, 1873-12-22
JAPAN.
Tho LatO Ministerial Crisis -.- Its
Causes and Results.
Victory Of the Party Of Progress

Tho history Of Japan is writton III blood
TIE SWORD, NOT THE TEN,
tlictatod tho policy Of tho Empire. Tho ono was
powerful, tho other poworlcsH. Tie mcrost
swordBrnnn was noble, tho ablcat freeman igno-
bio. The scholar lived III tho rotfromont Of tho
sanctuary, with no rank and no influence. THO
private soldier, oven, was abovo tho wonlthiost
landed proprietor. Thus might occupied tho !
p1aces of right. The General, or Tycoon, was
moro powerful than tho l1ikado, tho descendant
Of tho gods. Tho military oxactol and received |
all homnge. Tho historian chroniclcd only their
nrowesB, tho poot aaug only tholr praise, and tho
lnotlor pointed alono for emulation 10 their |
examples. If tho advisors Of tho Throne dis
ploased tho Daimios, or noblos the sword de-
posed them and substituted others. It waH tho
arbitor that decided all questions. and from Its
deciHlonB there was no appeal. It roarod the
throne Of tho Tycoons, mud maintained 1t In
splondor for 250 years, and then destroyed it for
ovcr, atltl sent tho Inst Of long and lluAlrious
limo tp private life. Such were tho traditions,
precclonts, and PRACTICES Of japan for twenty
Bix centuries. 1t would soem to DO Of tho inn
possible to do away with tllom in ono. gonora-
tton, or even in many. Such, at least
III tho history Of other nations. Tho
beating Of tho sword and the spear into thor plow-
share and tho prelning-hook is oven now, in
Christian Europe, moro sounding boast. Tho
nrlnod millions OF her nations uro tho evidence Of
its falsity. Napoleon wrote on his osontcheon,
''rho Empire Ii peace" That symbolzed much,
-arts, sciences, education and elevation Of tho
mud plenty. Whom he abandoned It for son to
Tho Rhno," tho change brought the destruction
Of all these, aud himself al we'll. japan, how
eyer, soemB to have fallen upon better days, or,
at least. bottor ways. She haa adopted peace MS
her tn0ffn. II
in the wlito field, thcy lavo inscribed,
"TIlE EMPIRE 1s pEACE.'
Tho now policy of 1870, Of international intcr-
course, Of internal improvements and progrosB
built upon tho abolition OF host OF foudal
mobiles, each with thousands Of ar1nod rotainors,
WAS no great change as to bo q complete do
strlctio0 Of tho whole political and social fabric
of the past. and tue ronrng Of now structure
Of tho utmost Importance to tho So, 600, 900
people Of Japan. aud tho whole world as we'll.
Would tho hundreds Of Princes and Dainlios ro-
main contentcd, without their enormous rev.
Of retainers-tle naughty two-sword mon,
before whom tho lower classes, the laborerR the
mechanics, the merchants and tho fnrmera,
prostratod themselves would they romain com
and equaltyf
Every student Of history aud every rejecting
mind must have had doubts aud fears. II tlloso
in power made the least mistake; or serious
some bold, daring man Heize tho protext 10 APP
peal to tho sword ~ of old, call to his aid tho
uuquiet olemeuts, delugo tho land in blood, aud
perhnps oyerturn tho new and restore tue old
order Of things. If Japan faltercd Or exhibited
gigns Of wcnkncsB now,
IT WOULD END u HER RUIN.
Now, as in all past time, there arc strong M
tions which prey on the weaker ones: Thoy, AFRO
over ready to 8ive projection, but like tho lion,
who, when he lies down with the lamb, finds tho
best way Of lying down is to have the lamb in
Rido of him.
The threo years Of Japanese experiment III
| governing Ind prcsontetano criBla which tested
their stability II any officer disagreed with the
Throne aud tho Priyy- Council, tho power behind
| the Throne, he had been Quietly sent abroad !;
and till to-day general Cabinet crisis had pro-
| nentod itRelf. Now, however, it was known on
thu streota thnt thoro was serious discussion aud
disagreement between the maior1ty Of the Cabi-
MT and tho privy.Council, which must end in
the downfall Of one or tho other. Tho majority
| Of tho Cabinet favored war with Corca, tho
raising of large armies, equipping fleets, cl,nrter-
| Ing Transports aud war on a large scalo. The
privyCounci1 and one or two Of tho Cabinet
favored peace and Il continuation Of rational
| progress In all the Empire. The Emperor do
cided in favor of peace,
and filled their places with the friends Of peace.
| There was no agitation aud no oxcitemont. The
Ministers retired quietly and gracefully. An
English or American Cabine4 could not laVo ro-
v
lation to nll friends OF substantial progress in
this Fur East. If Japan cau now 70 peacefully
! through Cnbinct-criBis In her untrol condl-
ton, there is no danger for lor in tho future.
+ There is another Significance in th!s change !:
Two, groat parties haye existed in Japan since
the Perry trial, in 1864, called tho Foieign aud
| Anti Foreign parties. The first was in favor Of
opening Japan to trade md commerce with other
Japanese exc1usiveness. They would have taken
up aruls todriyo all barbaranH, as they called all
foreigners, out Of Japan, closed their ports, is
sucd an cdict Of noN-intercourse, and shut thonl-
selves up in their lslnud.homes from tho whole
world. These two parties exist to-day, aud the
nti-Foroigu party III o large one.
1 THE EMBASSY
which the Japanese Goyernnent sent to Europe
and America two years since have latoly returned
around the world, with some new and enlarged
views Of tho scope, powers and duties Of GOV:
ernments. They Ind been uloAo observers Of al
tie newor civilization Of Europe and America
I say newer civilization; for, although thero is
aud Japau, it is known that japan existed as a,
organized nation nearly thousand Year,
before the Auguatan age Of tht
Roman Empire. THIS Enhasssy n.adt
s9 ssp91 p oe Is Saas Ssa to of f0na, he
which could uot meot with the favor OF the Anti
Foreign party. They are said to urge revision
Of tho troaties with foreign powers, aud tht
opening Of al tue ports and pa!ts Of tho Empire
to trade. These yioWs were opposed by the nla
iorty Of tho Cabinet who OPPOSED tho Corea,
war, also favored tho adoption Of the policy pro
posed by tho returned Embassy. as tho minor
: ity wore retained and the vacancies filled from
! tile members Of tho Embassy, 1t il
A DOUBLE VICTORY
/ victory for trado aud commerce as we'll a
, peace.
, There are aomo other phases OF this chang
i which may throw some light on tile wisdom .
r tho Emperor in filing his Cabinet az he did
The new mon nro all cluimeu to bo tho nbleBt an,
best men Of Japan. They, moreoyor,' arc III
solicited as to represent the groat clans Of th
Empire. The heads Of theuo clans depoBed tn
: Tycoon and destroyed the Tycoonate. I'll
/ Japan pnd tho Princes Of ChoiBon, Hizen, an
Tosa afo, or woro, scarcely less powerful
!, Iwakura, tho new Primo Minister. is Of tile En-
t poror's family Okoboo, newly appointed to til
O Okunla, new Minister OF Finance. ts
| Hmm clana,nau. Iln Afiuiatar nf pnhli