The sale of the issue of the " Hochi," one of the most widely circulated of the apanese newspapers, of June 21, has been prohibited on the ground ti contained a leading article instigating ion of the Home Minister, ways being sanctioned by his Depart- 1 ment. The following is a summarized translation of the offending article: The present Cabinet is not popular principally because the nationalization of the railways has greatly contributed to the financial pression. Now the municipalization of the Tokio Electric Tramways woold bring about a similar result at the Capital. It is rumoured that a member of the Cabinet who is leader of the Seiyukai (Mr. Hara, the Home Minister) is determined to effect the manicipalization, whatever happens, in tion with undesirable persons connected with the Company and the Moanicipality. If these reports are well founded, he must be considered to be trying to fool the Empire, the Citizens of Tokio, and the Financial Department. He would injure the national interests for the sake of his personal advantage, and he cannot be restrained by force of reason. If sch an improper and unpatrio tic scheme is carried out, he must he regarded as an enemy of the! country. Some years ago Mr. Hoshi daringly took advantage of the Tokio Municipal administration to effect his purposes, and even put Prosar on the national Governm Ao assassin then appeared and Tiled him. To carry out wunicipalization within legal limits is not unlawful, bat such a hateful step as this proposal will not) tei 'a great mistake to suppose that to encounter some great check.
Japanese of the present day have not the spirit which filled some of them at the time when Mr. Hoshi was assassin nated. We -very much hope that justice and honour will be observed, and that no member of the Cabinet will cause that uufortnoate incident to ed in the City where the Imin" located.—* The.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.