New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-23
PROGRESS IN JAPAN.
VIEWS OF A MINISTER DISMISSED FROM
OFFICE.


THE CIvuIZTNG POLICY ASSUMED TO BE THE
CAUSE.-THE TRUE STATE OF THE CASE
trRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
YKDo, May 2S-There is published in Yedo daily
newspaper, in the Japanese language called htsktn-
Skisjishi which means: "T The daily bearer of well
come news" Ii is edited by foreigner; but it is
the official organ of the japanese Government, in
which the debates and orders of the Council of State
are published On the 9TH of May there appeared
IN the correspondents column of this paper letter
or memorial from Inoye Bunda or Shibusawa. These
two gentlemen had Just been requested TO resign
from their positions in the Finance Depart
ment. Inoye was the Minister and smou-
sawa was the Vice or Assistant Minister.
The result of that request their reSgnatlon ana
the appearance of this letter to the papers Inc
principal points in this joint production OF the eA
Ministers Of Finance are that the total debt OF the
Empire amounts to S140O0O0OO; that the revenue
from all sources is but S4O0OOOOO annually, wnue
the expenses of administering the Government are
$4,000 900; that the debt is thus rolling mp az the
rate ~ s10OOnOOO a year; that the Government in
pursuing their policy of sO-called civilization is IN
onrrn new and useless expenses of vast magnitude;
That the people and the land already taxed to an
oppressive degree, and yet as money is wanted for
these so-caed improvements, new taxes are IN
vented and imposed, and that, under the burden OF
these taxes. the mass of the people are SINKING
lower and lower, until their whole exist
ence will become struggle for mere food.
The memorial goes on TO suggest that the
Government should economic in every way; that
one-haf of the officers should be dismissed, as they
are unnecessary; that heads of departments should
not be allowed TO ride their own hobbies at the pub
lie expense; and that the Mkados Government
should begin TO pay of its old debts before contract
ing new ones to promote plans and projects that do
NOT tend 10 the public good, but only to the lndl-
yidual advancement and profit of certain high OIL
sers The letter alec predicts financial ruin, inter
md complete unless some immediate steps are taken
10 equalize the sums total of the receipts and the
.xpenditures As they claim that the taxes cannot
be increased, this means that the outlay must be
lessened But the letter is so remarkable that
think a perusal Of it cannot fan to interest your
readers, and therefore l subiOih TRANSACTIONS from
the Archaeological.
TIE MEMORIAL OF ISoYE AND sHTBUsAWA
Although the prosperity decay OF the State undoubt
sdly depends upon natural causes. stl they may also
be affected by the merits dement's OF the measures
adopted by the Government. Not ten years have
elapsed since the Reformation and yet immense pro-
gres has already been achieved in varous branches
On the hand, Law. which during several centuries
had been imperative, has oeen revived WINE on Ie
other hand the vigorous forms or eSNcrnhent anu
laon Of the five great continents have been searcTta
feudal system has been changed ana he Whoe epunty
brought under rule. Birth Is no longer the sole
quired in its In legislation the law OF nations
has been superadded and matters OF debate the opln
the majority Of the nation has been eXhausNey
consulted. As regards education egAt districts nave
been marked ont TO provide or tne
pnpulacp while regards military organization, SIN
military divisions have been created IN order 70 Keep
H. order ~ fsciitate speedy ntercommunicaon. the
power Of steam has been apphed to ships aHo Veclss
eeraph has been invoked on land and under the sea
Attention has been bestowed upon eon5neIeS, SsI S
ergo directed toward the uiuLatloh ol unuo,e 49,
tracts OF land From the mint. IRON founderes Aglt
houses, railways the streets, roads houses dress ana
FURNITURE everything shows daily Improvements which
succeed other with such rapdiy tha our advance
into the regions OF civilization may be compared TO the
rSee-hOrse Whlch iehNes tNelyll.uE .,
continue in this course for few years without stoplng
our civilization will be such that we shah not DC |
ashamed TO stand comparison win any county III
Europe or AmeLfa, kyety l 9ah Sn0 nd A cones
his fellow. But We nave, nevertheless cause !
be ured with oS no i6y 80 pure as not to be mingled
with grief. II then feel Nief, should endcavOrtO
md ont its ioyf side n we experience 10Y We should
reflect on tie element OF grief which it contains. II We
do this, the measure shall adopt VIII De the ri2ht
measure ana the state will enjoy truly enlightened
rule The word enlightenment is single word, but |
when consider It's appheanon,t must be acknOTl-
edged 10 employed h two distinct senses Those who
make enlightened theory OF government their chief
aim. take 10 be outward appearance while those who
important, take be question Of actual fact Those
who take II 10 be outward appearance hnd the Qect
OF attainment; those VINO take 10 DC question: O
actual fact mud IL difficult % succeed AT TINS moment
country are dihrent IN true learning, aud |
they excel In knowledge aud intelligence |
his own exortoRs, but people do the very opposite
Tue sanura merely understands how 70 live on the al
Of rice inherited from his prOgentOrs but not
t nov ~ 1dSrst,rds how 10 prIctce the ordinary
village routine but cannot improve m the art OF agri
culture The artisan merely understands how 70 dis
cuss the price OF labor but not how TO discover the
secrets OF machinery. TIE tradesman merely under
stands how TO strive for petty profits but is ignorant OF
the OF commerce. All OF these are ignorant OF the
sTt of living by their own exertOns and although there
may here and there who are distinguished
by ability and KNOWLEDGE, the majority depend the
and Of others the chances OF fortune or can
no better than CLIMB on 70 the conspicuous mound,
Deceit are prevalent, and trickery shows itself in
thousand forms often beggary and ruin are the con,
sequences II You drive on sucn people 700 last; auu
ny 10 make them suddenly enter the region Of enght
snment, are Ike one Who on seeing an egg deinaHgs
that il become Immediately changed into COCK we
have thought ourselves frequently IN the midst or
The uight We have been long 1T the capital, have
Travelled abroad, and have held once Tor consld
erable period We cannot deny also, That We have seen
gOOd deal. that knowledge and Intelligence
ust certainly be greater than tney OIlelhalg ~cIe.
And yet, We hum0ly ask wherein We are superior, we
aud ourselves to be ignorant fellows, az before"
This has constantly drawn profound signs from our
II our own experience is such, how much more
rustic parts. From this il does not require learned
man to that the enlightenment Of to-day does not
vain race after theory Of administration II the only
object theory Of administration, what patriot
will not wish for civilized government OF Euro
pegn or American country But the sanural, who are
Office. have never yet tr9dden the soil OF those
Aand nor have tier eyes Oeheld their state All they
know Is derived the translation OF books, OF from
phoographs ana yet tSy ar S e rounfies SIN
for some years When they return home some maintain
Inglaud 10 be superior TO all. Others as
sert the pre6minence of France OF, II may
compare the superiority OF each TO own con
ditOn, and IN commerce, the development OF nOn-pro-
ductye regions. Ia legislation debate military organl
Eation education dress, aud mechanical appliances, In
short in every branch the attempt has been MADE To
equip ourselves complies by including every detail that
might converted 10 the assistance OF our civilization
Itis, Of course, perfectly natural feeling which has
prompted all thus, and we cannot condemn II as alto
getber But # regard only had TO outward APP