Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/107

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THE DUTIES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
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  1. We make it our object to strengthen the economic basis of national life by encouraging agricultural and industrial enterprises, by promoting navigation and commerce, and by completing the various means of communication.
  2. We propose to direct our efforts towards the realization of the object of local self-government, so that the communal units may be knit together in such a way as to secure social and economic harmony among them.
  3. Keenly aware as we are of the serious responsibilities which a political party owes to the State, we will strive to shape our actions in accordance with the requirements of public interests, and always endeavour, in the spirit of self-admonition, to guard ourselves against falling into the old evils and abuses.
The Conduct of an Election Campaign.[1]

In view of the growing sympathy and independence which unite the nations together in peaceful relations; in view of the increasing efforts of each civilized Power to excel its fellows in promoting the arts of peace and the cause of progress; and especially in view of the indisputable fact that the centre of international competition is steadily moving towards the Pacific, where, owing to her geographical position, Japan is destined to play an extremely important part—in view of all these facts, I consider it a matter of great and urgent moment for our statesmen to strive loyally and patriotically for the preservation of the prestige which our common country has won, and for her maintenance in the new position in which, owing to the turn events are now taking, she will soon find herself.

A healthy and judicious development of the body politic being the first requisite of national strength in this competitive march forward, our party must endeavour to secure progress based solidly on the terra-firma of intellectual and material resources.

All seeming progress, all progress which is incompatible with the actual economic means of the people, is sure to end in disease. Our party should therefore pay special attention, firstly, to the principles of economy and efficiency in the management of public affairs, and, secondly, to the augmentation of the material resources of the country. In the same way, the intellectual development of the country is not only in itself a very definite form of progress, but it is also a means wherewith to further the general progress. Our party, therefore, should devote special attention to the question of the education and the moral elevation of the people, and should in con-

  1. ↑ Issued before the General Election of 1902.
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