New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-10
POLITICAL CHANGES ~ JAPAN.

Japoncse politics is always OF interest 10
this country for various reasons one. IN" tact
that the United states opened japan ana
thus started her on her marvellous career "i
progress Another. that Japan has so rapihy
advanced In all the ways of modern clvlil2atl 'h
presenting n spectacle unique in the history 81
the world third. that particularly intimate
and friendly relations are mainain"l between
the two nations and hid fair to h. maintained
and strengthened 70 these are now added
others that through treaty revision Japan *
about 10 enter upon n new era In her relations
with tho rest Of the world. that this months
general elections will mark the greatest po-
Htical change in Japan since constitutional gov
crnrncnt WAS established. and that Mr.. Toru
Hoshi well known as tho Japanese Minister
In this country. has gone home 10 enter The
Cabinet rs Secretary Of State for Foreign AZ
fairs. and thus to play leading part In the
mornentous changes now impending in the af-
fairs OF the island empire and Of all that part
of the world.
The political revolution which Is about TO he
effected In Japan is comparable with. and the
natural sequence Of that Of 1865 though II viii
be pcaccfu and not violent. In that former
revolution feudasm was ovcrihrown. the anon
alous ShogInate was abolished. and the true
national and imperial system was established.
This was done largely through the initiative OF
the two great clans OF Satsuma and Choshlu.
which furnished the foremost soldiers and
statesmen of that era and have ever since excr-
cised controlling influence over the Govern
mcnt. Down to the present time The success
sivc Ministries have been organized by those
clans few members OF the chief Parliamentary
parties being admitted 10 them to secure the
support Of those parties. All have thus been. TO
n greater or less degree, coalition Ministries.
The change now impending will abolish clan
government. just as that Of thirty years ngo
abolished ldamlo feudalisn. and will substitute
for It government by party. closely resembling
that OF Great Britain.
The crisis was brought about I'm this fashion
Last year the Matsukata Cabinet was defeated
on n question Of finance. and was succeeded by
one under Marquis Ito. The latter maintained
cordial relations with the Liberal party for
time. until the rroCressIvcs began an agitation
against the Ministry because Of It's alleged In
active policy. Then the Liberals demanded the
appointment OF m least one Of their number 10
a place in the Cabinet rs the price Of their con-
tinued support This tho Ministry refused 10
grant the Liberals went over 10 the Opposition,
the Government was defeated on lis proposal
to increase the land tax by 31O00VOo ycn and
Parliament was dissolved and new election
ordered 1t Is recognized all around that the
new Parliament will I've divided chiefly Into two
major parties. and that the Ministry VIII be
formed from the ranks Of tho stronger OF the
two thus establishing straight party govern
ment for tho first time in japan.
The experiment will be watched with much
interest though of It's success there Is little
room for doubt. The advantages of party gov
eminent are clearly seen in Great Britain. where
that system has long prevailed in It's most per
feet development. and the evils OF the lack or
it are equally evident in France Germany, Aus
tria and Italy. where ninccnihs Of the poliil-
cal troubles have for years been due to the alb
scncc Of coherent and stable Government
party Japan has shown so great readiness ana
ability in adopting European and American
methods that there IS little doubt that she
will execute this reform in n satisfactory ana
benencent manner.