New-York tribune., 1902-08-07
ITO AND OKUMA.
pzrNcIPLEs AND POLICIES OF THE TWO
GREAT RIVALS IN JAPANESE
POLITICS.


as soon as he had returned from Europe, in
sneech he delivered 10 the parliamentary and
-,-nfnent members Of his -Seiyu-Kai,' Mar
r,is Ito gave q new reason gainst party cabi-
nets and in favor Of the duty to support any
cabinet that had the sovereign's approval: 1t
e essential under existing international cir cuIn-
.a,ces that the government should be as strong
.s nossble. so that il may be able TO deal Uner-
-ingly with the cOuntry's foreign relations.
Those same circumstances are the premises Of
his new manifesto, issued few days ago 10
bis marty: In view of the indisputable fact that
+be focus Of international competition is stead
,,y moving toward the Pacific, where, owing TO
her geographical and historical position. Japan
&c sestined 10 play extremely important part,
consider it a matter Of great and urgent no
-,ent for our statesmen TO strive Loyalty and
,etriotcaIly for the preservation Of the prestige
which our common country has Won and for her
maintenance in the new position in which. owing
10 the turn events are now taking, she will soon
fnd herself And how TO keep pace with COM
ing events and deserve the new position? The
orlv means 10 secure progress on solid bases
are intellectual civilization and material
strength" Therefore his party's aims must
he augmentation of the material resources of
the country because "au seeming progress, all
rrogress which is incompatible with the actual
economic means Of the people is sure TO eni in
disaster" (words which remind one of the i'll
fated Guizot's 'enrichissez vous'): and, in
der 10 promote the intellectual development of
the country, the reform of the national system
Of education.
You see the transaction" was indeed bona
hde between oIigarchy and radicalisrn. and il has
not followed Hoshi Toru. wherever Hoshi Toru
is gone. 7 DO not, however. believe the infant
rnoney-getting. all intellectual modern man
viii have from the Vice Emperor" so good and
eficacioUs q nursing as he would have had from
the Great Commoner-" Not that the marquis
is less ardent in the same desire. But now that
pcuular reform has 10 reach its truly psyche
logical stage-and, therefore, has Itos clear
perception sought for himself the popular basis
i believe Ito. both from his nature and from
his past unfit for the task. The able and clever
man IN his sovereign's closet and at the confer
ence table is not a leader Of men. He has not
that which the poet defined: Est Deus in nobis;
agitante calescimus lilo" and which blends con-
vction with faith in a multitude as If one mans
soul had become the soul of all. Even those tai
eated men by whom he is surrounded follow
him rot out Of devotion and love He could
never stir the public's sympathetic emotions.
He has reen obliged TO offend too many feel
ings and to wound too many interests He has
forced reform at high pressure, and he has not
known how to anoint the pain. So Ions as the
reforms have been essentially political, the re-
formed have submitted; bys, also. with the per-
suasion that the operatior/yas a necessity, they
have hated tie operator They now enjoy the
benefit but they still dislike the benefactor.
They are happy when they can abuse him. hurt
him. pull him down They appear TO be unable
TO forget and forgive that, while some of his
feIlow-laborers who inspired enthusiasm even
IN the gentlemen knights most impoverished and
debased. were not saved from bloody graves,
he who never could move but cold, reluctant
reason, has risen higher and higher. Had ne
kent the chivalrous bearing and the chiValrous
sentiments Of those who were cut down by
chivalry the nation would not feel the same
grudge he would not be charged with simula-
ton and Discrimination, and not only with in
constancy, but with Righteousness; the adnlis-
sion Of his intellectual resources and of his po-
uticaI ability would not be naarred by suspicion
and by aversion for his character. OF this pub
lie huraor he had e sharp adnaonishnlent in June
last. when, after he had attended Hoshi Toru's
funeral, he drove 10 the palace unmindfuI OF the
custom not 10 enter other peoples anodes
straight from funeral and Of the obsolete rule
not 70 approach the imperial presence for three
days after He was assailed by a burst OF in
dignat!on which the Official assurance that ne
had obeyed the Emperors order could not allay;
and even one Of the largest and most creditable
and independent newspapers did not scruple 10
publish that ii was not Iba SotaTo alone
C9osh.'s murderer) who could braudish dagger
in broad daylight" Another would have been
oensured for the commission Of an improperly;
from Ito II seemed q crime
So far as character is concerned, Count Okuma
answers the Japanese ideal He is known to be
an innmutable friend, and, although an unfor-
giving foe 10 be incapable Of treachery; the
belief in his magnaniulity has impressed the peo-
Pies mind with admiration, as il has won re-
spect from his enemies: his boldness and energy
are credited 10 spurn all regard OF self IN the
accomplishment Of self-sufficient duty his para
mount love Of the country is trusted to face
anv danger and 10 fear 10 responsibility But
his iron viii begets obstinacy: his haughtiness
is iutoIerant Of contradiction, and causes those
who were only doubtful as TO the prudence OF
his nurposes 10 become his adversaries. He thus
Was 4 difficult and might have been danger
Gus Minister for Foreign Affairs His conception
of the greatness and Importance Of his country
& axaegerated 20 such an extent that the Italian
Minister at the time of the negotiations for
treaty. revision had 10 observe 10 his eXceLency
that his words were not those Of Japans equal
iiy with but of her superiority over tAe great
Western powers. To the Russian Minister VINO
INQUIRED what his last step would be TO attain
that revision he instantly replied. We have al
the armed forces Of the empire" Nevertheless'
count Okuna's perfect integrity in his inter
national dealings was fully recognized. he GER
tainIv is not the man to commit a breach OF
fa3,r and m answer as did the late Mr.. Mutsu,
when Minister for Foreign Affairs: i have SAID
sr hrr have not written it, Okuma's word is
sacred. nor could he ever dernean his dignity ny
recourse 10 q lie or 10 deceit. Count Okuma
has not two ethical codes, and his "Bushi-do'
applies equally 70 his countynen and to ahehs.
This ~Bushi-do'' is the source of his patriotic
pride, and his deep rooted conviction is Japanese