The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-05-24
POLITICS IN JAPAN.
Constitution Is Framed on the
Lines Of Germany S.
CABINET DEPENDS ON THE LORDS

without support OF the House Of
Peers, II Cannot Pass BiIls-coun,
Xamasata the One Man Able "a
Control me PeerS-Hoase Of Repre-
sentntiye~ Cnining 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 tie fan Of Marquis Ito from
political power. forms one Of tlle most
Interesting stories Of modern Japan.
says john + Bass, the Tokyo core.
spondent Of the Chicago News.
| Japan's 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 81
representatives for its support. 1t
does not seek the favor Of the people
but the good will Of the sovereign.
The influence indeed, the very exist.
ence- Of party therefore ia the Japa.
nese parliament Is due to the tendency
Of the individual 70 develop along mod
ern lines Of government rather than
any place occupied by party by virtue
either q the Institutions Of the country
or the new form Of governemnt
adopted.
Take the present Japanese govern
meut 1t represents not the electoral
vote q the people but the victory Of
the two great clans OF Japan. the sat.
spra and Choslu those clans which
were p.onhnt IN the restoration Of
the power tile emperor, They rule
hy virtue Of their aristocracy.
EHe Satsuma ana Chosiu clans orici-
mated in the south Of Japan at the
strait OF simonoseki The satsuma
clan was south Of the strait, the Cho-
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 minister to resign that IS
to say, theoretically it cannot because
the ministry can theoretically dissolve
the house Of representatives as many
times ais the house fails to support ii.
The cabinet seeks the favor Of tie soy.
ereign. As long as ii has his support,
IL can according 10 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 tile house
Of representative 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 tile
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 IF peers 1t is of the high
est Importance that some one il 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 10 con
-rol the house Of peers, Therefore the
government has need Of him.
IA the house Of peers there are no
parties, only spheres Of influence or
sliques depending entirely on the per
sonality Of leaders, but in no way on
political principles The tneoretie has
20 little hold on the japanese people
hat parties founded on political doc
Iines are exotic plants.
Marquis Ito some years ago conceiy
"a the idea that a strong party or
ganization in the house OF representa-
ives was the one thing that would
benefit Japan and put the government
IN more democratic basis He or
sanized, therefore, that great hetero-
geneous party, the SenkaL But after
having organized ii he found It very
lifiicult to manage. Still, with his
great acumen as a politician he might
n time have been able to control this
Jig party if unforeseen opposition had
not arisen
Marquis Ito IS called in Japan the
tight faced His friends put il that
he was trained ID tile old days Of extra
erritoriality and Is very timid ID I'M
affairs His enemies say II
hat he combines with his great ability
/ mind that changes with each political
Wind.
The fact is that Marquis Ito, seeing
he growth Of power On the peoples I
iidc, determined to control not only
he imperial will but also the house Of
Yaulting ambition
lroyed his fall lie lost both, He had
he ear OF the emperor and also was
It the head of this great party Of the
,eople His plan was 10 play Off one
against the other. control the cabinet