Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-20
OF WORLD wilde INTEREST
THE ELDER STA TESNEN OF JAPAN
BY FREDERIC }. HAsklN

has Oeen OIJen CRITICISED Dy OLner ma
tions. But with all his faults he has
proved his great ability and in history
he will be reckoned with the list of the
great constructive statesmen of the
latter half of the nineteenth century
where shine such names as Bismarck
Gladstone and Diaz.
Supporting him at times. and at other
times in opposition, are the three other
political members of the Genro-Matsu-
kata, Inouye and Yamagata. Marquis
Matsukata is year older than Prince
Ito, and has been connected with finan-
cial affairs OF government ever since
the foundation of the present era. His
first great work was the restoration to
value of the deprecated paper currency
which flooded the country after the
civil war of 1877, and the crowning
glory of his career was the establish
ment OF, the gold standard during his
premiership in 1S96-1S97. He does not
take active interest in the policies of
the day, but he Is influential In the
Genro ana Is locked upon as the high
est financial authority in Japan.
Marquis Inouye Is Of Prince Ito's age.
and they hive been closely associated
ever since their runaway trip to Eng
land in 1863. When they returned In
ouye advocated opening the coun-
try to foreigners, whereupon his fellow
clansmen who hated the red haired
barbarians" waylaid him. beat him and
left him for dead. When the restora-
tion was accomplished Inouye was soon
taken into the official family in a high
position. He has been great execu-
tive, but certain narrowness and in
tolerance has prevented him from ris-
ing to the full measure OF his oppor-
tunity. The business of the elder states
men in politics is wirepulling, because
1t is only through this method that they
make their influence felt upon emperor,
cabinet or parliament; and there is
none to deny thai Inouye's reputation
as a king among wirepullers is de-
served.
Prince Yamagata, fourth but not
least OF : the politically active elder
statesmen. is 20 years old. He repre-
sents an active opposition to Prince Ito
which extends even into the councils of
the Genroy and he also embodies the
conservative ideas of the most old fash
ioned class of modern Japanese. He
hates political parties. has but little
patience with even the Japanese make
believe popular government. and is
largely responsible for the continued
control of the military spirit in Japan
ese national affairs. Yamagata Is
soldier anu was himself one OF the
ablest leaders of the armies of the clan
OF Choshu which resisted the military
power of the Shotgun year before the
restoration of imperial power. He was
practically the head of the imperial
armies in the civil war of 1877, and has
always been identified with the army.
Twice, however. he has been prime
minister and now is the president of
the privy council. His military notions
of discipline kept him constantly en-
| broiled with members of his cabinet
when at the head of the government,
and he despises politicians as only
soldier can. Yet it was he who was at
the helm in the stormy days just before
the adoption of parliamentary govern
ment, and his conservative influence
prevented the radicals from going too
| far with their plans ana thus wrecking
the whole scheme of popular represen-
tation.
| Marshal Prince Oyama is the purely
military man in the Genro. The world
came to know his name when he was
commander OF the victorious Japanese
armies in the Manchurian campaigns
against Russia, but in Japan his pro-
| press as a soldier has been proverb
| for forty years. He Is nephew OF the
ereat Saigo, the military leader or the
restoration, and took distinguishing
part in the civil wars which led to the
downfall of the Shogunnate. His life
story is that of a soldier. He has now
retired to private life, full of honors
and of years. His wife, the Princess
Oyama, was one of the first japanese
women to go abroad, being one OF the
students sent to America In 1911 she
was graduated from Vassar, ana
through her Marshal Oyama has al
ways kept up an intimate acquaintance
with American affairs.
These are the five men who are called
the elder statesmen. When great
crisis in affairs in Japan comes about
the whole nation turns to them ana
asks them what to do. They are all
practical politicians and know now tq
nuiI wires, but the people rightly think
| that as they have been connected with
new Japan since it's birth, and as their
interest in its welfare is as great as
their knowledge is deep. no other set Oh
men could be trusted as far.
| (Copyright 1908. by Frederic j. HasKlh)
Tomorrow--The Great Commoner OF
| japan.