Page:Constitutional imperialism in Japan (IA constitutionalim00clemrich).pdf/50

This is another topic which is not mentioned in the Japanese Constitution, but which is a natural and necessary outgrowth of constitutionalism. Political parties are important organs of representative institutions. It is not necessary to enter into a lengthy discussion of this topic which is more fully treated by the writer in The Political Science Quarterly for December, 1912. And still more recently (June, 1914), Mr. Henry Satoh has published a book, Evolution of Political Parties in Japan, to which some references have already been made. Uyehara also discusses this topic.^[1]

The history of political parties in Japan may be divided into the following periods: (1) embryonic period, 1867–1882; (2) organizing period, 1882–1890; (3) developing period, 1890–1898; (4) influential period, 1898–1911; (5) predominant period, 1911 ——. But in this connection, we are specially concerned only with the three periods from 1890 to the present time.

The first national election, on July 4, 1890, resulted in the return of members divided among ten small groups, some of which however succeeded in amalgamating into four or five parties, of which the largest one was the Jiyuto, or Liberal Party. For several years the Liberals and the Progressives (Kaishinto or Shimpoto) were the most prominent parties; and each in turn was sought in alliance by the Government. In 1898, those two parties, burying the hatchet, united in organizing the Kenseito, or Constitutional party. This new party was suddenly called upon to form a Cabinet, generally known as the Okuma-Itagaki Ministry, from the leaders of the two parties that had united. This hyphenated Ministry soon fell a prey to internal dissensions; and the coalition,