Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-08-07
THE TROUBLES IN JAPAN.


The late advices from Japan are til & the
SfoisbJshI family were defeating TIE Southern
confederationists at every point. Yeddo and
Yokohama " ~ an und r Stofsbdsbi's con-
troll. TIE MIksto was pri oner AT kiotD.
S,otsbashi he'd refused the Tycoo al ard he
probabilities were that he would speedily have
things all his own way, and that progrcs- and
antI-exclus' veDe. will rule her :. er.
As this ir formas on may not De quite intal''-
glbIe to those who have not kept the run of
Japanese al IRIS IL n ~ be of int. st, now hat
the revolution there appears Z, be taking some
definite shape, to give some psr .icula-s OF it,
history, snd of the principal charJct ,rs COR
cerred IN il. When Japan, by outside pressure
from this country and other qusr,rrs VIZ
forced some ten years ago - abando the on
dIt'on Of isolation rom the rest OF the world
held by IL for centuries. there aroOe a reforms
tory party headed by StotsbashI, then a mem.
Der OF II Gorogio or )uncil of Safe; and 1t
was THROUGH his Infiuelce that the consent of
the late Mikado was obtained TO the treaties con-
cluded by the Tycoon with the foreig1 powers.
Afterwards, Stotsbs>hi was himself raiscd to
he Tycoonatc, TO tie gre-t salts ..ction of the
civilized world, as it seemed TO q sure the Fri.
umph of progress in Japan. The Government
of japan a: once showed a disposition to enter
upon friendly relat ons with fore,gners: agents
European countries; the study OF foreign Ian
gusges VS. encouraged, and number of young
Japanese sent to foreign schools: the army VS.
reorganIzed by French officers; steamships
were purchased; and numerous Other reforms
were planned. This policy, however. brought
out violent opposition on the part o. the
friends of the old exclusive state OF affLirs. A
combination of Daimios was forns against
the Tycoon, which soon brou ght on an open
conflict At the beginning of the last year the
Mikado died. and the opponents OF the Tycoon
succeeded In getting complete control OF the
person of the young Mikado, aud in CONVEX ling
MS authority into weapon agalnstth the Tycoon.
This party then put up the claim that in
ancient tunes the Cover nme1t was exercised
by the Mikado, now the theoretical Emperor
of Japan, and demanded that that power
should now be wrested from the Tycoon and
restored to the lawful sovereign. The young
Mikado accordingly called a council of the
Damios, but many of them failed t. attend, as
they favored the Tycoon and did not C re 10
become direct vassals Of the Mikaio who was
only held as possessing ecclesiastical power
The Mikado then issued deere deposing the
Tycoon and abolishing his Office. The Tycoon
resisted, but his troops were detected and he
was forced to withdraw to Ycdo the seat of the
power of the Tycoon, and the only one known
by foreigners until now. The victorious
party at first protested friendship for the
foreigners, and disposition to confirm the
treaties entered into by the Tycoon " it'll for
eign nations, but soon they De gan to display
their inveterate hostility to outsiders. Attacks
were made upon foreigners by the rabble con-
nected with the Mikado party, aud .evere
proclamation was ISSUED against the native
Christians. Other indications showed that the
adherents Of the Mix 10 were prepared to re-
sumo the old policy of non-intercourse with
foreigners But this party soon experienced
check in their progress. The northern Daimios
took sides with the Tycoon, and the tide
OF victory Is now altogether IN his favor
In this connection we may express the
hope thai the later diplomacy Of our
Minister there, Mr.. Van VaIkenburgh,
may have shown more tact and discrimina-
ton than his effor.e during g. first succ~ 81
Of the Mikado party. The Tycoon. ss the
Trend of the foreigners, and the head OF ne
party OF progress in Japan, should have re-
ceived all the moral support, al least, thar
could be extended 10 him by the reprc sentq-
lives Of foreign powers; but with ne exception
of the sympathy given to him by lie French
Minister, Mr.. Leon Roches, he s. ms - have
been coolly abandoned 10 t's tar by the diplo-
mats. The power oft',e Mjka 10 d -rty seems
TO have been entirely ove-rat by en- with
the exception Of tie French M'".ster, and they
with great PR cipii1ton Ell red into negor a.
tons with that side. Mr.. Van Valkenburgh
took the rather remarkable ST p OF seizing
the rTm Siorewsll on lie val out
from this country, and refused to deliver her
TO the Ty coon, Notwithstanding that vessel was
delivered 20 the Tycoon's government in Amer
Ican waters, and went out 10 Japan japanese
vessel, under the Japan-se nag, with officers
and crew employed by the japanese Cover l.
ment. snd IN no way subiecf TO the laws or au-
thority of the United Stat a. was pointed out
by Secretary Seward in his ans er TO the letter
Of Mr. Van Nalkenburg announcing bis course
IN the matter II is 10 be hoped that our
Minister will be able TO correct this tGux pas in
a way not TO compromise this country with the
TyecoE's government, with whom IL Is Ger
family desirable that we should De ON a friaAdIy
fnotug