The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12
DEMOCRATIC IDEALS
IMMATURE IN JAPAN
Old Oligarchic Powers Behind
the Scenes Playing Poll
tics Actively.
OKUMA A STORM CENTRE
Special cotrespondence 10 TaE srS.

TOXIC, req. S.-lntri8ueS against tne
0kuma Ministry eliminated last week in
. crisis which was not overcome until
Prince Yamagata. head Of the military
clan. chief, Of the Elder Statesmen. and
the powerful man In japan. came up
from his winter villa and arranged a
compromise. The story Is Of interest to
all who try to get a notion Of the forces
which are moulding Japan politically and
settling the form Of her national de-
vslopment. It illustrates the anomalies
and puzsles Of Inc present half a
staSe Of Japanese political institutions.
exhibits the persistence OF the old oil
Sarchic clan government behind the
scenes and shows how the idea Of pop
alar government Is gradually gathering
strength and power under the shackies
Of a severely restricted constitution.
On March IS last n general election
returned Count Okuina to power with a
satisfactory majority. N~ormally-that
Is, normally according to western poll
tico-he would have expected n period
Of power in which to carry out the poll
cies on which a majority Of the electors
htso ANNui w mn DIt NhNtt tht
bles OF japan were gathered in Eioto
for the coronation last November in
trigues against Okuma began to be
heard OF behind the scenes. The NOV
ing spirit was Eiscount Hirata. a prom
inont figure In the bureaucratic section.
Bold Fina nciering.
The kioto intrigues died into silence
n II was supposed that h pes of sup
planting Okuma had been given up. The
Diet met and the opposition parties in due
course launched their attack on the Min.
istry on two well chosen issu,s-the re-
vival Of the Nogi pecrage. which had
greatly scandalized public sentiment. and
the bribery of members by Ministers In
connection with the army increase bill
The frontal attack was outvoted by a
large majority. and the abine seemed
confirmed In its security.
Then after the New Year recess the
peers and the Government were found
seriously at outs regarding finance. The
sale of arms to Russia resulted in large
payments to the War Office. estimated
to date at 30. 900. 900 yen ,S3O.Ooo. 0oo).
This sum was not paid into the general
sund OF the Government but 10 :hc spe-
cial arsenal accour, under control Of The
War Office. II did not appear in the
budget and Parliament had no say in
Its disposal. Obviously this Is not con-
stitutional finance and the objection was
raised that the money might be spent
either on ornaments greater thai the
legitimate replacement of those sold to
Russia or In 'sQueezcs' to military men.
The japanese have not forgotten the
naval scandals of 1914. The Ju.nt will
seem a good one to the western student
OF politics and one which believers in
parliamentary control OF public money
migh well have pressed to a decision.
II was not so pressed 2nd the vote was
passed with a weak expression OF hops
that the military authorities would not
do IL again.
The arms dispute was hardly out Of
h way when "A more serious appeared.
The peers demanded that the deb, re-
demption fund should be restored to
$4,000. 900 yen from the 10000 So0 to
which the Okuma Ministry reduced IL
. year ago. This is Il question Of eX-
pediency pure and simple. On one side
Is the consideration that n fixed II
regular sinking fund is attractive to in
vestors and keeps the national credit
high IN the money market. On the
other Is the fact ,ha, Japan has been
in the habit Of borrowing zach year
the money required to keep the sinking
fund up TO the mark. In effect she was
49, '
~ ~
.
"'" e''
This may be all right: IL is entirely
D question of holding the balance he
tween the maintenance Of Il good mar
ket for japanese borrowings and the
d~esirability OF keeping current eXpendi-
ture as low as possible. But the peers
refused to yield. and II was not until
Prince famagata had come up from
his winter villa and used his persona
authority that they consented to "A com
promise in terms of which the Govern
ment agrees TO raise "A domestic loan
Of 10000 900 yen to pay off foreign debt
TO that amount In addition to the usual
10000. 900. h this means the budget
was saved.
The facts i!y0 'ate the peculiar din
0ulties under VN.ih constitutional gov
eminent labore in Japan. Parliament.
ary institutions are weak The old
0ngarchic elements are strong. Sane
lions OF maJorities are not effective.
principles or democratic government are
0ot understood.
The detail that pulls the picture to-
0ether IL the latest topic OF the political
9ossipers or the Nernacuiar press, wno
no.| sugges that Count okuma, haN.
ing indicated ms prestige AGAINST All
And honor L, Is poin,cd out n,,,o seri.
ously mat he TOOK the reins or govern
ment al II critlcai t'me' mat lie proks
up the majority or the ''rong party
0RAinSt MIN, DaSSFu lnt TWO DIVISION