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Show REFORM IN JAPAN, The fact that Takahashi Hara, leader of the Seiyukai party, has been installed in-stalled as the head'of the new cabinet, undoubtedly marks an epoch in Japanese Japa-nese history, for it is the first ministry i presided over by a commoner. The construction con-struction of the cabinet is now based on the system of parties, and the will of the majority is to prevail in the future unless there is a reaction, which is not at all likely. The Nipponese newspapers consider tho Hara cabinet as the first great step toward a non-bureaucratic non-bureaucratic people's cabinet, and all draw attention to the fact that Hara is the first citizen premier without the halo of the peerage, and tho significance signifi-cance of his selection as leader of the principal political party. They urge loyal national support of the new government, gov-ernment, declaring that failure would prove a setback to constitutional progress. prog-ress. The increasing power of the people peo-ple of Japan is primarily due to the civilizing effects of the war upon tho world at large, with the exception of Germany and her allies. It means the, rise of democracy and the eud of autocracy, autoc-racy, a-nd the Japanese, who havo made such wonderful progress in tho last h;tif century, do not propose to be laggards in the race to begin when the new era is ushered in. In order to secure peace Germany will be compelled to follow the example of Japan and build her government around a cabinet selected by the duly elected representatives of the people. There is no other way. Japan is a newcomer in the family of civilized nations, but she, bids fair to hold hr place in the front rank. She will certain'y do so if he holds to her present course and lpave-B the old notions no-tions of a government being conducted from &lovo behind her. There has been a great amount of prejudice n gainst Japan in this country, which has been fostered by an element working in the interct of Germany. The action of tho Tokio government at various times in respect to China gave color to the belief be-lief that the Japanese intended to rule the eVient by force nud make use of her army and navy to enlarge her com-j com-j mer -e. If tho Tokio statesmen ever I entertained such notions wo believe 'they now sec that the future prosperity : of their country depends upon following follow-ing the example of tho United States j rather thau that of Germany. The ! militarises of Berlin plotted anil planned for many years to dominate the earth, politically and commercially. Iu common com-mon with many other nations Japan was drawn into the world war to protect pro-tect her own rights as well as those of the states invaded by the central powers, pow-ers, and in so doing she definitely and unreservedly aiigued herself with the forces of democracy, and it would be the next trfiug to an utter impossibility for her to draw back even if she wanted want-ed to reach out for things belonging to other nations. We realize that the elder statesmen and the various cliques of titled aristocracy in Japan will continue con-tinue to fight for political control, but we do not believe they will ever again gain the ascendency, although individual indi-vidual noblemen may head political parties as they do in democratic England. Eng-land. As we look at it, the situation in the orient has greatly improved since the outbreak of the war. |