The Washington herald., 1908-04-11

Cabinet Alexander Hamilton and Thomas
Jefferson. the leaders OF the two schools
Of thought IN the country, although their
followings We're not parties" as the term
is understood in these days
Questions essential TO the very exist
ence Of the government were uppermost
for years, the party alignments were
made mainly at the Capitol, and the Con-
gressional caucus ruled, just as the par
liamentary caucus rules IN Japan to-day.
Then came the ERA Of good feeling" re-
sulting from a strong foreign policy
which united al factions. In Japan this
| era came Immediately upon the heels Of
war. in the United States It was some
| little time after the second war with Eng
| land. The greatest event of that era in
American history was the PRONUNCIATION
Of the Monroe doctrine, America for
/ Americans" In the same era III japan
the japanese Monroe doctrine Of Asia
/ for the Asiatics" made its appearance.
/ In the United States the peaceful era
/ Of no parties was followed by the most
/ bitter political battles OF our history,
and under the administration of Andrew
jackson, political parties came into be-
/ ing as they are known to-day, the party
| convention was invented and since that
/ time the voter has not asked Who is
/ he but What is hep Therefore, Japan
is just now at the point in its eonstitu-
tional evolution that the Americans
reached IN Old HiekoTy's time Here the
analogy ends
The American Constitution is the re-
suit OF a meeting Of business men called
! to consider ways and means OF improv-
/ ing trade conditions between the States
J The very foundation Of the nation were
/ laid upon the rocks of commerce. This
/ disposition to foster business resulted in
the Bank of the United States. To de-
stroy that bank and 10 take the control
/ Of politics away from the commercial
interests was the work of Jacksons great
political battles. IN Japan the ccnstiuu-
/ tion was not ordained by the people, but
was granted from above by the Emperor.
/ The lowest class of those people were
/ the merchants. and they have not been
| considered. The literary and military
men rule the nation, and the merchants
must shift for themselves. Now comes
/ Japan's greatest political battle. in which
! the commercial interests are trying TO
obtain representation.
I If predictions made by close students of
/ political affairs here are borne out by
events. the country will divide along the
| same lines that have divided all peoples
The party now in power will receive the
conservative strength. and the Progress
ist, or Shimpoto party will gather the
Radicals and Democrats together. The
business men are trying 10 capture both
PARTIES. but are receiving much more en-
/ couragement from the Shimpoto, which is
now in opposition. In Japan the unit of
the state, so far as the people are con
| cerned. is not the individual. but the
family Family means a whole clan
Of ancient lineage. and its organization
| is as perfect as a piece of delicate ma
ehinery. The rights Of the individual are
never considered as against those OF the
family. The ShimpotO is attempt
ling to break down this clan system
It's venerable leader, Count Okuma.
is an individualist and a democrat.
He is also something Of a fire eater,
and il was he who stirred the radical
japanese on the subject of the San Fran
cisco school question and the immigTa-
ton restriction agitation. While It is not
proper TO doubt his sincerity, there is ex-
Cellent reason for the belief that his
radicalism on these questions was more
directly the result Of his seeing an .op-
portunity to take a shot at the Cabinet,
than because he really wanted 10 make
trouble with America.
Party feeling Is already running high,
and the newspapers attack the leaders Of
opposite parties with as much bitterness
as the American press has ever shown.
Back of all the party spirit however. is
absolute unity In loyalty TO the Emperor.
II the Emperor cuts off a mans official
/ head, criticism Is not directed toward him,
as Americans sometimes criticise the
President. but rather TO the minister
/ rs4a Of n fol
majesty" The Mikado is a real ruler.
and many things done in Japan are his
direct acts. For this reason the In
| fuenee Of the elder statesmen, who have
direct access to the throne, is of such
great weight in affairs
Copyright. 1903. by Frederic J. Haskin.l
TO-morroyy-The yellow Peril.