The New York herald., 1868-03-12
Exciting Causes of the CivIl War.


Exciting Causes of the Civil War.
[From the Japan lYokohama) Times, Jan. Al
Each stage in the advance of such nation as this
1t is well TO clearly mark; and it has more than
occurred, in the progress Of our Intercourse with
the Japanese that their arrival at such stage their
passage through some critical situation, has CORE
sponded with the close OF our European year. The
opening of Osaka and Hiogo to foreign trade, an
nOunced for the 1st of January, 1S6S is such crisis
During the whole of the past year native and foreign
politicians have been preparing for 1t, and in
reviewing the history OF Japan during 1867, the rec
erd win be found strongly marked by the shadow of
the coming event. 1t is the projected opening of the
new ports which has been the main cause Of the de-
preston of our import trade it was to prepare for
this that the ministers paid to 'Stotsbash in the
such serious consequences; and, though other
sisted to produce it. there is no doubt that
by this has been preciptated the revolution
which has dethroned the ancient dynasty of
Iyeyas. The history Of 1867 is therefore, indeed the
Japan to foreign trades it viii be for the annaiss Of
1868 to tell us whether the party in favor of the
measure succeeded in CARRYING 1t, and carrying it
diplomacy. Ours the task Of portraying the struggle
between the Southern Daimios and the Shogoon, one
Sf1a e isss sp'S00e winch We SAe''nea III our fe'e"
And in the group Of Japanese statesmen who have
been engaged throughout the year in the discussion
OF this great question the most to our own
view has been, OF course 'Stotsbashi, the able sue
cessor of the unfortunate young Iyemochi; and
the history OF the period under review is the history
OF the opening Of Osaka, so may 1t also be rightly
called chapter in the biography Of the astue and
far-seeng cadet OF the house of Mto. II was at The
close of 1865 that he issued to the foreign
Ministers his invitation to confer with him
at Osaka upon the momentous question OF the
opening OF that city to trade, and but for the
death OF the Mikado, the meeting would probably
have taken place In January. doubt-and doubt
stances OF japanese chicane are recorded in the
legation archives-appears also to have suggested
itself to the mind OF the British Minister, lest the
dispute with Chiosiu not being yet finally adjusted
his presence at the court of the Shogoon might be
desired as an evidence of the same moral support
which he had given to the other side, when, In the
previous August he had visited Satsuma at Kagosi-
ma. He sent down. therefore, in February couple
Of attaches ascertain that 'Stotsbashi was really
sincere in his desire to make arrangements
for the opening of the new ports. Their re-
port was favorable, and the French Minister having
paid his visit in March, the period Of mourning for
the Mikado having expired, and peace with Chiosiu
having been at last proclaimed Sir Harry Parkes
18th OF April.
'Stotsbashi was in earnest for on the 2sth we
engagements Of the treaty Of 1883, and that Jeddo
and Osaka, Hiogo and some western port would
ese s Spensa e on aror d M IF %sc sys
made preparations for commencing business in the
South, but merely to place on record matter of
Jeddo and Nee-e-gata has been lately postponed for
other three months The first Impressions OF 'tots-
wanted the richness OF the envrons Of Yokohama.
Osaka disappointed everybody. Provisions were
scarce and dear, beggars swarming and impudent,
trade appeared to be dead and corpses were seen
daily floating down the river A procession Of
drunken coolies encountered boats load OF visitors
from her Majesty's steamer Argus at the landing
place at Hiogo and saiuted them with showers OF
stones, driving them back to their boats with some
slight damage. But 'Stotsbashi had wisely i'm
ported from Yokohama French chez de cuisine
with his aidcs-decamp and battery complete, and
aer grand reception h sehn anG Sa1duea OF Two our
power OF the Shagoon appeared fully established; his
soldiers lined the streets with double hedge OF bay
onets The populace looked upon the strangers with
q respectful, almost awful curiosity. good deal OF
powder was burned in salutes and e,cr de jote His
Highness was most afable sitting for his cartes de
Vfse and making bids for the chargers Of the Lega-
ton Guard. The fine old English snob immediately
developed himself and 'Stosbashi-three DAYS before
which he Immediately avaied himself, OF making
British worship OF rank and respect OF persons aid
him to secure a convention In which he certainly
got the better OF his confding guest.
