Smyrna times., 1860-06-07
japanese Social and Political Ethics.

Society in Japan is divided into eight class
es, not however, with regard to religious pre-
judice. These classes are equally subdivided
into two grades, the higher and lower. The
priests and soldiers constitute the former, and
are allowed to carry two swords and wear loose
trowsers. To the latter. belong the medical
men, inferior Government officials, merchants,
retail dealers, and daily and agricultural la
borers. The privileges in dress and equipage
peculiar to the more elevated classes are
guarded with great jealousy. The richest men
in the Empire belong to the mercantile class
es, who are debsrred by custom from expanding
their money in luxurious and ostentatious liv-
lag. The Mikado, or spiritual Emperor has
nothing to do with the temporal affairs of the
country. The Tycoon, the temporal Emperor,
| is held by his councils to a strict discharge of
his duty, making him almost State prisoner
system of allegiance says: sit was cruel sa-
tire upon this unhappy potentate to present him
with yacht one might as well request the
Pope's acceptance of wife,"
For the sustainment of civil and criminal
administration there is an institution similar to
the old Anglo Saxon frank-pledge. Five fami-
| lies form corporation for the good conduct Of
the members, of which all are mutually respon.
sible. This combination is represented by
senior head, and several of them form a street,
the inhabitants of which elect an official, whose
appointment is subject to the approval Of the
Council of State. He Is The registrar Of the
births, marriages, deaths and movements of
those within his district, appoints one Of each
household as the nightly guard, and is answer
able for the general order of the organization.
Every department in public and private life is
subjected 10 strict system of surveillance
Rulers are as much subjected TO surveillance as
the ruled, which materially alters the first inn
preston likely to be formed that this indicates
q corruption of society. The country acknowl-
edges public opinion to exercise great infin-
ence; yet there is no proper representative
system, and no free press, SO that the only me-
thod by which, it would seem, the people can
be made acquainted with the movements Of
Government is by a system of espionGge.-
Cross-eyed persons are employed for this pur-
) pose, and MIR. Oliphant states that SO deeply
has the spirit of the institution entered into the
; minds of the people that they are unable to
imagine country in which 1t does not exist
: Notwithstanding the strangeness of this pro-
. ceeding in government in which the feudal
element has large share, all The principal
writer's upon Japan state that the people are
celebrated for openness of disposition, and that
corruption, so proyerbal with other eastern
: nations, is foreign to that of Japan, where Q
wonderful amount of probi,y is exhibited.
The laws of the Japanese consist 10 immemo
+ rial usages and imperial edcts. These fully
. guarantee the security of persons and property
Q reaching all and exempting none from punish
. ment, whether of the most exalted rank o.
U meanest condition in life. Care is taken tina
% ignorance of the law shall not be plea for ex
10 oneration. The greatest publicity is given t
y all new edicts. by free distribution of printe
ie copies. No reasons are assigned for the issu
Is ing of an ordinance, for the commands Of Gov
ID ernment were made for obedience, and not 70
n, criticism. In the transmission Of property, tn
n laws are undertaking. The eldest son succeed
~ to The estates and authority of the father, th
IL younger sons receiving comparatively sma
ne portion during the parents Lifetime, and tn
e. daughters obtaining nothing. The hnsban
IN pays a sum of money for his bride, upon ma
Is rage, affording her maintenance in the evel
nd of divorce. Bat the children Of only the fir
be wife are considered legitimate. The tribuna
of justice are seldom disgraced by corruptio
nd Slavery, which exists in Japan, partakes of Il
tie nature of contract, being founded upon Il
pi- acknowledgment of the original freedom of Il
10 slaves. A person may sell his services for
in stipulated period, for sum paid in advanc
and he becomes the property Of the purchase
nd but should death be inflicted upon him, guiltle
ar Of crime, the cruelty of the master is punish
Sc, by the penalties pronounced against murdt
It's. or, which are defined at length in Thos Ru
for daIl's {" Memorials of Japan"
we The Americans, now that the Embassy a
OF their guests have it in their power 10 dIsabu
the the japanese of the uniavorable projudic
eP- against US. taught them by the duplicity a
re- nsanness Of the Portuguese and Dutch.-Pen
= syluGnian.
seu WASTE NOT. WANT NoT.--A gentleman W
SIN had put aside two bottles of capital ale to
the create some friends, discovered, just before
4. a ner, that his servant, country pumpkin, B
an empted them both. " Scoundrel!" said
master, what do you mean by this 7" .'W
81 sir, saw plain enough, by The clouds, thai
were going to thunder. so 1 drank up the
this at once, lost II should turn sour, for thei
rue. nothing dp abomnate like waste"
val --.-@.e.------
nta. AN Illinois editor challenges the State
,.,a produce wife equal TO his for smartness
-, muscle. Among the many things enumera
a"'- which she earsily performed one morning
fore breakfast was whipping the editor. spa