Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-07

A
| made, and the most valuable feature,
| OF each In the minds OF the Japanese
! were Incorporated into the new oonsti-
tuition, with such notifications as were
heceSsary TO adapt them to Japanese
conditions. SO the we'll considered con-
stitution Of Japan shows many feature,
or striking similarity to American and
european governmental forms
THE IMPERIAL DIET.
Under the constitution of 1889 the en-
ministry appointed by him and rasnon-
slole to him, and an imperial diet as a
lawmaking body. The diet Ia cor
structed on European models It con-
slsts OF two houses-a house of pssra
and a house of representatives
The house of peers Is made up IN -
peculiar manner, partly by appointment
ana partly by election. All the maIa
members or the imperial family and ~
the higher orders of nobility, princes
anu inarquiseS, are entitled to seats for
lie. From the lesser nobility. CONNIE
viscounts and barons n limited numhls,,,
OF representatives IRE elected for q
term OF seven years by members OF tho
orders. In addition the emperor on
points FOR life q class of members dis
, LIE isnea Tor learning or specially
meritorious service to the state All
iinaiiy small body of the larrast
property-holdcrs In each province ~
the empire elects one representatt tive
from the district for term OF seven
',r1n,. ne present membership of the
upper house of the diet Is about 3oo
The house of Representatives Is eIect
ca by the people by secret ballot m !,
district system. All made citizens os
years and upward possessing q small
amount or property may vote for rem
80 rs9i, Ia. Inc term is four years,
ana the number of members 300
The cabinet consists of tho head, 80
Ten great executive departments. There
is also a privy council for consultation
upon the grave queetions of state. Th,
letter or the constitution declares that
the ministry shall be responsible to Tho
emperor This would give Japan a gov.
ernment of the German type in which
the ministers, although charged with
the administration of laws made nv
parliamentary and dependent upon the
representation OF the people for appro-
urintlons' are quite Independent of par
ia1ehtary FAVOR SO far as their con-
tinuance In office Is concerned. In
such government the influence of ;he
people ie quite limited, since they hova
little control over the executive Mar
quis Ito, the great japanese statesman.
whose influence was paramount In so,
curing the constitution and who hn,
oeen prime minister for n considerable
part OF the period since its promulca-
lion. championed this form of govern
nent and insisted upon the RESPONSE
pillty of the minister to the sovereign.
not to the diet.
PARTY GOVERNMENT.
But the japanese people have devel
oped rapidly an appetite for complete
self government. and gradually the
pressure OF public opinion has been
| changing the system from the German
| type to the British type, in which tho
ministers or the crown are responsible
TO the representatives of the people
| Quite recently there has appeared in tho
japanese diet a distinct party division
similar to that of England. In 1896 the
various elements In opposition to the
| then government consolidated and
since that time there have been In the
| diet government party and a unified
| opposition party. And now. within the
last year, In July. 1898 n most mo-
| mentous step in constitutional Develop
ment has been taken. a cabinet resign-
! ed because an important measure
which IT chnmpioned was defeated. This
| seems to indicate that party govern
| ment through n ministry responsible to
| the representatives OF the people has
been attained. and that the Japanese
people have thus become indeed a SIT
| governing people.
| LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
The local government of Japan is
strongly centralized IN form Tho
country is divided into forty-six pro-
vnces for administrative purposes. and
through officials of the central govern
ment. However, there are local repre-
sentative assemblies. which have a
measure OF control over local affairs
Indeed. these local assemblies antedate
the diet. for they were established with
the deliberate purpose of training the
| people I'm self government Oh n small
scale before admitting them to partic-
| lpatlon in the affairs OF the empire
IL Is the policy Of the government at
present to enlarge the powers Of local
self government just as rapidly as the
education of the people justlfies in
| creased Responsibilities
The Japanese people are striving
most earnestly TO secure for their an
| clent country the benefits or the most
approved forms of modem government
y striking Illustration OF their willing
ness to sacrifice ancient forms for more
efficient methods is afforded by the
very recent radical reform of their
whole judicial system. Most nations
are extremely reluctant to change es-
tablished customs OF judicial procedure.
our own courts afford ample evidence
OF our conservatism in this direction.
But in 1897 Japan adopted nm entirelv
new code of civil procedure. based upon
foreign methods. AS usual she pro.
ceeded cautiously. for experts have
been engaged since 1870 in formulating
the code. but after this careful consid-
eration shc has not hesitated to mako
the most sweeping changes in order to
harmonize her system OF administering
justice with the most enlightened me-
thods which she found prevailing in the
newer nations of the west.
The charge of superficality is often
/, brought against this oriental people
!, that has received so readily the i'm
PRINT OF foreign civilization. Doubtless
their eagerness to adopt the newer ci-
viliZation has betrayed them into blum