Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-07-13
JAPAN-AN EMPIRE BUILT FOR
WAR
(From The chicago Tribune)

1 n
possible trouble between this country
and Japan, who jeer at the necessity Of
a united fleet, of adequate naval bases
on this Pacific, and of firm policy
and practical plan for the prevention
of such trouble, are fond of bolstering
their position with the assertion that
the Japanese are an industrious, peace
loving people, moved by a world re-
action against war and actively OPP
posed to militaristic policy in their
own country which would precipitate
trouble with the United States.
For the benefit of such opponents of
American preparedness and for all
Americans who have given the ques-
tion neither study nor thought, it is
well to explain that even If they are
right they are wrong. That is, even if
the rank and file of Japan are opposed
to militarism and national aggrandize-
ment, they are helpless to prevent the
development and execution Of such a
policy by the Japanese government as
now constituted.
The leaders of Japanese thought and
action are monarchists and militarists
of the purest ray. What the mass Of
the people may want need have no
practical influence on what they will
get. The Japanese constitution, for
mulated by Prince Ito in the SOS after
careful study under Bismarck, care
fully provides that the heaven-sent
power of the emperor shall not be dis
turbed by any modern peaceful ideas
of the coolies, and that this son of
heaven shall continue to exercise un-
limited control over the army and
navy which keep his policies, his pow
ers. and his retainers safe from either
the bourgeoists or the proletariat.
For example, the first section of the
constitution gives the emperor sole
and absolute right to determine the
weighty matters of making war or
peace and Of concluding all kinds of
treaties. He may even place the whole
empire under martial law, and thus
suspend the constitution.
In an occidental state this power
would be limited by placing the matter
of raising funds for payment of army
and navy in the hands of congress,
parliament, or diet, representing the
people. Not so in Japan. There the
emperor not only fixes the salary of
every officer or official but the money
for their support is authorized by him
self without reference to the diet. And
if any subject objects he may be re-
ferred to the bill of rights in the con-
stitution. which provides that Jap
anese subjects shall, within the limits
of the law, enjoy liberty of speech,
writing, publication, ETC." Note the
phrase limits of the law, That
means that Japanese subjects may en-
joy exactly such liberty as the emperor
sees fit to have granted to them.
The diet not only has no voice in
the regulations concerning the man
ming, equipment, and size of army and
naval forces, but it may not even re-
ject estimates as to the necessary ex-
pense entailed for their upkeep.
emperor greatly by refusing to pass a
budget for other purposes. The civil
service is under control of the en-
peror in the same way the army and
navy, so that all normal functions of
government can proceed in an orderly
manner with support or appropriation
by the diet. More, the constitution pro-
vides that in the event new budget
is not passed the old budget continues
in force year after year. The army
and navy can be quadrupled and the
diet have no means of redress even if
it thinks that such measures are I'M
Just to the resources of the country
and its tax paying population.
Prince Ito's Commentary on the
Constitution" specifies that the cab
met is not to be responsible to any
branch of the legislative body, but
solely to the source of their power, the
emperor. Thus, while personal dislike