New-York tribune., 1902-07-21
THE RISE OF MARQUIS ITO
STORY OF THE FORMATION OF THE CON-
sTITUTIoNAL PARTY IN JAPAN

Grom an Occasional Correspondent of The Tribune)
Toxic. June TO-
The two great political leaders of Japan. Mar
quis Ito and Count Okuma, have addressed
their parties in view of the general elections
In August next; and if 1 to explain what
lhose parties and those leaders mean and what
makes their difference, some retrospective in
formation will surely be permitted. Nothing
perpleXes much a visitor to Japan, who has
a desire to understand this nation. her par
ties. l have known men of uncommon keen
ness either give up the problem as unsolvable
or decide that to name Conservatives and Lib
erals in Japan is TO employ expressions devoid
of sense. The following instance-not a fiction
is interesting. An Intelligent foreigner
called on Marquis Ito, had a conversation
constitutional theories, and wrote in his note
book: THE leader of the constitutional party
stated his adherence of the system which re-
duces the government to be the executive COM
mittee of parliamentary majority. He has
called it intolerable usurpation of the SOW
ereign's rights. He Furthermore denies to Par
lament the privilege of intervening in the
States foreign policy. He considers parlla-
mentary opposition by means of the Budget an
unmitgated evil. He is undoubtedly strong
Conservative After his next meeting with
the same statesman he wrote: The aforemen-
toned leader explained why he shaped the
upper mouse with a mixture OF hereditary
members, crown nominees and high census rep
resentatives. He has unfolded to-day principles
quite democratic. He has also used strong lam
guage when speaking of the ancient lords of
the land, who, with few exceptions. are unedu-
Gated TO and intellectually unfit for political
life He is certainly Liberal and not a Con-
serNatNe. The last minute in the memoran-
dunn book is this: said goodby to Marquis Ito
His eXcellency is neither a Conservative nor
Liberal; he is extreme Radical. His words
were: Nothing has been accomplished in COM
parison to what has TO be done in Japan. The
mind Of the nation has not yet been civilized.
The people have not the business instinct The
Conservatives are responsible for the theoreti-
cal incapacity and the practical inability of the
japanese Everything of old Japan must be
uprooted:' member of the French convention
remoulding old France could not have spoken
with greater energy" The same experience in
inverted direction occurred with the leader of
the Progressists Count Okuma at first a
stanch Liberal with radical propensties, be-
came, in the succeeding conversations, a Con-
servative with even a tinge of reaction The
Intelligent foreigner" utterly bewildered, re-
nounced the idea Of writing about japanese
home politics.
Yet, simply and truly to state the problem is
TO solve it. Base it, not upon the introduction
of Western civilization (the aspect which at
tion of indigenous civilization (Which is the alb
sorbing aspect for the Japanese) and 1 believe
you secure the Ariadne's thread to venture
safely into the labyrinth OF Japanese parties.
The struggle. under any whatever political sur
face and shape, concerns the Ethical Code. Thus
the conflict Of feelings is understood, the ap-
parent confusion of ideas dispeed: and thus
II is explained that Ito is a Conservative with
regard to political institutions because he is
ciag eff nd tS
a Liberal for political reforms because he is
Conservative with regard to social institutions.
How could the formation and the existence
of Itos Constitutional party be otherwise
riddled? Around the nucleus of his followers
for clan and personal reasons he first gathered
those conservative groups which, shocked by
what they considered political Righteousness had
resolved TO make a stand against Parliamentar-
ism and the Progressist party. He then at
tracted the Radicals, who had been the part
ners of the Progresssts in a recent administra-
tion, whose cry the Baconian in
stauratio alb imis fundamentals" whose very
name inspired disgust and horror to the Con-
servatives: and the Radical party abandoning
Count Itagaki. their leader, with flying coors
and drums beating, led by Mr.. Hoshi Toru.
went over in a compact body to Marquis Ito.
SO were amalgamated two elements seemingly
as uncom bina BILE as water and fire, working har-
moniously and commanding large majority in
the House of Commons. Does the manifesto by
which Ito less than two years ago announced
the birth explain the phenomenon? This mani
festo dvested Of phraseology and generalitles
used and acceptable by all parties. contained
three positive declarations: Strict compliance
with the principle of the constitution by which
choice and dismissal OF Cabinet ministers are
exclusive, unlimited prerOgatives of the SOW
ereign, and ministerial responsibility is abso-
lutely independent from parties and Parliament;
rocessity of reforming the administrative ma
chine by good choice of officials upon their
merits only. and for no consideration of favor
self-government. Which of these declarations
IS possessed of the charm which has enticed the
Radicals? The first one has asserted the Con-
servative gospel; the second has been warning
-useIess-to the Radicals themselves. who con-
spicuously vehement in denouncing the nepo-
tism of the clan statesmen. were conspicuous
office hunters when they came into power, par
tisans of the spos system, and sullied with
corruption and with the exercise of unscrupu-
lous pressure in party interests; the third,
truly liberal conception, was intended as an as
surance to clan feeling. faint indication OF
the compact's conditions could be traced, or
guessed, only in the documents vague appeal
in favor of the economic development of the
national life' and in a guarded assertion about
the party's object ito place the country on
sure and solid basis By the promotion of the
nations educaton";-a nation. beg TO remind
you, which. far universal elementary in
struction goes shames the majority of Western
countries
Now listen to the following short dialogue:
Marquis Ito-To screen Japan's Western evo-
luton against all possibility of reaction is the