japan, and
what he lacks in a physical sense is
more than made up in those mental
qualities which have won for him the
respect and admiration Of his people.
1t is safe to say that no foreign power
will attempt to tritie with little Okuma.
What Ii Hung Chang is to China
Count Okuma is to Japan, and more.
for he represents the people Of Japan.
In his recent elevation to the PREMIER
ship the death knell Of the govern
ment Of the clans was sounded, and
Japan now enjoys the comparative
freedom of party rule. II Is really a
revolution in japanese politics, and the
people are assured of representation.
Count Okuma Is the father OF the re-
formation. He has had ample expert
ence in the past as minister of finance
and minister OF foreign affairs.
lin order to thoroughly understand
I. . situation it is first necessary to
sake a brief survey of Japanese poll
tics. For the last thirty years Japan
has been ruled by the ministry COM
posed of the mobiles Of Satsum and
Choshu. There were times when Tosa
and Hizena men were members OF the
cabinet, but the latter were gradually
frozen out, and of recent years all the
important government positions have
been filled by representatives of the
two famous clans.
Japan suffered long and patiently I'M
der this yoke of clan government, but
finally the clamoring Of the people for
a change resulted in the establishment
Of the diet in 1890, and at once 1t be-
came the mouthpiece of the peoples
discomfort. An address to the throne
charging the government with misad-
ministration or vote Of non-confid-
ence in the reigning ministry or the
rejection of an important government
measure became the usual feature OF
the diet.
The government would reply with
either suspension or dissolution. The
clan government managed to continue
its existence, as there were no politi-
cal parties strong enough to overthrow
1t. The liberals and the progressives,
the two leading parties, were always
at loggerheads, but on a recent meas
ure involving taxations they united
their forces.
The leaders of the two parties, Count
Okuma and Count Itagaki, got togeth-
err, and as d result the great popular
party under the name of "Kensei-to.
or constitutional party, was born. The
Inauguration ceremonies OF the new
party were conducted on June %.
As a result of this Marquis Ito re-
signed the premiership, and his ex-
ample was followed by all the other
cabinet ministers. Marquis Ito, him
self a man of keen and far-sighted
Judgment, had previously urged ths
necessity of changing policy that held
aloof from political parties. But nc
met with no support, SO he resigned
and In doing SO he recommended to the
emperor as his successor Count Okuma
The emperor summoned Counts Oku
ma and Itagaki to the court, and they
were intrusted with the task Of a cab
met formation, with the result thai
Okuma accepted the premiership ant
at the same tlhe ueeaine "'"','''
foreign affairs. The change IN I'M
ministry was at once announced AM
went into erect at once.
This very thing was predicted py IN
late John A. CocKeriil IN 1850, Wheh ~
was the Heraids speciai commlssion s.
in Japan. In one OF MS letters MI
Cockerill said, IN speaking OF Coun
Okuma: without ever having Sc
foot outside OF Japan anu Without w
Outstanding WORD OF a foreign ian
guage, he seems to nave graspea IN
genius OF his own country ana the spil
1t OF the age more iuiiy thah any o'ne
citizen OF japan Win whoni nav se
conversed' ne Is great io,oe .oi
although retired from an ae'iye poi.,'
cal lie ana pubic service, w
universal pehei that shouiu TINS wa
result In poiiticai reVuis,oh' as No,
seems more thah proDapie' ne W..
succeed Vlscouht Mutsu III 'me io'els
office, and ne may even pe nileu an.
the premiership now heiu Ny oouu
Ito. This much Is hoped ior ny u
vast party behind MIN.
Count okuma Is native vi men,