The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-19
RULE OF PEOPLE
FOR FUTURE
japanese See Democracy Inevitable
For Their Country as
a Result of the
War.
IBy Ralph II. Turner. Written LOT
tho United Press

IBy Ralph H Turner. Written LOT
the United Press.1
NEW YORK, Sept. 18.-What prog
ress is democracy making in japan
Will the world war bring popular
government to the people? Does the
incursion of liberal ideas, labeled
Dangerous thoughts by the fright
ened reactionaries OF Japan, enoan-
ger the solidity of the empire?
These questions l put to Marquis
shigenobu Okuma, former premier OF
.Japan. before left Tokyo last
month. As one of the early leaders
Of democracy in Japan and champion
of constitutional government, the
marquis frankly discussed conditions
his country must meet II she Is 10
remain strong in the face OF new In
ternational currents.
Democracy Is inevitable in Japan.
and it's coming is not far distant,
ne declared. But, though all other
thrones in the world should totter
and fall" he continued emphatlcaliy,
you may be sure that the Imperial
house Of Japan would survive:
The marquis proceeded to develop
his contention that the Japanese
throne would remain impregnable
against tuc wave VI AAAoNS'1N
thoughts which is sweeping the
world.
Japan must face the issue ne
went on. "In view of radical polit-
ical changes the world has seen,
ranging from advances made in lands
where popular win already prevailed
to the upheaval in Russia, there IS
no DENYING the effect all this Will
have upon Japan. But we are pre-
oared for it. I am confident that
the intelligence of the Japanese peo-
ple euuips them for accepting mod
ern democratic ideas and incorpo-
rating them in their government
without danger to national strength.
when say Japan's throne stands
without peril, l have in mind the
peculiar character of the emperor's
position in respect to the people. the
mikado is the head of a large fami-
" He is not kaiser. He is not
desoot. Here is a fact which l wish
to make plain-any political aglta.
ton which may occur in Japan Will
never be directed against the I'M
peral house.
Up to this point Marquis Okuma
had made no mention Of the pres
ent ministry in Japan, ministry
which has faced charges OF nelng
unconstitutional, super-party and bu-
reaucratic ever since it came into
office. Nor did he become explicit
at this juncture. What he said was
this:
The danger to democracy in ia
pan lies. not in the rule of the en-
peror, but in the administration OF
those who interpret the sovereign
will to the people. If bureaucratic
government attempts to suppress the
sentiments of the public, there Is Of
fered an obstacle to democratic prog
ress which may have serious conse-
auences-in Japan as in any other
country.
81 believe, however, that the gov
eminent leaders of Japan, like the
people, are prepared to receive the
new world democracy and direct the
national destinies accordingly"
do you fear that change from
Japan's ancient system of mon
,rchic rule to a more liberal form
of government might endaEger the
strength of the nation?" l asked.
81 do not" was the emphatic re-
ply. 81 realize that is a belief some
times entertained by foreigners, but
therein they fail to understand the