Sir Harry Parkes accepted, for the residence for
another Decina, with the additional disadvantage of
being swamp-and at Hiogo strip OF sandy beach,
close TO squad fishing village and as far from the
town the Japanese chose to Indicate He consented
that the upset price at which this land should he sub
mitted to public competition should be the equivalent
Of whatever the Japanese chose TO say cost them to
prepare it, and to ensure them good brisk auction
he agreed that only limited should be at first
offered to the crowd OF bidders from the Japan and
China ports who were certain to nock thither so
soon as permission was accorded them. Having
achieved this diplomatic coup he returned to Yoko-
hama with his plans Of the new concessions and
carefully kept them TO himself until November
when public opinion forced him to show US how our
But the Ministers had hardly been back a fortnight
when the tenor OF our letters from Osaka began
t,.. TO threaten coming storm. with the fuller
had that faith In the stability Of 'Stots-
bashi's power which the foreign representa-
been given to the Shogoonate when, In 1861 the Dali
mios were released by old Echizen then Regent from
been dealt by shmadz' sabaro three years later
when he procured the Mikado's order for the
yarg yonng ly,smochl to repair to css Kioo and nn
lowed, with what result our readers know;
with what loss OF prestige, to the Jeddo chief, with
what accession OF strength to the Southern Dami0s
who had associated themselves together to break the
mated yoke of the Iyeyas dynasty. For seven years
Selves o eon ana ana e
succeeded In seducing to their party such powerful
allies OF the shogoon as Kanga Echizen and sendai
-when the house OF lreyas was divided against
Itself by the Mito vendetta, when, beaten and dis-
pirtted, the Jeddo armies were suenly retreating
before the victorious rebel OF Nangato. and when,
finally, Iyemoehi had succumbed beneath the re-
peaed blows OF evil fortune-then 1t was easy 60 see
Nothing was wanting but q pretext for the coup
Ted and that Stotsbashi-who, able as he Is N still
young-gave them on this very occasion Of the Min
listers visit. The Daimios had been anxious to i'm
press the foreigners with sense Of their wealth and
military power, and were desrous of meeting the
Ministers at Osaka at the head Of their troops and
glittering with all the spendof OF the chivalry OF
Japan-that In the words OF the Shogoons great an
cestor .the broad and extensive atfiuence and
the intrepdity Of the military OF the En-
pire might shine forth.n They were In no way con-
tent that 'S0sbash should represent them, or rather
present himself to his foreign guests as their master.
IL had been arranged therefore, that the conference
on opening the ports should be attended by certain
delegates from the Southern Confederation. But
'Stotsbashi precipitated the meeting and received
the Ministers alone before the Daink0s came mp.
II has been rumored that he was led to expect In
March that In any case he would have the material
aid OF France, and IL s possible that be may have
been SO misled. The distinct understanding
with the Ministers OF other treaty powers, too
30 often affirmed and reafflrmed to his prede-
cessors and himself that the treaties had been made
with the Sbogoon, and none but Shogoons ports
could be opened according TO those treaties, must
Also have beguiled him into the belief that we would
all be inclined to support him as, virtually, the
reign Of japan. He leaned upon reed and IL broke
and pierced his hand
The angry Damois arrived Mt Osaka TO fnd that
the foreigners had come and gone, and that q con-
venton favorable TO the ShogOon, and favorable to
him alone, had been signed; that he had promised TO
open Osaka and HiOg0, and that the profits Of the
trade were to ow, as did before those OF the old into
the Jeddo treasury. They Immediately declared that IN
Oaaka were 10 he anenel they would thenaeluea