El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-08
JAPANESE ARE
DEMANDING
REFORMS
Political Upheaval Against
Growing Power Of Aristo-
Gratis Is Started.
BRING ABOUT THE
END OF MINISTRY

which Japanese crowds are heaping
upon their public officials. It has al
ways been thought throughout the
world at large thRt everything in Japan
worked from TIE government down
ward instead Of from the people up
ward, and that Officialdom was spe-
cially sacred. All this has been trIe
to a great extent on the surface, but
underground forces have been at work
for long time to loosen the grip the
bureaucrats so long have had on pub
lie affairs. Foreigners in general, and
Americans in particular, have known
little of all this, and even alien resi-
dents in Japan are surprised at the
vehemence with which the Jill and
other influential newspapers are lam
pOOning such reVeTed statesmen and
military patriots as 4amagata, hatSura
and Terauchi- The stoning Of Katsura
himself and several members Of the
diet and the wrecking of several news
paper plants seem quite confounding
TO the conventional estimate Of the
japanese people, but the world forgets
that similar tactics were employed IN
1905 to show the disgust OF the people
with the treaty of Portsmouth, which
ended the war with Russia.
Cause Downfall of Ministry.
What does make even the expert
foreign observer open his eyes is the
their protest. They not only brought
about the downfall of the katsura min
istry in less than two months after its
inception. but they did so in the face Of
an imperial rescript from the emperor
himself. This particular phase Of the
situation really is amazing Heretofore
a rescript from the throne has been
binding law upon the people, and II
a doubt of an empOrer's righteousness
could be breathed by any loyal subject
of the son of Heaven" All Of which
goes to show that the NippOnese have
had good reason for acting violently
and that they are not so very different
from the rest of mankind in the way
they 90 after what they want.
Fighting for Constitutional Rights.
A long bitter fight for cOnstitu-
tionaI rights is the cause of the trouble
prince Katsura and the appointment CT
admiral count YamamOtO to the premier
ship has not brought complete victory
The people are demanding the large
share in governmental affairs guaran-
teed them by the constitution OF 1889
and they are determined that the
cabinet shall be more responsive 70
the will of the diet than to the nod
Of the emperor Before success crowns
their efforts they must crush clan in
fluence on the one hand, and on the
other hand they must make worthy
the rather unworthy diet which they
would eXalt.
The insistence Of the army on two
new divisions, or 40. 600 men for Korean
defence. in the face Of the nations
virtual bankruptcy, was the 1nmeolaJe
cause of the recent upheaVaE other
elements were the rivalry between the
army and the navy, the hoary- fued be-
tween the ChOshu and the Satsuma
clans and the growth OF party pOIl-
tics The waning influence OF the elder
statesmen and the fact that the new
~ 90 q nd
so freely given to his father. also are
factors. But the movement for greater
liberty is the prime agency, ana II
will be well to consider for moment
the constitution which the people wish
to strengthen and the governmental
forms which that document set up TOT
them nearly a quarter OF century agn-
While MutsuhitO, the late emperor,
was put on the throne in 1858, thus re-
storing the imperial family to power,
and starting the country on the road
Of progress. a constitution was not
granted until February II, 1883 It IS
modelled after that Of the German en-
pire the ministers being responsible
6nlT to the emperor. with consequent
discretion in ignoring the diet, Whlcn
has been done frequently. The en-
peror's prerogatiTes are;
The EmperOr's PerogadVes.
Right Of convoking, opening
dosing or proroguing the imperial dleI'
and Of dissOlYing the house OF repre-
sentatives.
Fright Of issuing any urgency or
dinances when the Imperial 9leI Is nO'
sitting, TO be submitted TO II LOT ap-
proval at the next session.
3-Right of issuing or causing 70 De
issued the ordinances required 1or put
ting the laws in operation, or TOT mann
tanning peace and order.
4-Right of taking the supreme com
mand Of the army and navy, ana OF ae-
terrnfning the organization OF the ser
vice. 7-t-
peace and concluding treaties.
6-Right Of determining the organl-
zafion If the governmental depart
ment limiting the functions and IlA-
ing the salaries Of civil and military
7ERight Of comforting titles OF no
bi1itv honors and decorations, and 10
Grant pardons and DEGREES Of amnesty;
The usual executive, legislative ana
judicial divisions are PROVIDED: lhe IL ~ :
ana last named being appointlve, Whlle
the legislative is elective The SUR
rage is limited The people elect all
the members of the house Of represen-
tafives but only 43 Of the S71 mem
hers of the house OF peers, and they
ara chosen by select group OF
wealthy taxpayers in each electoral
district
The upper body Of the imperial dleI,
nrinces of the blood, Is princes, 30
marguises, all Of whom sit for life
mon becoming % years Of age; also'
II counts, 20 yiscounts and IS barOns'
all of whom are elected for seven years
Nv members of their own orders OF
nobiIity The emperor appoints ~
men notable for learning. patriotism,
Dhilanthrophy or any other worthy
trait. regardless of their origin, and
Tho sit for life. The 43 members who
renresent the highest taxpayers in the
ar1Dire serve seven years. The non
titled members must never exceed the
titled ones The body cannot be dis
solved under any circumstances, but
convened at any time
The house of representatives consist
of 379 members elected for four years.
The electors must be at least % years
old and be paying a direct tax of not
less than the equivalent of IS per an
num- Candidates for the house must be
at least so years Of age. Over 800 OF
fhe total membership come from the
rural districts. the average being one
member for every 10000 of the pOpu-
lation. Members of both houses are in
session three months every year. and