The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-01-15
JAPAN AND IT'S POLICY.

The resignation of the Tycoon and the
assumption of the civil government by the
Mikado mark a fourth definite period in the
political Eistory of Japan In the first,
which extends from Ziumu B. c. 600 to the
first century of the Christian era, the power
of the Mikado gradually extended itself over
the whole OF the empire; and the fendal or
clan system appeared to be giving place to
a more centralized form of government
The Mikado was not only a civil but spir-
itual patriarch. The primitive Sintoo teti-
chism which prevailed assigned divine
origin to his authority, and he came to be
worshipped in time as the I" Son ofHeaven."
The gradual introduction of the Buddhist
religion into Japan during the second period
extending from the second to the twelfth
centuries of our cra-had peculiar effect
upon the Mikado's relative functions To
the Lintor ideal of his sacred character was
added the Buddhists dogma OF the incarna-
ton of the deity in the power of the sever
eign. But the sanctity thus attached to the
Mikado gradually tended to produce that
separation between his spiritual and tempo
raj authority which has since been the dis
tinctive feature of japanese government
The japanese people were too energetic,
der the dominion of priesthood; nor was
the vitality of the different states or clans at
all favorable to a universal sway of the priest
ly element. The Mikados themselves. ener-
waited by Buddhist asceticism, and feeling
this disposition of the masses, were content
to retire from active participation in the af-
fairs of state, leaving those to be administer
ed by their lieutenants, and still retaining
the spiritual reverence of the masses. A pc
Rod of disorder lasting for some generations
marked the weakness of the administration
of these captains-general and the close of
| this second era in Japanese history. The
lan-chieftains grew stronger as the power of
the Mikado and his lieutenants became
weaker; and the feudal system which had
existed before was threatened to he reestaL-
lished throughout the Empife.eA- new ex-
pedient averted such result. The office of
the Tycoon, or Emperor was created, and
first assumed in the twelfth century by YOri-
tomo, who had previously been entrusted
with the administration OF the army alone
| This officer extended his authority over the
whole field of the executive. which had been
surrendered by has now spiritualized and,
enfeebled soveign, the Mikado. By dint of
an active and stenuous will the first Tycoon
succeeded in again centralising the functions
of the government within himself so far as
| it could be centralized with the consent of
the still powerful Daimios, or chiefs of the
different states. An authority acquired by
force and having no recognized spiritual con-
firmation was contested at last by the latter
! with success, and Yoritomo's dynasty was
overthrow in 1853 The Mlkado's prestige
was next sought to be broken; but the cele-
brated Tiako- Sauna, follower and G.netal of
the last Tycoon, defeated the attempt
of the Daimios, and taking the Imperial
government into his own hands, established
it on a firmer basis than that on which it
had ever before rested. His dynasty was
made hereditary. and he was so far indie
pendent of the AIkado that he established a
court of his own at Jeddo, and called that
city his capital By this time the Mikado
had degenerated into a mere abstract i'm
PRESERVATION of the spiritual supremacy, en-
joying nothing except an empty pageant OF
| divine worship, and receiving occasionalvisits
of homage from the Tycoon. Round his court
at Mako the humble, Daimios continued tn
atler. and enjayed the useless title of the
Great Council OF Ministers of the Empire
While. however, they had no voice in the
! real natio VI oouDoils 1t Jsddloy the Qaimiod