New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
JAPAN'S CABINET CHANGES.
THE FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPT TO
MAINTAIN PARTY GOVERNMENT

Japan IL giving the world a proof says a corre
spondent from Toxic Of the "Berliner Ts geblatt.
that even a monarchcal country land nowhere Is
the devotion to the ruling house stronger than IN
Japan may suffer from the same lack OF stability
end continuity OF government as that to when
France has been subjected for some years. In the
last ten months three Cabinets differently consti-
tuted except so far as the War and Naval MIN
listers concerned. have resigned; no fewer
than five Minis .ers Of Pubic Instruction have had
opportunity to take part in the pressing question
OF school organization. The causes OF these rapid
changes II is not necessary to report ut length
Only because the japanese believe that they nave
made an essential step In advance In the matter
of constitutional government Is 1t worth while to
observe the causes at work ir the development OF
this the youngest Of constitutional governments
The japanese politicians were congratuiating
themselves with naive selfsatisaction about three
months ago. because they had succeeded quickly
and easily in establishing party government after
the English model while previously the Govern
ment had been In the hands Of the Court ana Gov
eli ment func,ionaries and their supporters The
Parliamentary party that suddenly became pos
sessed OF the power to govern was formed by
fusion of the Liberal AMI Radical factions The
platform which they united was purely mega
tive one: Away with the statesmen OF the two
governing clans OF Satsuma and Choshia. and BAL
ance the budget without an increase OF land taxes
But before the first session OF the so-calleo faf-
liamentary Government began. the union party had
split again into its original elements and first ons
and then the other half Of the Ministry resigned.
The Emperor has again summoned to power the
old statesmen Of the period OF transition from
feudal times Marquis Ito has had TO interrupt his
tour OF inspection through China to exrrlcate the
Government from it's difficulties. On his decision
the immediate future OF Japan rests.
The explanation of this speedy disillusoning OF
the advocates Of party government lies In the fact
that there is and be In Japan, at present, no
NJ Ia al
tempt AT party government In Japan Is therefore,
limited the expulsion OF the higher orcias from
their places and their replacement by unframed
partisans mostly lawyers and Journalists ms
the fiat OF the Emperor. From all other places OF
the Government service, however the jill onlill-
DO" the most prominent independent newspaper OF
Japan. demanded 1trenuousiy the summary, ie
moval Of all officials that they might he replaced
by adherents of the ruling party -.
But there in Japan forces stronger than the
party that comes out victorious. An expression
uttered bv the extremely competent Minister OF
public Instruction Mr. Osaki in itself entirely In
nocent, delivered in the course or speech pelore
the General japanese School Union, aroused tns
Emperor's dispeasure. He had MT Osah INFORMED
that he was awaiting his resignation MS SUE
cessor Mr. Inugai. confirmed by the emperor
But the Liberal Ministers were not satsned WIN
him and when they declared in answer to an I'M
Emperor demanded their designations. AT present
therefore Japan has only two firmly established
Minlsters-those OF War and the Navy, "a
the new Ministry Will be formed without me au.
vice OF the retiring Premier Thereby precedeht
is established which makes it evident tnat Japan an
has not a parliamentary form or govertinent az
recently seemed to be the case but a rnonarchlcal
That is the final result OF the three enaheTS ~
that have taken place in the year which has JUST
Closed.