The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-10-18
Count 0kuna, Leading Plblicist Of
the Realm.
the nERElD Of POPULAR RULE
Release From Covernnent BY Clan Career
and Home Life Of the In.
teresting Premier.

-
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 trihe 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 kifell Of the govern
ment OF the clans was sounded, and
Japan now enjoys the comparative
freedom of party rule. 1t 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.
In order to thoroughly understand
the situation 1t is first necessary to
take 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 ali the
important government positions have
been filled by representatives or the
two famous clans.
Japan suffered long and patiently I'M
der this yoke of clan government, but
finally the clamoring of the people Tor
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-connd-
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
IL. The liberals and the progressives
the two leading parties. were always
at loggerheads, but on 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 q 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 othel
cabinet ministers. Marquis Ito, him
self a man of keen and far-sightet
Judgment, had previously urged tn
necessity of changing policy that hel'
aloof from political parties. But h
met with no support, SO he resigned
and in doing so he recommended to tn
emperor as his successor Count Okuma
The emperor summoned Counts Oku
ma and Itagaki to the court, and the!
were intrusted with the task OF a cab
met formation, with the result tina
Okuma accepted the premiership AM
at the same time became minister
foreign affairs. The change In tn
ministry was at once announced ant
went into effect at once.
This very thing was predicted by tn
late John A. Cockerill in 1895, when h
was the Herald's special commissions
in Japan. In one of his letters MI
Cockerill said, in speaking OF Coun
Okuma: without ever having Sc
foot outside of Japan, and without un
Outstanding word OF a foreign Ian
guage, he seems to have grasped IN
genius Of his own country and the spir
il of the age more fully than any othe
citizen of Japan with whom i have we
conyersed He Is a great force today
although retired from all active politi
cal life and public service. 1t Is tn
universal belief that should this wa
result in a political revulsion, as nov
seems more than probable, he wi
succeed Viscount Mutsu in the foreig
Office, and he may even be lifted Int
the premiership, now held by Coun
Ito. This much is hoped for by tn
vast party behind him."
Count Okuma is native OF Hizen,
province OF Kyusyu Island, and Is near
ly sixty years old. But he still call
himself young man. His father wa
one of the Hizen clan, but was no
blessed with an abundance or thi
worlds goods. Meager as his oppor
tunities were, Okuma never neglecte
an opportunity to cultivate the emf
nent scholars and leading men OF HI
time, and he learned to take deep In
terest in the affairs Of his country.
In 1877 the Saigo rebellion too
place, and following that the nation
finances became exceedingly disorder
ed. 1t was then that he was appoint
ed minister Of finance, and demonstra'
ed his keen judgment in matters
state. He later found himself at tn
head OF the foreign office.
In 1890 he had almost carried I
completion treaty with Great Britain
He had been vigorously opposed b
some zealots Of the aggressive schoo