Evening star., 1925-12-06

was soon followed by the still more
memorable oath of five articles. This
oath was taken by the Emperor Meiji
in 1868. 2l years before the promul-
cation of the present constitution, in
TIA presence of a great aSsemblage of
government officials and court mobiles.
In discussing and chronicling our
recent progress and reforms, all his
torians bark back to this solemn oath.
The country had just been opened to
foreign intercourse and was in state
of turmoil incident to the transition
from seclusion to the open door and
from feudalism to national unity. The
men directing the affairs of state, who
counseied with the emperor, had the
vision and the courage to break with
antiquated traditions and to launch
the ship Of state on the yet uncharted
sea of modernism.
Articles of the Oath.
The oath of five articles was in
effect an expression of Japan's ma
tional determination and aspiration.
The articles. as rendered into English,
are as follows:
l. Public councils shall be organized
and all governmental affairs shall be
managed in accordance with public
opinion.
.. All classes shall with one heart
devote themselves to the advance
ment of the national well-being.
3. All people. regardless of class,
shall be permitted to realize their
aspirations.
4. All antiquated customs shall be
abolished, and justice and equity, as
they are universally recognized, shall
be the guiding principles of govern
mental action.
5. knowledge shall be sought
throughout the world, thus placing
the empire upon more solid founda-
tionS.
The fact is undisputed that this his
toric oath had the effect Of stimulat-
ing the people with new aspirations,
not only for national unity but also
for a more democratic political sys-
tenn. The oath advised the people to
seek knowledge throughout the world.
and 1t urged that 'all governmental
affairs shall be managed in accord
ance with public opinion" 1t ushered
in new age. and opened the gate to
flood of new political ideas and
theories.
Berth of Radical Ideas.
The effervescence of radical or lib
eral ideas which resulted was not, per
haps, entirely anticipated by the older
men who We're largely responsible for
the Inauguration of the new regime.
Those men in their day may have been
regarded as radicals, but, being very
human, they became more conserva-
tive i'll their views as they assumed
power and responsibility. The new
radicals who followed them somewhat
frightened them. 1t was, therefore
but natural that there should be a
conflict of opinion between the old
and the new reformerS.
In consequence of this reformation,
feudaliSm was entirely abolished in
1872; and the Emperor, perceiving the
earnest desire of the people to see the
establishment of a constitutional gov
ernment, promised them in 1880 to
grant their wish after a period of
nine years. When. in 1889. that period
expired. the emperor. true to his prom
Use, proclaimed the constitution which
mas since been the basis of our gov
ernment. With the promulgatio ton of
the constitution, democracy in the
modern sense was developed In our
midst and a substantial equality of
legal rights and obligations and of So
cial and industrial opportunity was
established.
The Constitution of Japan provides
among other things that japanese sub
jects may be equally appointed to
civil. military or any other public
office: that they shall enjoy freedom
of religious belief; that they shall,
within the limits of law, enjoy liberty
of speech. writing, publication, public
meetings and associations; that the
rights of the people in regard to their
persons and property shall be respect
ed, subject to such provisions of law
as may be enacted for public benefit.
The constitution further provides for
the legislative, executive and judicial
functions.
The Imperial Diet.
The legislative power of Japan is
vested in the Imperial Diet, which
consists of the House of Peers and the
House of Representatives The fran
chise was limited at first to male
citizens above % years of age who
paid a direct tax of not less than 10
yen about So. Under this system
there were only a little over % voters
out of every 1000 of the male popu-
lation. In adopting this policy the
government again followed the ma
tural course of evolution. 1t recog-
nized that the country as a whole was
not yet sufficiently prepared or edu-
Gated to employ the new political in
strument wisely and efficiently. To
the statesmen in power it seemed the
part OF wisdom to educate and train
the people in the modern principles
of SelfgoVernment before enfranchiS-
ing them without restriction. Follow
ing this principle the election law was
revised in 1920. the revision reducing
the amount of tax to three yen about
$3.50 and increasing the number of
voters to about 102 to 900 of the
male population.
% 1lHy
stronger tendency throughout the
world has been manifested toward
the increase of popular control of both
national and International affairs. The
peoples of different countries have
come to influence more and more the
policies of their governments. This
development of liberalism and democ-
racy over the world has not been alb
sent from Japan. The voices of the
people have been raised for a further
extension of the franchise and the
manhood suffrage bill was passed by
our Diet last Spring.
Franchise Extended.
Under the new law, the franchise is
given to all male citizens above
26 years of age who are not
dependent upon public or private aid
for livelihood, and the law is estimated
to enfranchise 100000 men, thus in
creasing the number of voters from
100000 to 100000. This law is to
be put into force at the next election
and will not fail to mark another
great step forward in the development
Of democracy.
There is. of course, the movement
for woman suffrage in Japan. Our
women have long been proud of the
role that has been assigned to them in
the making of happy homes and the
rearing and training of children.
wholesome morally and physically.
They have been taught that their fore
most virtue lies in their ability to