The New York herald., 1868-05-08
Effect of the Manifesto.


HHE DEMOCRACY LOOMING UP-wHo Is THE GENTLE
MAN?
From the Japan Overland Mail Feb. Is.
The abolition of the Shogoonate and of the offices
OF Sessh0 and Kwambaku, here decreed indicate
clearly the resumption Of executive power by the
Mikado No longer will the power OF the sword be
vested In the family Of Tokugawa or edcts be issued
under the imperial seal by almost irresponsible
regent or vizier. The greater and lesser Daimos,
Tozama and Fudal alike, will all he represented in
the council chamber at Kioto and the desires OF at
least the whole Samurai class Will be able to find ex
The phrase we have italicIsed in the second clause
OF these resolutons-''W noble ana Ut.tgar''-s re-
remarkable as by no means expressive to Japanese
Of the same idea which 1t suggests TO an Euro
pean. The Japanese "vulgar" is not our
the population Of the -agriculturists
artisans, merchants are all below che 'vulgar''
In Japanese and so far below TO be beneath men,
t0n consideration. The "vulgarn are the rank and
lie OF the Sddi class, the chief OF the four classes
o. japanese society; the Others Others being in order OF
erA scho raise The produce or The earth and are
therefore held TO be the original creators oT ,redlh
artisans tChO MANUFACTURE The ra,o material into
clothing arms, houses ana furniture; ana lastly
merchants, the brokers betlceen the producer and
the consumer, ,chOse tol Is Hghtest ana profits a
mere upon cost. The "dignty OF labor' has
never been so clearly recognized in any so-caed
civilized country as in this classification OF the peo
pie OF semsavage Nippon. AJter TIE goddesceRded
sornurGf te Adam ,olo delpeS is The gentleman. IN
Jdpan. The saDsurdi has yet TO learn that he is q
despised merchant, but great reyulsion OF feel
Ing complete revolution of thought,
ever preached among such a people, IL has always
appeared TO us principle part OF our mission here
10 elevate the status OF the merchant, by showing
them how We regard him among us; capital has its
dignity as well as labor, and 1t has always too, been
tire greatest mistake made by the successive repre-
sentatiyes of Great Britain that they have done moth
Ing to advance this truth among the Official classes
Of the japanese. On the contrary, more than one
occasion, they have studied TO depreciate the i'm
portance Of the trading class by permitting them
selves to malign us to the native authorities and
have never taken the opportunities which have Of
a All md m
CLr own country.
When turn to the consideration OF the new offices
created we md much TO admire. The Sosai is clearly
an attempt at imitation oiour Prime Minister, with the
addition that he appears to have the final decision
OF matters brought before the Chief Council, the
GI,l6 Of which ne is perhaps the President; he has
casting vote, In iact The characters composing the
new tue signify, first, to unite, combine In one
whole general; second, To cut, TO decide, to
settie-and together appear to mean the person
to whom the fun consideration and final deci-
Tie tito OF CLIO Is composed of two characters
fret, 10 discuss and settle: second, to settle, to
nx-and the function OF this council is 10 discuss
eli questions and suggest the method of their SETTLE
ment 20 the Sosai. The characters which form the
title Of the second council, the sanyo, may be rem
dered Associate CouncI.n There Is evidently an
attempt made here at imitation OF the upper aud
lower houses OF Parliament In European countries
The first occupant OF the dignity OF Sosai, Arisu-
gawa no Mia. IL q relative OF the Mfkado, believed TO
be brother In fact, OF the last emperor, and, he
will necessarily have great influence over his
nephew's mind, O great deal depends upon his
character and disposition towards US. We have as
than his name and rank. The GiIio, First Council,
at present consists OF ten members, the five first
named being kupes Of the Mikado and the others
well known DaiElios. We may note here that to any
one with knowledge of the forms of japanese state
papers the fact Of these Daimios being named by
Their Territories instead OF their family names Is
proof OF the manifesto coming from the Mikados
court NOT from the Shogoons. Another Is the use
Of the term "Baku-fu' as applied to the Shogo0nate.
OF the nve Dailnos sitting in the Clio owaii repre-
sents the hfst OF the Gosanke families, and Echzen
is the descendant OF the eldest son Of Iyeyas, who
was adopted by Hideyoshi; and thus Gongcn,sama
and Taik0sams may still look down from their heav-
eny seats with favor on the Council In which their
descendants bold places Of honor. Geyshu, Tosa
and Satsuma cannot expect to enjoy the smiles OF
Gongen-saina At all events, representing as they
do the confederacy of the Southern Dainios
which has broken the power OF his ancien
ideas and the imaginary frown of dead hero
will not disturb them. Neither Chiosiu nor
against all Japanese etiquette TO admit either AZ
present. but hope TO see the undoubed talents OF
the latter made use OF on the irst vacancy as will
most probably be the case. II he acquiesce In the