[194] It had established a record by holding office for four and one-half years, the longest period of any Ministry since the establishment of constitutional government.
[195] For text, see end of Appendix.
[196] The word “Meiji” means “Enlightened Rule.”
[197] From Chamberlain’s “Things Japanese.”
[198] From “Japan and America.”
[199] From the “Japan Mail.”
[200] From a Report by U. S. Consul-General Bellows, Yokohama.
[201] From the “Japan Times.”
[202] The first figures in each group represent the end of 1896, and the second figures the end of 1900.
The grand total of operatives had increased in 1909 to 692,221—240,864 males and 451,357 females.