The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-22
Popular Government in Japan

political and business affairs with the
members OF this oligarchy. there is no
friction at the top. Below. people may
protest and complain as much as they
Illicit makes no difference.
The intelligent business men and
nccted with the ruling oligarchy arc
unanimous in their protests against
furtheT the nation for
ments.. They do not want war with
ANYBODY, and they do not see tho
sense Of preparing for great war IL
none is expected to be fought.
But the military clique. always as
power. II the army and navy cannot
be kept continually before the public
popularity: and their places as rulers
may be taken by mere politicians. They
care not how great the burden OF
the ar, T., taxpayers ,p They control the gov.
pay to keep them In the limelight This
y one of the marked danger points OF
the whole Oriental situation. for while
Japan is economically unable to stand
fortunately governed by a military
Clique such as has often rushed 3
nation into war and then counted the
cost afterward.
pie, those below the rank OF voters. is
|unthinking and improvident. It's, how
ever. intensely patriotic and full of the
war spirit. Civil affairs OF government
attract no attention from this class.
and II borrows its opinions wholly from
military sources. Thus the middle clasg
must stand alone against the present
tendency of the government. which il
believes means economic ruin.
The middle class knows that the gov
eminent is not now responsive TO tho
popular will. but It thinks II has
Of government are popular and may
therefore. by a great effort, be actually
captured by the people. This is what
the ri, rank and file Of the business men men
are nominating their own men for the
Diet. and If the government Will per-
nit them to be elected by fair count.
least respectable number OF actual
representatives of the people who VIII
set themselves into strong opposition
to the plans Of the military olisarc ny !;
been earnest in his endeavors to point
out the dangers of the present spend.
thrift course. is now candidate Tor
high position in business, his protests
have not only passed UNDECIDED. but
L have been smiled at. He is telling his
people now that II he can ar. get into me ne
the taxpayers IN such a fashlon thae
they cannot be ignored.
The fapily, not the in t1ri "a ,n,, IS
y
| OF households and of hundreds ofmenl-
bers. is responsible to society as a
whole. The decision of family Gown.
| Gil In rural Japan is of greater force
and effect than the decision of legal
|ly constituted court. These families
have their ancient clan connections and
the individual members now. as for
a thousand years take their opinions
from the chief of the clan.
The Japanese rule of life is exactly
the opposite of that which obtains i; "a ~ J
Of free government arose. Anglo san
on liberty means the liberty of the
individual to do as he thinks best SO
ers.e Japanese liberty means the sra
/ cIous and benevolent permission, grant
ed by a higher land superior power 70
the individual, to 90 as ne THINKS p Is,s :
American and English idea OF popu-
lar government is that the power Is
granted from the people to their rep
|resentatives to govern in the Interest
constitutional government is that the
j Emperor permits the people to select
Representatives to assist him In man
aging affairs for the glory of the
| state.
This difference obtains throughout
/ cal, family and household. a Japa :
nese son is subject to his fathers Will
4 until ne eSldOllSIeS u 4llOuStuOiO " A'ta
own. no matter II he is fifty years rs,
4 old. One Japanese father the other
Il day declared that IL his son went to
1.-The theatre he would disown him. The
son was twenty-five years old, but as
The had not set up household OF his
Town he cannot do the simplest lining
against his fathers win. this fathe :.
Twill Of the head Of family. council. It
4 it directs him to disown his son, he
has no recourse but to obey. The family
lis sacred, 1t must be maintained, and
Tits mandates may never be Disregard
4 ed, For thousands of years these peo-
4 Pile have submitted to discipline OF this
kind The law has ted then hen n wha5
4 food to eat, and how to comb their
\ lhair. When a question arises. as to
+ lpolicy, the Japanese does not ask what
lis best or what Is right: he looks to
the power above him for regulation
< land direction.
Ichanged by the adoption Of a consti-
tutional form OF government, The Cons
|stitution itself bows to the law OF the
supremacy OF the family council and
a thereby recognizes a higher power. 80
h lit Is that the forms OF popular govern
|ment in Japan are merely convenient
4 adn,inistrative, fictions. The real pow
/ Of ruling families. and viii he until
& such time as the Japanese mind
4 grasps tho fact that in those forms
a Of government they have a weapon
4 which will enable them to overthrow
Il theS Power of the Family and assert the
1Copyright. 1908. by Frederic =
EIasktn.)
,ro.morrow.-rha Gn,lda ~ y,r.n.-