The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-16

- GU iho ocdtn! et
pr; Nitobe said that 1t would be i'm
possible to speak OH the subject of po-
lticni life in japan without first
u nMrni upon the person OF tho I'm,
averaging not more than five foot
three inches In height. but tho EN-.
peror, he said. is very giant of u
man, towering above all his country
inches. Although tho Emperor is fond
OF writing poems. or sonnets. as they
mould ,norn be-, In English n6 having written
mat. he Is an interchangeable worker,
diliSent. and moderate in all things,
anu SO stern in his sense of duty
during the period of the day devoted
to public matters he often stands
stiffly erect for as long as four hours.
unsmiling and unbcnung while i'm
portant affairs arc under discussion.
Guided by. Principles.
When tho Er,pcror assembled tho
throne III 1865, the lecturer continued,
lie was sixteen years old Deeply i'm
pued with tho earnest desire to work
great good among his people, he called
around him the ablcst and wisest of
his statesmen anu, after long and pro-
i0und thought, he announced from tho
throne the five articles by which he
would be guided and which have be-
come the Magma Charta OF modern ia
pan:
/. An Assembly widely convoked
state decided by impartial discussion
>. All administrative matters of
state shall be conducted by tho CO
operative efforts of the governing and
3. All the people shall be given OPP
rortunity to satisfy their legitimate
desires.
4. All absurd usagcs shall be. aban-
doned and justice and righteousness
shall regulate all action.
3. knowledge and learning shall be
sought in all the world,
In explaining these foundation arli-
clcs of the government of Japan. DIR.
Nitobe said that 1t was not deemed
wise to grant constitutional govern.
lncnt to the people 1T once. but that
Immediately the groundwork OF the
education OF tho people was laid. An
Assembly was summoned and later a
Senate. by both of which all matters
OF government were discussed and
plans formulated FOR the welfare of
the people: books and tracts teach
ernmcnt were translated and distrib :
uted and taught IN all the schools. both
primary and of higher degree, and the
nation was gradually educated TO Il
wise knowledge of representative gov
crnmcnt For twenty years this plan
of education was carried out, said the
Japanese economist. and in lS?O the
First Parliament was summoned
Then going back for moment to
the other articles. he explained the
third article by the clear statement
that 1t opened to all the men properly
qualified by. learning ana lifting ~,
tainmcnts the right and opportunity
to occupy positions of state in the
country.
With reference to absurd usagcs,'
lie said that there had never been
many In Japan, nothing like MS many
as had been thought by those VINO
were ignorant OF the practical bencit
of many of them. but that such usases
rs that OF the Chinese footbind'ng.
and. with a twinkle III his eye, tho
custom of some peoples of boring holes
in their cars. should never Obtain IN
Japan AS TO seeking d Hnow rn,nsr,zn M
that the presence Of japanese si,l-
dents in practically every university
in tho world explained the meaning
ing that lie had learned IL lew Gays
before I'm Lexington that as carry as
1872 two japanese students had at
tended Washington and Ice uhlNcr-
sity.
Japanese Parliament.
The Japanese parliament, he stated,
is composed Of two branches: a House
Of Lords and a House OF Representa-.
tlves, The upper house ,l, eon Tnas,, ,h or
nobility, from men WHO have '1Stln-
guished themselves III the public SC,
vice either civil or military, or an
elected hy The land -owners The lower
house has about 100 representatives
all elected by the people. but, nc
said. there is in Japan neither uni-
vcrsal suffrage nor womans suffrage;
In order TO be - qualified voter, sald
tho eminent scholar, man must nc
must pay a direct tax Of as much as
IN ven (s5J each year; that is. ma
tional tax which may DO imposes
either upon land, or i lIcnmse tax. SIN In
order to be eligible for Office he must
No thirty years old, but, however. needs
no property qualification.
This provision, DIR. Sitobe eSpNhheu, ~
due 10 The fact that many OF the best htteu
and best trained men in 1apan mr. p'I hc
and It IL deemed best to allow them 10 DC
entrusted with the management OF nthtn'
rather than to restrict tho oticeholaers 10
,noso who have property. "As to the wo-
mans suffrage movcment% he contlnneu;
Eve have never been able 10 understand
csts In a household. We do not sec thAt ,nc
interests of n man and of a woman are dii-
fcrent--'the house divided against i'sei we
are not yet prepared TO foster.
Although the suffrage is restricted ne
amplincd IL per cont of the whole populh-
ton Is qualified to vote. and 20 per cent oil
tho male populate including all the maies.
so that a very large percentage OF the auu't
nalcs have the privilege OF the Daho''
American System.
Many American systems. DR., Sitobe stated,
have been adopted in Japan. notably the
general plan OF education ana many OF lis
pulsorv education in Japan is not ION
paper lie made the astonishing state
incnt that as per cent. of the ehiIdrcn IN
hia country between the ages OF SIS anu
twelve go regularly to school. lie caused
Il emile in the audience when lie said that
when he made u study OF tic situation some
lliteen years ay" hc found. that tie percent
age IN his country. 81 at that time, Was
greater than IN any other country. except
Prussia and Massl ohusetts"
Following the Inc Of thought as 70 Amer
lean Institutions. pr. Niiobc regretted that,
in spite Of the vigilance OF the government
and police thor" WAS certain amount OF
corruption IN tho politics OF his country.
Even 'boss'' IN the person Of ono OF
Iapan's strongest men had honrished Tor a
time. BIZ, had been killed by an old fencing
master, who had thought and pondcrcd jas
10 the best method OF Kidding his country
of this CRATER" rs tho lecturer termed
hirn and had then gent courteous latter
to the chief Of cunst;Lbuary Informing III,
police officer of his intention, and had
carefully and quietly carried out the cNecu-
A L.. &C