The Washington herald., 1908-04-22

Special Correspondents to The Washington Herald
Tokyo. March S.-WhiIe the Japanese
constitution bases the government upon
popular representation and the will of
the people, and while these forms are
Tigidly adhered to, Japan has no such
thing as popular government in the
American Interpretation of the phrase.
The constitution limits the imperial pow
er but al the same time il declares the
Emperor TO be sacred and inviolable. ."
The Imperial Diet is organized and con-
Quoted along the lines Of the parliaments
of other constitutional monarchies, but it
reflects the purpose of an oligarchy rather
than the will of the people.
The responsibility Of the cabinet 10 the
lower and popular house of the Diet is
practically admitted, but as the House is
essentially aTistocratic, this fact does not
mean that the people rule. AS a matter
OF fact, the great majority Of the Japa-
nese public knows little, and cares less,
about the affairs OF government. The
suffrage IS restricted by property qualifi-
cations, but even those taxpayers who
can vote take so little vital interest in
public affairs that they are easily cor
rupted, and hence japanese parliament
airy elections are auction sales Of votes
The average amount spent in bribes by
successful candidates for the Lower House
is said TO be about 5000 yen, or $500. AS
this sum is widely distributed, Il Is evi-
dent that the average japanese elector
does not place a high estimate upon the
value OF his franchise.
II must be admitted that the present
form Of government Is far superior TO
that which obtained until fifty years ago.
when not only the Shotgun and the vari-
Gus Daimy0s, or feudal lords. but even
the hosts Of Samurai. possessed the right
OF life and death over the common peo-
pie. Nowadays if one strikes a coolie he
is almost certain TO go to Jail. be his
provocation to anger ever so great II
must also be admitted that the present
government is benevolent in many wavs
that Il respects the natural rights of the
lowest classes, and that il is as whole
wisely administered. But for all of that
It is not truly popular"
The House Of Representatives is com
posed OF 3l9 members. elected by male
Japanese subjects Of more than twenty
nVe years Of age who pay a direct tax of
at least S. a year. japan has a nonpla-
tlon or 50e00.0o0 people OF this number
only l,o00,060 is entitled 10 vote. In the
United States. with a population not
quite twice as great as that Of Japsn
the actual voters number fourteen times
as many as the japanese electors. and
those entitled 20 vote would raise the pro-
portion much higher. In local affairs not
only the actual persons who pay taxes
are permitted 10 vote, but the franchise
Is also extended TO "juridicial persons"
on the tax lists. Therefore, corporations
nave direct vote in Tokyo. Viscount
kaneko was elected a member Of the CITY
council There was bur one taxpaver in
lhe ward entitled to vote. and il was
corporation, the Nippon Yusen Kaisha. or
Japan Mail Steamship Company. Wis
count kaneko received its vote and was
unanimously elected. He did not live In
the ward. and the hundreds of people
who did had no voice in his selection.
The general parliamentary elections are
manipulated in the interest Of the ruline
oligarchy in many different ways Brib-
cry is always in evidence Then. too. the
government may FIX the date of the cleo
ton. one was 10 have been held in April
this year, but the commercial movement
for reform was so strong that the cabinet
feared the result, OF feared it would cost
too much to buy the voters when there
was competitive bidding. so the election
was postponed until June. If the outlook
IS still dark for the ruling party another
postponement may be expected
The oligarchy which actually rules Ia
pan Is made up of the leaders Of the two
dominant clans Of Choshu and Satsuma.
OF the millionaire Mitsui family. and Of
the controlling spirits of the armv and
navy. These influences represent five or
six families which are all powerfuI IN,
flght or tradition. and they bow only 10 |
the viii of the Emperor. As the impe- /
rial household is connected intimately in /
political and business affairs with the
OF this Oligarchy. there is no /
friction at the top Below, people NAV
protest and complain as much as they
llke' II makes no difference
The intelligent business men and pub |
-icists of Japan who are not connected
with the ruling ollgarchy are unanimous
N their protests against further impover- |
shing the nation for expenditures in IN |
investments. They do not
want war with anybody and they do not |
see the sense of preparing for a great |
war If none is expected to be fought.
But the military clique, always assert /
We after war, Is jealous of its power /
II the army and navy cannot be kent con-
inua.ly before the public mind thew viii /
suffer the loss Of their popularity and
heir places as rulers NAV be taken nv
mere politicians. They care not how
'reat the burden of the tax PAYERS. They
control the government and the govern
nent must pay TO keep them in the lime
light This IS one of the marked danger
'oints of the whole Oriental situation
or while Japan is economically unable to
tand the strain OF another war, II is un-
ortunately governed by a military clious
uch as has often rushed a nation into
var and then counted the cost afterward |
The great mass Of the Japanese people.
nose below the rank Of voters, is un-
hmking and impTovident 1t is, how
'Ver, intensely patriotic and full OF the
var spirit. Civil affairs Of government
ituact no attention from this class. and
ooffoWs It's opinions wholly from milf
dIy sources. Thus the middle class
must stand alone against the present ten
leney or the government which It believes
means economic ruin.
The middle class knows that the gov
InmenL IS not now'responsive to the pom
lar will, but it thinks it has a great on
'ortunlty IN that the forms of govern
aent are popular and may. therefore
y great effort be actually captured
y the people This is what the rank
nd file OF the business men of the coun-
~ are trying to do. They are nominat-
lg their own men for the diet, and. If
he government will permit them to be
iected by fair count, the next Parlia-
aent viii contain at least a respectable
lumber of actual representatives, of the
eopie who viii set themselves into