The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-07-25

BTltl-h Minister, alone oil all the foreign repre-
scntatives, had, at the latest adyices, acknowl-
edged the authority of the Mikado rs supreme.
The other representatives deem it more prudent
to wait aud see which government becomes re-es-
tablished. The uprising of the northern princes
in favor Of the Tycoon, renders the result of the
war somewhat doubtful, as it is not known what
resources they have If the British Government
should allow its naval forces to aid the Mikado.
as is thought may be done, it will turn the tide
in his favor, and extinguish the Tycoon's author
ity altogether. But she can hardly do this with
out the cooperation of other leading powers.
Il will be seen by reference to our English Mail
Summary that II. T.. Sir Harry Parkes has presented
his sOvereign's letters Of credence to the Mikado as
sovereign OF Japan. And We expressed our approval
Of the act.
We have since learnt more correctly, (what long
ago we thoroughly understood, but which. in the
current Of events during the past three years, we
had practically lost sight off, the meaning of subrnis-
sion of both parties in the present political strife to
the Mikado We are able 10 explain IL in u few
words, and the relative position of the Mikado and
the Tycoon will be at once lie recognized.
The idea Of q spiritual and n Temporal Ruler of
Japan was 10 myth. 1t has gradually come to be
considered SO, by the desire OF certain Daimios of
Japan to get rid Of n yoke they found no difficulty in
enduring whilst Japan was isolated (; but which since
the advent Of foreign intercourse has been very hard
TO bear.
The proceedings of the Daimois at the commence
ment Of the American efforts to open commercial re-
lations with Japan, satisfy US that the mistakes made
by diplomatisis we're not confined to the earlier inter-
course. At the time, they made no reference what
ever TO the MikadO, but assembled in great council,
under the direction Of the Tycoon, to decide the
question = whether The Tycoon should receive the let
ter of the President of the United Stltes2" Satsu-
ma, the man who has since so lonely declared to the
contrary, then asserted that the treaty making DOW
or rested with the Tycoon. Regal hOnours were al
ways paid to that dignitary. and no Daimio in Japan
- whether his name were SIt-nma- lhUslIu nr Kan
"a, dared to transgress the Tycoon's commands.
The Tycoon was dc Jaeto a Sovereign ; and We, and
others, even including our Ministers, have erred in
believing II was otherwise, and that he was only gen.
eralissiInO VI the nation, and entitled to the title of
Highness.
His power and rank we're always recognized as
sovereign two and 4 half centuries ago il has been
so during the whole time that the Dutch have had re-
latIOns with Japan and il continued so until the
time when jealousy among a few of the greater ial<
mics led them 10 rebel.
Never did any Of the japanese doubt this until
Satsuma raised the cry Of disatfection and never
has the reverse been admitted by the common people
with whom We have conversel up to the present day.
The true relation between the Aiikado and the Ty-
coon Is shewn quite clearly by the action of a certain
party among the Japanese ut this juncturc.
The male blood relations OF the Sovereign Of Eng
land-his sons, uncles, cousins are called princes.
In like manner, the male blood relations OF the Mika-
do have the title of Mia The whole family is sacred.
They have OF course a common deScent-from the
gUls-and the Miikado is looked upon throughout
japan, Tor rather, was for the belief has recently
been much shaken as being in immediate commune
cation with the anccstors-the Kamis or GODS
His duty is TO commune with them, and to benefit
Japan thereby.
Seven Of the Mas have protested against the Nj
kado assuming temporal government. They declare
that he has gone altogether out of his province, aud
that the Tycoon alone had anything to do with these
Affairs In this capacity of Mikado even, he was not
supposed to issue orders to the Tycoon, but to declare
to him the will Of the gods on such matters as were
brought before him. The Tycoon's acts required no
I uefu. atif ffou IyI him IN tho nrIsp. ua,,sn q
the word I; but only the sanction Of the kanis.
The permission for foreigners to trade with Japan,
never received such sanction, and several of the Dali
mics amongst whom were Satsuma and ChOshiu, got
the late 4Iikado to issue orders to the Tycoon on this
subject directing him TO drive all foreigners from
Japan. The pressure of circumstances, and the
strong animCsity Of many of the leading men of
Japan, against foreign intercourse, gave rise 10 this
course Of action, and until now it has been tacitly
acquiesced in. both parties being DESTROYS of strength
ening their hands by having the goodwill of the gods
as their fountain Of power.
Now, however, u reaction is taking place. We
hear OF an ultimatum having been sent to the Nika-
do, giving him forty days to resign his newly nssum-
ell imperial power, and 10 return to Kioto. The al
tentative is abdication-Or rather forced removal
from the Office.
How totally different an aspect this places all the
recent affairs in, will be readily seen. The people of
Japan have always ridiculei the notion of the Mika-
do ruling in person and when told of the presenta-
ton OF the foreign ministers to him at kiotO, declar-
ell that it was impossible ; that the greatest Princes
in Japan had never seen his face, and showed their
belief in his sacred character by setting their faces
against giving any ~creience to the facts when con-
WINGED that such occurrences rs we have been recent
" announcing had taken place, and particularly,
when they heard that the Mikado had actually left
kiotO for Osaka, they were silent-for they were
dumbfounderei and some renarked-"H lie cannot
be in communication with the kamis, for they would
forbid his doing 20 weakly and 50 fOolishly.."
Much Is coming out now, of which foreigners had
but little idea The treachery of the general who
went over to the enemy in the middle Of the battle,
! mud Oaya the rovrar info thu han1a al H.. south xUaa
not the first that the Tycoon was the victim of Sat
suma played the part Of an lago between him and
the Nlikado. When in discussing the difficulties of
his position with regard To the Mikado with Satsuma,
the latter advised StOts 'bashi to offer his resignation
Of the TycoOnate unless lie had his own way,-urging
that. OF course, the resignation would never be re-
ceiyel, and that he would thus carry everything be-
fore him lie then went to the Mikaio, and obtain
ing audience, told him Of the step Siots'bashi was
about to take, and urged ON him to assert his indie
pendence Of the Tycoon-to accept the resignation,
and place his flag in the charge Of his party. Thus
at the audience, when the Tycoon mentioned his res
ignAtion, he was sstounded to find il 1t once accept
ed, and that the Mikado ordered Satsuma to act with
his authority. Enragei ut the trap that had been
laid for him, and into which lie had thus fallen, all
dalliance was at an end and it became "A question
Of uPholding the power and authority Of the Toku-
gawa family, against the treachery OF the Southern
daimiOs.
But Sto;s'bashi, willing rs he would have been to
measure swords with the mere cOnfeierated Daimios
Of the South, would not produce snch IA scandal in
the country as to dishonour and raise his hand
against the representative Of the gods and by the
~juiiciOus part he has since played, he has strength
ened his own course and undermined that Of his enc
mics. He came TO Yelo. He gave orders that the
NikadO should be obeyed and himself proceeded to
set the example But he well knew the temper of
his eountrymen, and their estimate of he respective
proceedings Of himself and his adyersaries-
Leaving minuteness Of detail, We need only men,
ton the broad fact, that the northern princes, indig-
nant ut the personal treatment Of the Tycoon, and all
being more or less connected with or adherents Of his
family consulted, combined, and rose as a man.
Kanga, the greatest chieltain in Japan, whose terri
tory il nearly, one third Of the island of Niphon, and
Scndai, who occupies one fifth of the remainder, be-
came the most determined opponents of the recent
changes. All the combined northern daimiOs have
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