Page:Constitutional imperialism in Japan (IA constitutionalim00clemrich).pdf/53

One of the most significant phases of the political progress made in New Japan during the past twenty-five years of constitutionalism has been the development of an expressive public opinion. During the feudal system there was, from one point of view, no public opinion; or at the best, it was very narrow and local in its sphere of action. But along with the granting of popular rights and privileges, with the spread of education, with the growing importance and power of the press, there has been a most gratifying evolution of public opinion. It is true, “and pity ’tis ’tis true”, that often the most evident manifestation of that opinion has been in mob violence. But in spite of that unfortunate, though perhaps inevitable, concomitant, public opinion, as expressed in the press and on the platform, can no longer be ignored, but must always be taken into consideration. And the Japanese press, in spite of the existence of “yellow journalism”, is a creator and expresser of sound public opinion.

There can be little if any doubt that it was nothing but the power of public opinion which overwhelmed the Katsura Ministry in February, 1913, after less than two months of official life. And it was likewise the fact that public opinion held the Yamamoto Ministry responsible for the naval scandals which forced that Cabinet out of power in March, 1914, in spite of the fact that it was supported by the Seiyukai with a big majority in the House of Representatives. And it was public opinion which upheld the Okuma Cabinet for several months against that hostile Seiyukai majority and finally, in the election of March, 1915, completely turned the tables and gave Okuma a big majority. Of course, public opinion is likely to be more or less fickle and sometimes even unjust. In 1913, the Seiyukai members of the House of Representatives were the popular idols on account of their resolute opposition to Katsura: in