198 D. W. Stevens—Japan. 
in the formation of this council followed, until in 1885 the 
present executive system was adopted. It consists of a cabinet . 
and a privy council. The former, presided over by the prime 
minister, is composed of the ministers in charge of the executive 
departments, who are directly responsible to the Emperor for the 
management of their offices. The functions of the privy council 
are purely advisory. 
The different prefectures into which the empire is divided are 
under the charge of governors, appointed by the Emperor upon 
the recommendation of the minister for home affairs. In each 
prefecture there is, as I have already stated, a local assembly, 
which codperates with the governor in the management of local 
affairs. 
The imperial diet is composed of two houses, a house of peers 
and a house of representatives. The former body consists of 
members who hold office asa hereditary right; of a certain num- 
ber who are elected by the different orders of nobility which are 
not entitled to seats in the house, and of a certain number ap- 
pointed by the Emperor. 
The members of the house of representatives are elected directly 
by the people. A property qualification governs the exercise of 
the electoral franchise. 
This, in brief, is the executive and legislative system now in 
force in Japan. When everything is taken into account, it may 
be said to have worked smoothly and efficiently. Since the 
adoption of the constitution and the establishment of the diet 
there has at times been a great deal of political excitement, but 
throughout every storm of this kind there has been no attack 
upon the privileges of the people, mo thought of an assault upon 
the fundamental law. The constitution has been scrupulously 
observed, and each struggle between the executive and the legis- 
lative branches of the government has been carried on within 
the lines defined by that instrument. Such contests are inevi- 
table where men strive for political supremacy. In Japan they 
afford a useful vent for political passions, and when, in time, 
party principles are more clearly enunciated and party lines 
more sharply drawn, there is no reason to believe that parlia- 
mentary government in Japan will not achieve all that was 
hoped for it. The fact that in Japan, even from ancient times, 
a system of local self-government in town and village and rural 
district was conceded by the government and jealously retained 
