Evening star., 1898-12-13

that the cabinet was not a unanimous one,
but composed of two parties, who, although
combined together to defeat the clan gov
! ernment and to turn it out Of office, were as
much opposed to each other as the clan
government was opposed to them.
Republican Suggestion.
And this state of Things became the more
apparent as the time approached for the
meeting of the diet. when an explanation
might and probably would be demanded as
to the real state of the finances of the
country, when the fight between the two
parties of which the cabinet is composed
might be expected to be renewed. In the
meantime the minister for education, Ozaki
Yukio, very able man, and one who was
not likely to say anything which was in
tended to ln1ure the CABINET, mucn less 10
offend the emperor. who he has SO faith
fully served throughout his most prosper
Gus career, in a speech delivered in an un-
ofnCial capacity. referred in the most vague
terms to the possibility at some very dis
tant me and under very altered conditions
OF Japan adopting some form of republican
government. BY some means or other-for
| feel sure that the emperor, had he had
the real words of that discourse put clearly
before him, would not have noticed the
matter-ths was so magnified that the en-
perOr commanded the minister for educa
tiOn to send in his resignation. AS the re-
firing minister was a member of the liberal
party. Count Itagaki desired that liberal
should be appointed in his place; but Count
Okuma. in his poSitiCl prime minister,
insisted on his right to appoint successor
which he did in spite of t4le remonstranceS
Of Count Itagaki and his supporters in the
Cabiact. This appointment Count Chuma
persuaded the emperor to confirm; but it
proved to be the straning point between
the two Tart es of which the cabiaet is m
posed for upon its confirmation Count 1ta-
gah and his confreres sent in their resig-
nation.
The DOshiShn Question.
1t is possible that the part which Count
Okuma played in this affair is to some con-
siderable degree connected with the Doshi
sha question. which is now causing consid
cradle unpleasantness between the religious
bodies in the United States and the Japa-
rese trustees of the DoshiSha The Do
shisha College. founded in KyOto mainly by
funds contributed, either directly or irdi-
TCcuy. by Christians in the United States.
has already been and is still said to be
Christian institution. but in order that it
may enjoy certain privileges which the Jap
anese government has granted to other in
stitutioEs Of its kind, the trustees have
lately ceased to CI enly profess that the
fUnda ms ntal principles on which the inSti
tuition are based are Christian. The conse-
quence is that the American commissioners
have sent out d representative to Japan, to
enforce their rights, and, as Count Okuma
has for lOEg time been closely connected
with the Doshisha, contributed toward its
foundation ana support ard, unOfcally,
used his best efforts 10 bring about a sat
iSfactory settlement of this most unplcas-
ant affair. which may develop into a serious
one between the United States and Japan,
he may have felt it his duty to insist upon
the appointment of a minister to the de-
partment of education who would assist
him in bringing about an amiCable settle
ment of this unpleasant business.
Long Struggle Negatived.
Nevertheless, it seems a comparatively
insignificant affair to bring about the res
ignation of a cabinet, and the more espe-
cially when that cabinet had been
brought into existence, after ten years of
hard toll and combat to free the country
from irresponsible cian rule and to place
the affairs of the empire in the hands of en-
Hghtened and responsible representatives of
the people Rather would it appear that
this paltry affair has been made the excuse
Tor these elected representatives of the peo-
pie from being forced to the ignominy of
confesSlnS to their constituents and with
them the nation the utter rOttennesS of the
hnanceS of the country: and the more ap-
parent is this when Count Okuma has ten
dered his resignation Immediately after
the resignation of Count ltagaki and his
cCnfreres. We are therefore, face to face
with the ridiculous farce of seeing the
japanese work for nearly ten years to OBJ
tam government composed entirely of
men elected or chosen by the people and
when they have gained their object and
such cabinet is actually formed and sup
ported by large majority of the people,
flndinG II collapse and surrender back again
Its power to the old clan rule simply and
apparently solely because it's two chiefs
cannot come to terms as to who shall be
the minister of education.
Foreign Complications
In the face of this what will Europeans
think about the new treaties, which have
been sanctioned by foreign powers. to be
put into force next year? For nearly forty
years the Japanese have fought for the
abolition Cf the old treaties and have done
everything that was asked Of them in order
TO get them altered. But when the time
comes To put them aside and to adoDt the
new laws and regulations which they have
bten framing Tor many years past. they will
appear very conspicuous, if not ridiculous
IN the eyes of Europeans. But with such a
someTsault as tn-s of the first elected
peoples cabinet, and its handing back the
powers of government before it has faced
the diet, through which it was supposed to
hold offices. there may be some vague hone
10 US foreigners residing in Japan that Just
a. the last moment the responsible officers
of the government Will feel their inability
to carry the respon sibility which the new
treaties viii impose on them, and that they
Will leave us as we at the present,
under the control and jurisdiction of the
laws of the countries to which we own
allegiance. And if they do it will be the
Wisest step they have taken and the most
profitable one to them they have taken
since they came into contact with foreign
powers. Nous Verrons.
THOS. HOLYOAKE BOX
GREAT FALLS BILL KILLED.