The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-21
The Great Commoner Of Japan
ny FREDERIC ). HAsK1N.
Tokyo.

by FREDERIC J. HAsI<IN.
Count shige-nobu okuma is the
Great Commoner OF Japan. and inmany
respects has the most interesting per-
sonality in the Land OF tile Rising
Americans; because Of the fact that It
was he who led the Japanese protest
against the United States when the
San Francisco school question and the
AZ the leader OF the Opposition, Count
| Okuma undoubtedly seized upon these
| questions as a club with which to be-
labor the government, but at tho same
| conscience TO do SO. He holds that tho
| Japanese people are racially the equal
! OF other peoples, or rather that there
| Is no difference OF degree inherent IN
difference OF race.
counted one OF the Elder Statesmen.
and as an essential democrat he has
not been admitted to that hat. privileged
Japanese national and international
| policy His Influence upon affairs Of
state is not to be underestimated, how
been such that many OF his ideas have
been forced upon the government, and
the Japanese public still hears. him
gladly. OF the SIX. survivors OF tho
/
Restoration and made New Japan pos,
sible. Count Okuma is the most demo.
cratic. and Prince iamasata. the most
aristocratic. Between these two. Prince
Ito has steered middle course. ana
has become the greatest constructive
statesman of the Orient. The student
of comparative history cannot fali TO
by Washington. midway between. the
policies of Hamilton and the ideals of
Jefferson. And Ito. like Warrington,
leans more to the conservative than
the democratic.
While japan has adopted the forms
of popular government. the voice OF
the people in affairs Of state els Is heard
both admired and suspected, because
of his democracy. and II that quality
has Won him many warm admirers
among; the people, 1t has lost him the
which he might otherwise WELD. The
explanation OF his status goes farther
back than the modern political career
OF the Elder Statesmen. In old feudal
Japan the two strongest clans We're
those OF the Choshu and the satsuma.
These two clans still rule in japan, de-
men. Centuries OF clan feeling cam
not be overthrown in few decades.
Both Ito and Yamagata are OF the
clan OF Choshu. Count Okuma can claim
alliance with neither OF these ruling
influence BY sheer force OF character.
broadness Of mind and =, knowledge OF ct
Pssn srea n the DAYS s when It
still a question whether the restored
Emperor would resign the greater, part
Of his power to, the people, Okuma
rights. Ills program was always modi.
fled by the powers that We're. but
nevertheless he always gained part
81 Mhaf af tie party '
Japan, has been prime minister, and
now, although retired from active poll
tics. is stu to DO reskone eans with as
governmental affairs, from the time
OF the downfall Of the shogunate. He
OF the great triumvirate which brought
about the Restoration. and is to-day
regarded as the highest authority upon
questions Of Japanese history OF the
Fifty years ago. Count okuma was a
boy of twenty. living In small Japan.
csc town. trained In the virtues OF
sharing with his fellows all the beliefs
and prejudices Of their exclusive race.
But to these ideas he added curiosity.
and curiosity was his making. The visit
of Commodore Perry and the granting OF
rights to forfEners ~ the
about the "red-haired barbarans." The
law set Its face sternly against the
Christian religion and missionaries,
his curiosity impelled him to inquire
about these strange people.
1t happened that Okuma heard OF an
American missionary who was secretly
spreading the forbidden doctrine in
thescountry. He went to Dr. Yeerbeck
as Nicodemus went to Jesus, by night.
From that renowned missionary the
young okuma learned Of the great
world outside of Dali Nippon, Of the
and OF the precious doctrines of the
Rights of Man. First of all he learned
to read the Bible. Then came the one
missionary possessed. the Declarationti
of Independence.
Young okuma read the Immortal
Of ha
IRE. Just the other day, seventy years
old and blessed with every comfort
which man gan ella in he sat J, IN Z, the 7,
appointed home and said: THE reading
OF the Declaration OF Independence
when was boy made such an Inn
press upon my soul that the doctrines
: III view Of this, it is not. strange that
Count okuma should admlre the great
When he learned that tho Declaration
OF Independence had been written by
Jefferson he set about studying the
career Of that statesman. Hc read
several Biographies and some extracts
from JEFF erson's own writings, and be-
came familiar With 1 his principles.
Bryan was the guest Of Count 0kuma,
and the conversation fell on Jefferson.
When Mr.. Bryan went back to the
United States he sent Count okuma q
complete collection 'of Jeffersoniana,
which now occupies a position of honor
in the old counts library. z
Tho Influence OF Jefferson upon
;Okuma's life is marked. AS Jefferson
in his old days placed the UniversitN|
Of Virginia above every work Of his
llfo as his most worthy deed 81 Count
founder OF Waseda University than lie
Is OF all his political aceomplishments.
OF Count OKuma's mansion grounds,
just as the University OF Virginia was
ut the gates Of Monticello. But when
Count Oisuma looks out upon his school
he sees an institution in which 5000
Young mon are being brought into thel