The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-25
J A r A n.
The Happy Dsspatoh"-Parliamentary Debate
on the Subject Of Its Abolition-Stick-
lers for Custom Philosophy Of
tho Mode of Punishment


Turkish onncial paper to hand by the European
mail contains the summary OF debate that took
place In the japanese parliament on the practice Of
"seppuku,n or !" harakir." which ID exceedingly
interesting. "Seppuku," which simply means dts
embowelng with one's own hand, Is punishment
allowed as privilege to " two-sworded menu that
Is, to the soldier class. In some cases, too, two
sworded men commit seppuku without being con-
demned. o.s.i.slsa tss s,
Orc seigore. Clerk TO the Parliament moved the
abolition Of this punishment His argument bears
the impress of strong good sense and enlightened
views. He said:-
with those commit ssppusa obsdisnSs
4.
2 there him q sommt 'seppukuf n on The other
ssr' = s :: ny. ss a,Ss. :s'
hs he sa 20 70 DO T. treat With
the smns statute. q our an oS 81
remarked that two-sworded men who commit 'sep-
% IN
y as nut
IN opson death Spo o faS
the individual and Is 2. variance with the imperial plans
for the national prosperity
| he was, however, able to obtain only three votes
in favor OF his motion IN House OF 200 members;
200 voted against him. and SIX abstaned from voting
Among the opponents Of the motion Tominaga
| Shun said
Tho custom Of seppasa" is founded on high principle
70 prohibit il would Ss 10 remove oas Of the Pillars
constitution.
TaAeida Henloski improved upon this. He said:--
The Of seppuka" Is ornament to our country,
anu superiority the countries beyond
ssssas ana An the % s
whereas The proposed would Wsasen ahs o h
| Tor ages animated It,
| In the same spirit Isobei Kangoro argued
the ood Wiz fH'a Gs
rassment IN the working OF our Constitution Gases OF sui
s he sS,s Il o &
sSy Sas z wa seh
70 have dlea natural DEATH and ner maatanin their Va
this custom be prohibited in Imitation OF the eaemiaacy Of
foreign nations Ifss,.rs- ss>'fl
| In Houda Kudzums opinion '!the reason why the
'seppuku' Is practised ii this empire and not In for
| egn countries is because this empire is an empire.
There are several classes OF those VINO pass sentence
| on themselves without ewaiting orders. Svme nave
demonstrated with their lord or parent, and Oh their
| remonstrdnces being disregardel have gwen weight
to them by committing suicide. Others have died 10
restore peace 10 their country When should we in-
terdict the seppuku In cases where 1t 5 performed
While the guilt Of the accused remains uncertain
Seli-condemnation Is sgn OF nature uncorrupted
| and conscious or Snanc.h
10 Late Goro 1t clear that the blunt swords of
| the Western countries are unft Instruments for
! committing 'seppuku.n 1t is an act displaying
courage and Cheerful alacrty, and 1t Is therefore
|
Kozeki YOymore thought prohibition OF the prac-
tice Of self-punishment by the ''seppuku might be
carried into execution IN country where propfety,
| principle and u sense OF shame are unknown. ''ln
this country or the gods, and under our present re-
formed government IS 1t necessary to discuss slcn
| Kerulu Itsinja, not content with mere repudia-
| ton Of European example, attempted philosophi-
| cal defence OF the custom. as follows-A speedy
death by .seppuku'' resulting from remorse for crime
Is q means or avoiding the pain OF disgrace. How
can 1t be said to be contempt OF the criminal law
N N hQ 20 Al IA a a
uon Of guilt2 BY death the criminal barely restores
himself to his position as a human being. II he
lives he ID scOundrel but II he dies he, Tor the first
time, manlests sense OF shame.
Sonod0 Tanoten defended the practice on the
fucius for6ids the punishment Of the high oicer BY
death. In putting an Oicer to death good faith
qulres that insult shall not be added to punishment
kokulnji GunDei did not think it possible to pre-.
vent The practlce:-'I do not think 1t possible 70
carry into effect prohibition Of the 'seppuku." Our
country has always placed tle soldier class in the
first rank, and attached great importance 10 prnci-
pio. Therefore IT Is that some commit suicide from
| a high sense of honor, have devoted themselves
to DEATH are compelled by principle TO commit
suicide when they Iall into the hands Of the
TO The same erect was the argument of Naksno
Chomel, Who observed chat there Is a custom for
the Samurai OF this divine country to commit sep
puku' when guilty OF crimes "Whetner this prac-
lice be prohibited or not, how will 1t be possible to
preyelt 1t, as those who commit ssppuku are re-
CARELESS OF future consequences This is the true
Japanese spirit. rather Than abolish punishment
on theoretical grounds, we ought to foster sense
OF shame in the members Of the military caste, and
IN the existence Of which Doubtless consists the
superiority OF Japan over other countries"
Instead Of abolishlng the practice Sankada Haknsa
would extend and foster IT, He declared shat the
seppuku has Its origin In the sacred vital energy OF
this divine country, and Is the shrine Of the japanese
national spirit (Yamato splri0. Unques.ionably 1t
should not be prohibited. It's practice should be
extended, and by this means sense OF shame fos.
to ed, and the seppuKu should be famous through
out the world as an example OF devotion 70 princ
pie. Ii ought TO De introduced into criminal
code as the form OF capital punishment for those
above the rank Of Samurai.