Evening star., 1923-09-02
BY FRANK II. HEDGES.
= HE clan of Satsuma has again
obtained control Of the govern

HE clan of Satsuma has again
obtained control Of the govern
ment of Japan. The signifi-
canoe of the appointment OF
Admiral Count Gomez Yamamoto to the
premiership, thus bringing him out from
under the cloud that has hovered over
him for the past nine years, is. the proof
that Japan is still far from having
achieved either party or representa-
tive government. For approximately
1000 years the actual power of gov
crnment has lain i'll the hands of
first one family and then another. OF
first one feudal elan and then its
victorious rival. This condition still
exists, and in it lies the explanation
OF the appointment OF Count Yamamoto,
an explanation that may seem curious
and 4 bit confusing TO Americans but
that is really very simple.
The first family to gain control OF
IN. government, acting. of course,
through the person of the emperor.
lost power by permitting ii rival TO
E!trench himself with the army. and
as consequence the first Shoguuate
Was established, more than 200 years
ago fshe emperor was still nominaliy
was largely religious while that OF
the shoSun was based on arms. The
overthrow OF the last of the Shogun-
arcs. that OF the Tokugawa family.
and the So-CaTled restoration Of the
emperor in 1868 was brought about
not by the emperor but by the two
clans that had grown in strength un-
rder the TokuGawas. The lands OF the
Lord OF Satsuma were situated at the
extreme southwestern tip Of Japan
n g -
'hosiu guarded the western entrance
10 the inland sea. These two clans
, united against the common enemy, in
thlS case the powerful Tokugawa
Shogun and the foreigners from over
the seas, i'll the shape Of Americans.
,EngliShmcn, Frenchmen and other
WesternerS. AS has always been the
case III Japan. they acted in the name
or the emperor and when the last OF
the shoguns resigned all power was
given back to his imperial majesty.
But this restoration Of power was,
IN reality. merely on the surface. for
the leaders Of the two clans controlled
the government. We're the. power be
mind the throne"
Band Dissolved Itself.
Their mutual enemy. the To,zuga va
Clan. humbled and realizing that they
could not openly oppose the United
States and Europe. the bond that had
united Chosiu and Satsuma dissolved
Itself, and most OF the internal history
a. Japan during the past sixty years
Is the story of the rivalry between
these two clans. zach seeking to be-
come dominant.
The clan OF / rsuma found it's
stronghold in the J;r,anese navy; that
OF Iho"Iu III the army. How this
game to be is somsshing of a mystery
Fut Satsuma men i re still in control
pf the navy and Chosiu of the army.
because England vas the premier
laval power of the World at that time,
me sons of Satsuma We're sent to
England for their education and the
sons of Chosiu journeyed to the nation
whose military reputation was then
highest, TO France. OF course, with
the passing of the years both the navy
and army have drawn some of their
ablest officers from other clans, but
<oAtsum3 and ChoSiu have remained
supreme in the matter Of ministerial
posts. Except for q few months in
1850. the navy portfolio was never out
o. the hands Of a SatSunia man until
1906, when Il was given to Admiral
Saito, but Admiral Saito was consid-
cred partisan of Satsunlil, L follower
OF Count Yamamoto. the new premier
Gen. Baron Ishimoto, who was made
Chosiu, but he, too, was d supporter
OF that clan. A year later when
Baron Ishimoto died, Chosiu was not
only ignored in the naming Of his
successor but q Satsuma man chosen.
the nation welcomed the action be-
IeSlnS that It marked the beginning
OF the end OF clan DONNA tion. Ad-
Iniral Baron kato. who was minister
or the navy under four prenierS. was
less of Il elan adherent than any other
man VINO has held that post
Feud Has Wide Range,
The .Satsuma- -Chosiu warfare ex
tends into every phase Of public and
semi-public life in Japan. They have
Rlternated in presiding over the i'm
perial household and they have taken
under their wings such organizations
as the Japan Red Cross, the Soldiers
Ald Association. the Marine Associa-
ti"n. the Patriotic Women's Assocfa-
tion and similar societies. Satsuma
established the Bank of Japan. Most
OF the larger business and finan-
c'al firms in Japan can be divided into
nf the two powerful southern clans.
Formosa is under the control of
th"siu and Korea under that of
SatSunla.
The late Prince Yamagata was for
years the outstanding fig,Ir. IN the
choslu clan. Following the betrothaI
Of the Prince Regent to Princess
NaEako kuni, whose mother is of sat-
sunla, prlnce Iamagata did all in his
power to break the engagement. He
failed, and the people of Japan re-.
Ioiced. The power Of Chosiu declined
with that failure. and the death of
I'll" prince about d year later further
weakened it. The accession of Count
amamoto shows clearly that Satsu-
ma is in the saddle at present.
Count Yamamoto had been out of
touch with political life for. eight
years when. in February, 1913, he was
pire for the first time. Prince Kat
sura. a Choslu clansman. had failed
miserably in his third premicrship.
THE majority party in the Diet. the
Sciyukai. sought to form a party gov
eminent, but the little group behind
th" throne was too powerful for them
The issue narrowed down as TO
whether the next ministry should be
purely party affair or d coalition