The Christian Union/Volume 37/Number 16/Correspondence: Japanese Politics

To the Editors of The Christian Union:

As I have some experience in Japanese politics, will you allow me to correct some misrepresentations in a letter signed “B.,” and published in your issue of March 22? I can see from what he writes how little knowledge he acquired about Japanese politics during seven years of his stay in the country. He tries to defend the shameful edict issued by the Japanese Cabinet on December 27, and to represent the popular movement as a work of “harebrained youthful fanatics.” The facts, however, contradict his assertion. Those whom the despotic Cabinet expelled were not youthful fanatics. On the contrary, the most of them were the distinguished men of mature age, whose reputation is widely known in Japan. I may mention Nakashima, the former Governor of the Kanagawa Department; Shimamoto, a former official of the Treasury Department; Yosida, a former official of the Foreign Department. Some are editors of Japanese newspapers. For instance, Osaki, an editor, is a follower of Okuma, the present Minister of Foreign Affairs. Others are the members of Local Boards in the provinces, such as Yechigo, Yamagata, Tosa, and other places.

These men were sent to Tokio as the deputations of the oppressed farmers to ask the Government to relieve them from the effect of overtaxation. At present the owner of the richest land can keep his property only at a loss. According to the statistics the number of deaths resulting from starvation during 1885 and 1886 were 210 and 1,212, respectively. The country is threatened with financial ruin through the superficial policy of the present Cabinet. A cry, “Give us food,” is heard from one end of the country to the other. The present Cabinet resertedresorted [sic] to a desperate course to maintain its position, and sent out thousands of police and spies to arrest and expel all the members of deputations under the pretext of a conspiracy against the Government.

The present Cabinet never took the trouble to prove to defend themselves before an open court. Those who wanted to know the reason were cast into filthy Japanese prisons. If they were guilty of the crime alleged, why did the Cabinet not deal with them according to the usual criminal procedure? The law provides for such cases as this. There is no excuse whatever for the Cabinet in their extraordinary despotic measure on December 27.

Again, the writer B. doubts whether there is any one amongst opposing parties so well qualified to govern the country as the present Cabinet Ministers, and goes on to say, “If so, I know not who they would be.” I am not surprised at his ignorance, as he has shown himself to be utterly ignorant of Japanese politics. It is a well-known fact that now every talent is arrayed against the present Cabinet. I need not enter into any further detail than merely to point out that Okuma, the leader of opposing party, is considered by the defenders of the present Cabinet to be a greater man than Ito. Besides, who are those Ministers? None of those now in power have done anything worth noticing. During the war of restoration in 1868, Ito and Inouye were very humble men. Ito was a servant of Kido, a great statesman now dead. Inouye was in Nagasaki, 500 miles away from the scene of action. What have they been doing the last ten years? They have been ruining the country through their superficial policy and financial mismanagement. They have been introducing superficial elements of European civilization to cover their shameful schemes. They have even, by their licentious conduct, been violating the sanctity of the Japanese home.

Now the time has come when the preachers of the Gospel can win the confidence of the Japanese people by their fearless conduct and sincere sympathy with the oppressed Japanese people. But if they stoop to the authority of a small number of Oriental dignitaries in disregard to their principle, the Japanese people will say those Christian preachers are the friends of the despotic Cabinet and enemies of the people. Then the anti-Christian feeling will be universal in Japan. I sincerely hope that the Christian preachers will prove to be the friends of the oppressed and the champions of liberty in Japan.