New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-30
JAPAN And CHINA.

There Is enough IN our present news from
Japan 10 give to that neglected topic high and
dramatic interest. Never before have the
japanese witnessed such an event as that of
the naval battle for the possession Of HakOdadi.
We almost experience n new sensation in read
ing that on the Goth of June the navy of the
Mikado, with n heavy modern armament,
moved in and gave battle of twenty-six
hours to the ships and forts of the anti-MikadO
General Enmoto. Two vessels were destroyed
by the forces of the Mikado, and one of their own
was blown up by shell and though it was
said that several forts and line of earth
works were still held by Gen. Enmoto, our
special letters and dispatches, both from Japan
direct and by way of Washington, give equal
report of the capture of IIakodadi.
Here the war chapter of the Japanese ends
for the present But in other respects the
affairs and progress of Japan are brought out
in bold relief The remuneration of the Daimios
and Hatimotos of their enormous feudal
tenures, and the consolidation of power in the
hands of the Mikado, is project less deceptive
than might have been imagined, and much
nearer to generalization and accomplishment
than has been conceived. Japan, for n wonder
has its own rather modemized press, in which
appear the letters of large number of
Daimios who pledge themselves to a
surrender of their State papers, land
control, and retainers, into the power
of the Mikado. To us these letters may seem
abject in spirit, but to the slow japanese vii
appear to be expressions of patriotic self abne-
cation and of religious loyalty. The Prince of
Ise wishes the Mikado to control all the lands
of the Empire, and so makes return of his
papers, his territory, aud his people to the
throne. Yanagizawa, Prince of ShinanO, AYERS
that no one under Heaven can fail to
admire the Mikado, who is going to
return to the ancient Government - such
Government, wo presume, as prevailed
in the good green age of Confucius, and
over that benevolent philosopher rather than
under him. Prince ChOshu. leading party of
DaimiOs, makes offer of his substantial allegi-
ance. But we detect the secret of this gene
raj remuneration in the confession of one of
the Daimios that his lands are too extended
and separate to govern, and that all classes of
his retainers are demOralzed and we fancy
that when the Mikado comes face to face with
the work of organizing and civilizing many
thousands of unrGly retaincrs, the business of
consolidation will still be problem to him.
The contrast between the situation of China
and that of Japan presents interesting features
The japanese troops are armed with breech-
leaders, and the general war service of the
country has q modern armament Light
houses, and light-shps, and hospitals have
been built, and coal mines are being success
fully worked in Japan. The laundering at
tempt to force bad order of paper money on
the people had distressed the financial situa-
tion at YeddO, but the elements there at work
were believed to be more progressive than those
of native China. China, however, can boast
of the remarkable arsenal and Of the scientific
ambition of which our correspondent treats
and here we pause. Doubtless her treatment
here and there of foreigners is anything but
wise or tender. Doubtless, also, the British
Government have fair reason-unpopular as
that reason is ever likely ~ DO among those