The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-06-01
POLITICS IN JAPAN.
Constitution Is Framed on the
Lines of Germany's.
CABINET DEPENDS ON THE LORDS

Ysmagata the One Man Able to
Control the Peers-HOuse of Repre-
sentatives Gaining In Power.
The history of the slow formation of
parties in Japanese politics, coupled as
it is with the outbreak of the present
war and the fall of Marquis Ito from
political power. forms one of the most
interesting stories of modern Japan,
says John F. Bass, the Tokyo CORE
spondent of the Chicago News.
Japans constitution is framed after
the German constitution because the
German constitution preserves to a
great degree the influence of the SOW
ereign in political life. The cabinet
under the japanese constitution looks
to the mikado and not to the house of
representatives for it's support. 1t
does not seek the favor of the people,
but the good will of the sovereign.
The infuence-indeed. the very exist
ence-of party, therefore. in the Japa-
nese parliament is due to the tendency
of the Individual to develop along mod
ern lines of government rather than
any place occupied by party by virtue
either of the institutions of the country
or the new form of governemnt
adopted.
Take the present Japanese govern
ment. 1t represents not the electoral
vote of the people. but the victory of
the two great clans of Japan. the Sat
suma and Chosiu, those clans which
were prominent in the restoration of
the power of the emperor. They rule
by virtue of their aristocracy.
The Satsuma and Chosiu clans origi-
mated in the south of Japan at the
strait of Simonoseki. The Satsuma
clan was south of the strait, the Che
stu north. The Satsuma clan produced
the great soldiers of Japan, and the
head of the clan is now Admiral Yam
amoto, minister of the navy. The
Chosiu clan produced such statesmen
as Ito and Kodama.
The house of representatives cannot
force a minister to resign that is
to say, theoretically it cannot-because
the ministry can theoretically dissolve
the house of representatives as many
times as the house fails to support it.
The cabinet seeks the favor of the SOW
ereign. AS long as it has his support
it can according to the constitution con-
tinue to rule. Curiously enough, the
discretion of the sovereign prevents a
serious or permanent breach between
the representatives of the people and
the government.
However independent of the house
of representatives the cabinet may
seem in theory. in practice the house
is gaining more power. The cabinet
may dissolve the house a number of
times, but if on reelection the people
support the action of the house the
emperor is sure TO dismiss his cabinet,
saying that cabinet that does not re-
tain the support of the people cannot
have his confidence.
With the house of peers it is differ
ent. Without the support of the upper
house the cabinet can pass no bills.
Moreover, the cabinet cannot dissolve
the house of peers. 1t is of the high
est importance that some one in the
government should be able to carry
the house of peers, and. in the present
government, Count Yamagata is the
one man in Japan who is able TO con-
troll the house of peers. Therefore the
government has need of him.
In the house of peers there are no
parties. only spheres of influence or
cllques depending entirely on the per
sonality of leaders. but in no way on
! political principles. The theoretic has
so little hold on the Japanese people
| that parties founded on political doc
trines are exotic plants.
Marquis Ito some years ago conceiv-
ed the idea that a strong party or
ganization in the house of representa-
tives was the one thing that would
benefit Japan and put the government
on a more democratic basis. He or
ganized. therefore, that great hetero-
geneous party, the Senkai But after
having organized it he found it very
difficult to manage. Still, with his
great acumen as a politician he might
III hhut nave Dttu dDle " COulTOl lulS
big party IL unforeseen opposition had
not arisen.
Marquis Ito Is called in Japan "the
eight faced" His friends put II that
he was trained in the old days Of extra
territoriality and is very timld in in
ternati0nal affairs. His enemies say
that he combines with his great ability
a mind that changes with each political
/ wind.
The fact Is that Marquis TO, seeing
the growth of power on the peoples
side, determined 90 control not only
the imperial viii, but also the house OF
representatives YaulhnR ambition
proved bis fan lie lost both DE had
che ear ~ ihe emperor aud also was
90 ihe head of ibis great party ~ the
people ltis plan vas 10 play on QUO
/ against ihe oihor control ths cablnef
nnd ho ilf zeal ruler Of Iapan. Ruf