The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-14
JAPAN.
ThS Constitution of Japan-MIkado,
DaimIOs,and EYcoOn-0he Owl War.

YOKOHAMA, June 2.-Your readers have all ere
this been apprised Of the TACT that civil war is
now raging IN this country. Knowledge of
this fact Will no doubt contribute TO awaken a
desire 10 know more OF the japanese peoUle and
Government, as also of the nature and causes
of the pending conflict. In order to understand
the case clearly IL is necessary TO conceive the
governing powers as forming three classes or
existing In three rather distinct clusters. The
first OF these which IS also the most ancient
and most honorable, consists of the Mikado and
his relatives.
The Mkado is populsrly regarded as lineal
descendant OF the demgods who ru.ed in Japan
during the unhistorlc period which terminated
about 2,700 years ago, At irst he exerc sed al
power, as well the power OF declaring aud
waging war, as the power of governing the
country during time OF peace. In process OF
time the Mkado and his relatives gave them.
selves up to literature and luxury, and lst the
! taste they once had for the stirring scenes OF
military lille. THIS state of things gave rise to a
4 seGOnd class OF rulers called DaImios. At hrst
when the MikaOo and mis- relatives who are
called Kugeis, ceased to take personal oversight
4 of the affairs OF the nation, governors were 10.
Gated III the various provinces Tuese governors
II gradually became hereditary princes aCd lords
OF the region they ruled, and are now kno gn
in, Japan under the name OF DaImios
/ ancient nor equally powerful. Some Dam)s
| date from ancient times, and some are OF
modern origin; some are very powerful, and
rule oNer an extensive territory; others are
weak, and Their domain confined to narro "
boundaries. The number of these independent
hereditary prin :es is, aud for long time has
been very considerable. After this class was
once fairly established, wars between the
! Daimlos end Mlkado, and also between rival
Daimlos, became matter OF freq lent occur
renee, and this led TO the establishment of
third class, /. G., the Shoe IN or Ta,kun, aud
those whom he has elevated to rank and
8power. The Sho.Gun at FIRST was Comman Ter IN
Chief of the japanese Army. He recelveJ his
instructions from the MlkldO This Office OF
kShogun and the military class was called into
existence about eight hundred years ago. AMI
for while thereafter no evl results folio vel. At
length, however, as the Sho-Gun canned power
at the mead OF his army, he ceased TO regard the
defenseleas Mikado and his connections, and did
livery much as he pleased. About 2D0 years ago
a man known in japanese history as Gon.gen.
Sama, the founder OF the late dynasty OF Tai
kuns, arose. He succeeded in subduing the
whole land. Mlkado, Kugeis, DamIos, all
submitted to his sway and to that OF his sue
cessors for long period, TILL quite recently.
Con gen-Sama, the founder OF the Taikunate
also founded various grades of nobility, and
here are now not few princes whJ o We their
power entirely to him. Thus the Sho Gun aud
hose devoted to his cause form the tulrd and
bf late years by TAR tue most powerful ruling
class i'll Japan. This Office Of ShIgun is now
abolished, 1t is sad, but we will have to wa t
and see the end OF the present war before
I'VE pronounce positively on thus subject
klnce the office OF Sho-GOn was established
by Gop-gen. sauna every pIecautlon ha, bean
used 10 secure the permanency OF the Govern
nent Foreigners were excluded strictly, ana If
japanese was ship wrecked or driven to for
sSn shore, on Lis return to Japan he was im.
prlsoned. II fool, or approXlmatlng thereto
be WAS imprisoned only tor year or Wo but II
be happened to be man OF marked ability, he
was imprisoned Tor Ii e, and all to preclude the
possibility OF communl lcaJions bet Ween foreign
bowers and Japan. Like sIrictuess was eXer-
cised toward the Vanquished Dalmos. Instead
pr residing in Their castles IN Their several Iu-
ries, they we're compelled to reside In Ye lido
With their wives and children as hostages, under
he eye Of the Sho.Gun, or were perhaps alo we'd
a special favor to return to their own cas-
les for few months during the year. Thus
The Japanese Government kept a firm
hand on all who might De or might become
Enemies within her own borders, and also kept
up constant watch agail st all VINO might as,all
Ier from without. 1t often happened, before
be advent of foreigners. that DaimlOS mani
5sted hostility against the Government OF the
bo.Gun. Those OF tue southwestern quarters
ave for long time been waiting tor q taVora-
lie opportunity to throw Oft the yoke of the
ppressor. In former days, before foreigners
anne, and before foreign Influence began TO be
1T, this was the prevailing spirit OF the subiu-
lated DaimiCs. One OF the number VIII had
been born and educated in his prison castle in
Eeddo, after having been allowed TO visit his
Pwn province, and after having seen his Rn
|astles and lands aud retalners, would naturally
ebel against being required to return to Yedo,
nd spend the greater part of his lie under the
ge OF his jealons master. But return he must.
he Sho-Gun was powerful and the Damlo COM
arativey weak. AT last, the Port of Yoko-
anna and othor ports were opened, after
treaty had been made ith the Sno-Gun.
Imprisoned Damos left Yeddo IN a body and
eturned TO their several provinces. Those
bO saw this exodus OF these hereditary princes
ON their bondage OF centuries, and who knew
cir feelings and the state OF the country,
(uld not fail to see that war was not far otf.
Pc Sho-Gun and his party reaped the benefits
foreign trade, and thus app lrcntly was grow
itch ard poweriul and this quickeued the
klousy and hatred Of the DaimIos who had
rsaken Yeddo. The hostile Daimios, espe.
lilly those of the southwest quarIer OF japan,
gan to form alliances with the relatives of the
kados, the Kugeis, and these together formed
strong party, at Mako and at the h,
ainst the Sho-Gun at Yeddo. In the spring
the present year, when the foreign NJ nsters
W re at Osaca, on business relating to thn open
OF several new ports, this newly-fOrmed
ntederacy attacked the Sho-Gun's party
d drove 1t from the South. Tue Sho.Gun and
defeated forces returned to 1eddo, and ia
time were followed by the victors from
lako, who quietly took possession OF the or at
stle in Yeddo, and al-o of the Custom-House
J Okohama. The Sho Gun could not be pre-
lied upon TO take no arms against his enc
es. He accepted the terms OF his couquerors,
has retired into private lite retaining in his
vice some 5000 armed men. But the matter is
t to end here. Several Dam os In the North
70 We their rank 10 the founder of the Sho.
n dynasty, Cor -een-Sama, have bad their
ritories invaded. These do not submit so
adily az the Sho.Gun has done. They
bw disposition to fight, and lew skir-
shes have occurred during the last few
Us, between the troops of the South west
those of the North. The advantage
fs far appears to be in favor OF the North
names OF some OF the most active DAT
bs of the South are Choshu, Satsuma, and To
The most active OF the Northern Daimios Is
wv. The disbanded soldiers OF the late Sho-
IS army are joining Prince AidZ Y, and thus
8 becoming quite powerful. and ere long the