The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
Issues Threaten
TO Split Japanese Diet:
Okunna Loses Influence
Ignoring of NOgi's Death
Wish and Oura Scandal
Cause DissensiOn.
CHINA NOT TRUSTED:
YUAN CALLED A FOE
ny a japanese. Formerly . Profess
so~ In Nngasaki College.


Count okuma. who appeared on the
political stage Of Japan n year and q
htlf ago amid tho cheers o. the whole
nation. had been expected by the peo-
plo and by foreign correspondents 20
show himself an exemplary democratic
actual deeds what he has advocated
for the past thirty years In newspapers,
magazines and speeches. But he WAS
no exception TO the general rule holding
good IN japanese politics: "A states
a however democratic In private. be-
comes despotlc and bureaucratic as
soon as he gets a seat In the Cabinet"
But 10 amy one who knows Japan's
politics his change OF attitude after the
formation OF his ministry is nothing
strange. One must no. forget that he
'could come to power only ~ the rec
ommendation OF the late Marquis Inoue.
one Of the Elder Statesmen, nicknamed
the ihunderbolt of the t~cAldaylma
hill" lie owes his present position to
the Influence OF the bureaucratic states
men,
OF oourse tho popular fury manifested
agains, the clansinen and bure ucrats
In the early part Of last year was IN
directly responsible for sending him TO
the head of the Government. But Il
Is always the Elder Statesmen that
recommend a candidate for the Pre-
miership to the throne, To- which he
longs the formal nominating power.
However loud, ard ;croyiously the mob
srarled its threats through the press
ai.d public ncetins, Count okuma could
nercr have come To- the helm OF the ship
OF state had IL not been for the zeal
Gus assistance Of the lat" Marquis
Tuouh n persuad!ng Prince Marshal
N?maCatl to assent To- the recommend
ton - the Emperor. such are the
actual circumstances hat attended ,is
cNit from the retirement in WaScd1
University. Consequently to those VINO
az" familiar with these circumstances
Ms career has furnished no surprises.
Lost Supporters.
In the beginning he showcd himself
as at one with the bureaucrats Apart
from the ~qucaion OF good or evil Il
would lT,'e been safer for him had he
steadily and unwaVeriusE chung to that
policy. In that ease the prop which
supported hin 90 the h"giuLlng would
have rpjla ned with hi'n continuously.
Bat through tho change Of his attitude
h" completely Ilerat"d the rood vii
and friendly support % tho Elder
Statesmen. The circumstances are as
follows
In tho middle OF the year vlscoun,
ours, the former Home Minister. was
accused OF having hril-d somc mem
berS Of Parliament to secure 4 major
ity IN the Lower House. To share the
responsible. with him Cpult okuma
and his following teujerel their res.grl-
tons to ia" Emperor. VINO. however.
would not permit the rcs gnatiun In
View Of the difficulty in nndiug a sue
AA-..- e. Leo. IHla.- - u-
OF the Emperor ami simultaneously
taking the advice Of the Elder States
men, the Count withdrew his rcsiguo-
ton and set about reconstructing his
Cabinet.
To ind SUCCESSORS for the vacancies he
first consulted the late Marquis Inou6.
then Ia hi, villa a. Okitsu. and asked
him {" assume the task Of selecting can
d.datcS. The Marquis ~ said TO have
been highly pleased with the respectful
consideration paid him by Count Okums.
and promised to do his beat 10 select
persons worthy of the important eltua-
lions. In the meantime. however. Count
okuma made his selection from
among his political following. recon-
nIended them TO the throne ANA got them
hastily po'nHlhted, and all this without
giving notice to Marquis luou6. None
can tell why Count Okuma preferred 10
take such Il strange course toward his
only real supporter among the Elder
Statesmen. To this transaction il gem
orally asCribcd the sudden end OF Mar
quis lnuue, who. naturally as short tent
pered as his nickname "Thunderbolt'
shows, is believed to have died of illness
that was aggravated by Indignation over
tlle fLithlcssuess oil Count Okuna.
After the reconstruction of the cabi-
not the Marquis refused to have iu,or.
Views with any Tin'ster-. partly follow
ing the advice Of his attendant doctor.
who feared his health. douhly weakened
by his long illness, might nos stand the
explosion of hiI fretful temper. Some Of
the ministers who went down TO his
villa came back without having seen
him. He is credited with having re-
marked to his favorites tina the next
interview lie would have with Okuna
would mark his last moment