The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-02-07
FeudarIsm Abolished in Japan.
rrrnm the 1nn.n Gnzntt.. Nov. 18Th. !

before the arrival oil foreigners; but whether I'M;
means before they arrived to settle here in term:
Of the treaties, or before the advent of Commo
dore Perry to make treaty, is not quite clear
The difference would be, that in one case, the de-
sire for change might arise from the annoyance
felt BY the aristocracy at seeing the Tycoon yield
to the influences Of foreign governments, whilst
in the other, 1t would be clear evidence that the
more potent mobiles already saw the inconvenience
of the feudal system. This latter can hardly
have been the case-for whilst the country was
completely isolated, and while they wished to
keep it so, better system than their old one
could hardly be found
When treaties had actually been made and for
eigners admitted, the aspect of things was at
once altered There were many daimios who,
whether they had themselves given their vote or
not in the great council that assembled to consid
er the question, no sooner found the Tycoon ire
yocably bound, than they stirred themselves up
to pitch OF opposition, against which, had they
been able at once to trust each other and act to-
gether, the old regime could not have stood q sin
gle year. Bot such was the potency of the rules
laid down by Iycyas, that they were either de-
barred to great extent from conference, or they
could not as yet combine. The 0metski system
was against them, and the loyalty of the majority
in numbers, if not in means, was still too firm to
the Government which had SO long secured peace
throughout the land.
Be this as it may, the Princes of Satsuma and
Chosu we're among the foremost of the malcOn-
tents and both of them had eventually to be
taught to respect treaties by the guns of powers
stronger than that to which they proiessed to ac-
knowledge allegiance. 1t is useless here to re-
peat the oft-told tale Of all that interviewed be-
tween the signing of the treaties and the over
throw of the Tycoonate. 1t sufices that cheese
two clans, aided by those of Tosa, Nabeshima,
Hosokawa and one or two others, found them
selves at length arrayed side by side against the
clans who were loyal to their old master the Ty-
coon, and at the close of the civil war the desti-
MES OF the country was in their hands.
No one can question the intelligence with
which they have acted from the day of their first
success at Fushimi to the present time. They
placed the supreme power in the hands of the
Mikado, and made him an Emperor in reality in
stead of the mere political puppet he had been.
Whilst We are daily witnessing the happy results
of the changes brought about by their instru-
mentality, cannot but rejoice in them, although
we still retain our opinion that the late Tycoon
was working to the same end, and that had be
been allowed to carry out his reforms, we should by
this time have been nearly or quite as far advan-
ced as we now are. This however is mere con-
lecture, and what Satsuma and Choshiu have Civ
en- US is an actual and visible fact.
Choshiu-the old chief who has been so long
known to US by name, and appreciated for the
bravery of his clan and his high and chivalrous
sense of honor, albeit for long time our bitter
enemy-Choshu passed away to sleep with his
ancestors, in the early part of the present year.
1t is only now, several months after his death,
that the Yedo paper (SAia5uSEi.yasEi) publish
es document which be left behind him-a trans
lation of which we take from the Japan Mail:
"CoPY OF DEArHBED MEMORIAL OF Morn JUL
cm-I,-ELDER PRINCE OF CHosHrU.-Your SER
want Narichika for years past has been the recip-
lent of infinite bounty to which be had no claim,
and for which be has never been able to make
fit return. This thought fills him with fear and
trembling both day aud night. Again, some time
ago the Imperial messenger Iwakura Danagon
came down to him, letter from His Majesty
was bestowed upon him, and he became the re-
cipient Of q most gracious exhortatiOn from His
Majesty, under the burden of this great response
bility to which his abilities are unequal, he was
penetrated with the most profound fear and hu-
initiation. He ought at once to have proceeded
to bow at the foot of the throne, but being sud-
denly attacked by illness, he was uuavoidably
to petition that the Chiji Montonor
might 60 up instead of Narichika He hoped as
soon as his indsposition moderated to proceed
this autumn to the capital in spite of his sickness
in order that he might lay before His Majesty
his Insignificant sentiments on various subjects,
and exhaust his feeble strength on His Majesty's
service. Since that time, however, the violence
Of his disease has increased more and MORE he
knows that it is incurable and that it is doubtful
whether it will be permitted him to approach the
throne once more. He is obliged to content him
self with adoring the palace of his sovereign at
q distance, and is overwhelmed with sadness
Your servant on respectfully considering the
aspect of political affairs at the present moment,
and bordering over the prospects of the future,
cannot help being of opinion that matters are in
critical condition. He ventures to say that the
pledges given in the imperial oath have not yet
been entirely redeemed. and that the remains of
Of the feudal system have not yet been got rid
,f. Little by little the dignity of the Court is
alling into the hands of the subjects, and it is to
pc feared lest the tail should grow so large that
he head becomes powerless. AS this moment is
,ne in which the political fabric is undergoing
adical change after seven hundred years of
growth, and everything is being established anew,
he opinions of the majority are confused and in
rOlved, the nation is perplexed as to the object
IF Its allegiance; the officials are agitated by
views of various kinds, and the basis of the In
Derial rule is not firmly settled These are the
,auses of the state of things at present. He
lumbly prays that His Majesty will lay his hand
1t the root of the matter, will take the great
sense of his oath for his object, and that the or
lers of the nation may proceed from a single GEN.
re- In that case the dignity of the Court will
'eturn to the Sovereign, the allegiance of the /
Emnire will he settled our domestic odministra /