Constitutional Imperialism in Japan/Preface
Preface
This pamphlet is an attempt to give a bird's-eye view of the progress and position of constitutional government and representative institutions in Japan. It does not pretend to enter into a detailed discussion of the various questions which naturally arise; and yet it may serve as an introduction to a more thorough study. The Appendix contains the principal documents necessary for such a study. It may, indeed, seem that the Appendix is disproportionately large and that an operation should have been performed. But the material there reproduced is of such importance that it could not well have been omitted or abridged. If any desire a more detailed study of the subject of this pamphlet, they are referred to Uyehara's Political Development of Japan, from which we have often quoted. We only hope that the brief study of this pamphlet may arouse a deep interest in more profound investigation.
Ernest Wilson Clement.
Tokyo, Japan, December 30, 1915.