Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-08
Gbs aaiIp spp aarosser. onoag ornq, syug $, 1879.

privileges of the nobility. l am proud TO say
this, for in no other country could such a great
change have taken place without a civil war.
But we had no civil war; not drop of blood
was shed. 1t was great revolution entirely
brought about by change in the minds of the
higher classes. The emperor knew nothing of
this revolution till the mobiles sent their united
petition to him, in which they said that times
had changed since feudalism was established;
that improvement should be made as civilization
advances; and that as other old customs had
been given up, so 1t was time to change the sys-
TEN of government. The emperor was of course
glad to hear the proposal for such a change,
which could thus benefit nearly forty millions
of people. He therefore accepted the proposal
of the mobiles TO surrender their powers to him,
at the same time encouraging them to introduce
western civilization in every proper method. AS
an example for their imitation in the way of
progress, he himself began to study the German
language.
The mobiles of Japan have now, by their own
acts, become equal in rank to the common peo-
Pile. And not only have they thus given up
their rank, but they have even given much Of
their property and revenues to the emperor
For the government could not support its army
and navy and other expenditures without means,
and the wealth was largely in the hands of the
!, nobility. At first the government declared that
one-tenth part of their former revenues should
be retained or given back to the mobiles; how
ever, after fewimOnths, they sent TO the en-
peror another petition, in which they said that
one-tenth Oftneir former revenues was too much
for those who were of so little use to their coun-
try, but recommended that If any of the mobiles
had the ability TO occupy any public office, then
proper salary should be paid for their service.
But One-tenth of the former revenues of many
of these mobiles were some seven or eight times
greater than the salary of the president Of the
United States. They retain now, think, only
one ilIieth part of their former revenues
Some of our former mobiles who had large for
tunes are now building hospitals schools, aims
houses, and many other charitable institutions
in our principal cities. In some instances, sew
eral unite t5gether in such progress Others
have become merchants, traders, and farmers.
Ii is very hard for persons of this class, who had
no previous knowledge of the several kinds of
the business, to enter these new occupations.
But they are determined TO do it in every posi-
bic way. Hence, many of our mobiles are COM
ing to this country, as well as to Europe, 10
study the arts and occupations of life in your
western civilization; and everything we find
here that is useful and good, we will take back
with us and adopt them in our own land.
We do not intend to follow after and be be-
hind western civilization and new inventions al
ways We mean to Overtake you some day, and
let you and some other nations exchange places
with us in the race of progress and civilization.
And if we advance in the same proportion as we
have since 1854, when we made a beginning,
then we trust we will succeed at no distant day
w iiS luli CAlSut VI Jul HopCo anu hllulllOno.
In order to do this we know that we must work
very hard in each and every object we aim to
secure until it is our own; we must do as much
as you in the way of progress, and more: for if
we only do as much then we shall always be be-
hind and never come to state of equal ciyili-
cation with you.
How can we possibly overestimate the i'm
mense benefit the fall Of the feudal system has
brought for Japanl 1t was dim light which
toretold and ushered in the brilliant day. 1t was
like a summer shower-quickly passed away,
but leaving new beauty and life where each rain
drop fell.
The first imperial ambassadors ever sent from
our land are in this country. They have come
to make a new treaty, since the old treaty will
expire at the end of July. They come TO this
country first because the American was the FIRST
of the western nations who made treaty with us.
Let us hope that our ambassadors and your gov
eminent will form most friendly and lasting
treaty for the interests and happiness of both
nations,