The New York herald., 1868-05-07


radical fanaticism and his high-reaching ambi-
tion for the Presidency first, in the place OF
Andrew johnson, and the Vice Presidency
next, on the ticket with Grant, are operating
powerfully against Johnsons removal Hence
the bowling of the radical organs over ''trai-
tors and ''infamy" and such things-a howl
ing which will probably be followed by sweep
ing and waiing and gnashing of teeth
Governments Reconstruction In Japan-How
the Social System IL 20 he Reformed.
The Japanese revolution, which has effected
a radical change in the system of government
of the empire by the deposition of the Tycoon,
appears to have been well considered move
ment, necesstated by the exigencies, political
and social, of the people, and executed in their
behalf with the view Of the obtainment Of
large amount Of future good. The managers"
who conducted the case against the Tycoon
appear to have exercised sound judgment,
after anxious and mature deliberation, in
calm, unselfish and broadly patriotic manner.
They did not thrust themselves forth as
leagued band of unreasoning fanatics hunger
ing for the reversion of the ''spoils," but
as an educated party of native gentlemen
seeking to benefit their fellow men by tighten
ing their citizens burdens and by the influence
of their own cOunsels and lead and particpa-
d ton in the dangers of the transition.
All this is abundantly proven by our mail
reports from Yokohama, which embrace the
details of the measures already taken by the
Mikado to insure the constitutional recon-
struction of the government. The affairs of
the country have not been permitted to remain
unnecessarily a moment in the disjointed con-
dition to which they were reduced by the civil
war; but active measures, set forth in
Ineligible language, were at once taken
to effect reunion of the system in an
improved, simplified and cheaper form. The
manifesto of the MikadO abolishes a number of
most expensive and useless Offices of state, in
order, as the paper says, to ''restore the power
OF the country" The sinecure of SesshO, first
officer Of the court; Kwambaku, Vizier, and
Bak-i-fu, paid councillors or "lObbymen,
with seven others, the occupants of which con-
stituted sort of military freedmens bureau
charged to look after the affairs of "loyal
persons in disturbed DISTRICTS" are all
abolished forever. A ''frst" and ''second
division" of high dignitaries, who were hitherto
paid to assist the Prime Minister, have been
sent adrift, and many other spoilsmen's places
closed; SO that, in the words of the imperial
manifesto, "each one may put forth effort and
wash away the customary polluted practices,
discharging their duties with true loyalty and
patriotism and that upright counsels be
pursued by all without distinction of court
dignitaries or military class, or differences of
noble or vulgar" IA eltF
In these few lines, or Japanese resolves, we
discern the very essence Of true reform, pro-
ceedng, as it should, from the ruling power
But this is not all. Convinced that it is useless
to build on an unsound or unstable founda
tion the Mikado seems determined to secure
the permanency of his improvAd governmental
structure by seeking reformatiSn of the social
system-by regulating society itself. IRE
sponsible government being at an end an
opportunity is to be afforded to men from all
classes of the people to participate in the
management of public affairs. The nobility is
not abolished, but the order will not be
transmitted exclusively in the families
of the present oligarchs, but left open
for the attainment Of any by good
conduct and the exercise and practice of mo-
ralty. There shall be no class divisions,
greater or less, in the nobility; but society
at large has been already classified In the
orders in which laymen shall rank next to
mobiles by their avocationss and calling in life,
and from which, as classed they shall be taken
into the ranks of the aristocracy This regu-
instructive.
The vulgar not mob-is to include the
Samurai, or educated class, which comes first
next in order are ''tillers of the soil and
miners who raise the produce of the earth, the
original creators of wealth." then artisans
who manufacture the raw material" and lastly
and the lowest, brokers and merchants whose
toll is the lightcst and profits an increase on
cost"
Such Is the programme of the OriginatOrs Of
reconstruction by revolution in Japan. We
commend their ideas to the careful consdera-
ton OF the people of the United States, as the
placemen, from Washington to Albany, will,
we know, merely ''pooh-pooh" them. The
plan for the reorganization Of the civic classes
and promotion to the order of mobiles Is cx-
cellent. Mr.. Gladstone and Mr.. Disraeli may
take hints from it for practice in England;
but we fear il will find little favor in Wall
street or the circles OF American ''shoddy.'
SuiciJ. .uA pu "a G.rcsw.