While a chorus of gladness has been sounded by the press because Jthe circle of voters has been enormously widened, a deep note of dissatisfaction and of fierce resentment against the "obstructing" Peers, is also clearly discernible in the comments of the papers of the land, 'A few extracts from some of the principal journals will best show exactly what public opinion, as. reflected by the press, thinks of the new orientation in Japan's domestic polities.
"The granting of the suffrage is! ing event in the history says the "Osaka draws a line of distinction between the old and the new ages. The Peers, by jan objectionable amendment, have prevented about two million peo from enjoying the franchise.—This is a political crime far greater than that committed by the Upper House when it organized—the bureaucratic Kiyoura Government (the immediate predecessor of the' present Ministry). The Peers invalidated the fundamental principles lof universal suffrage at the mo-nent. the Bill was really born, and the Government was powerless to repel this transgression of the people's ave lited at the adoption of universal manhood suffrage unsatisfactory though the final result. ix, and we taken this o congratulating th saya the "Osaka Mrinichi-
Patence anid injustice of the Peers caused the new-born child to be brought into this world with ugly wounds all over, and the people must set fo Work to remove all these vestiges of cruelty. The attitude of the Upper House is unpardonable.
has throughout been mean and impudent, and it has been amply proved that the House of Peers is a body of devils and demons with cowardly hearts.'
"Considering the loose bonds of unity between the Coalition parties," says the "Yorodzn," "the success of the suffrage bill was almost mi raculous. There are grave marks of imperfection, due te the arbitrary interference of the Privy Counci and the prejudiced amendments the Upper House. The public has been sorely tried by the unscrupulussness of the Peers, and the Intter fectly unaware that they are dancing on the top of a volcano. History shows that such a class of 1 nation is doomed to destruction."
These brief extracts faithfully represent what the popular press of Jupan to-day is thinking. barbarous manner and practically confined these members of the House of Peers to their homes too. As a consequence, the Upper House held we session on the last day fiftieth session of the Diet. ufterwarded blamed the and accused Premier ato and his Cabinet of having innesters to the dirty, work. This the Government vehemently denied, but the Peers iterate ed and reiterated the charges and demanded and received an apology from the Ministry.
is not improbable that the Government was perfectly aware that such an atruck on the homes of Peers having a seat in the Upper Chamber was to he carried out. It is not improbable either that some of the Cabinet members secretly egged the soshi on, thinking this an excellent way of shortening the:
The Poverty Clause One of the most criticized clauses in the draft of the new suffrage et is the phrase (inserted by an amendment of the House of Peers) denying the franchise to those "dependent upon others for sustenance."
This, as may be easily seen, is condition couched in very ela Tanguage, and may yet lead to considerable complication. For instance, 4 parent does all he can o educate his child He Is every penny he earns on them, and, it course of time, when too old' to work, will be looked after by his children. Does he come under the category of those "dependent upon others for sustenance?" The Up-ver House amendment says he does ard ix, therefore, not entitled t2 the vote This is not' only unjust, the Japanese papers point out, but may
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.