New-York tribune., 1873-05-14


ly FROM the ,mpossibty OF finding OF the required
speeal ability among the ranks of the favored party
The central and northern Datmios aud their aherents
are totally excluded from any share in public
ars IL not probable that this condition OF things
can last forever and the time will undoubtedly arrive
when the Government will he imperial and central in
fact as well as in name The existing system seems 70
he neiept for present necessities but when the occa
sion shall arise for withdrawing the balance OF power
from those who now hold IT, there Il chance az a
serious resistance may offered shimadzu saburo has
more than once put the GOvernmeut-that is the frae
ton of 1t not in interesto Inconvenience and
alarm nj periods when he fancied that his influence was
NOT duly respected and often hear omnous threats
o mat which he may do II what he conceives 70 be his
rights are invaded. But excepting from those few
whom he represents there is likelihood Of disturb
auce at any time the part OF the deposed nobility
aud II is than probable that In the gradual
OF events, all power OF agitation VIII cease their
direction.
The effect Of the great changes OF 1871 and OF others OF
more recent date upon the OF people just
now subject that deserves weighty consideration
New methods Of collecting internal revenues have been
introduced, or unusually severe applications OF old
methods have been adopted, which not received
with general content These are perhaps. Inevitable
consequences Of the start in national life which
Japan has taken. The expenses OF government have
been vastly increased Of late, to great extent egti
matey, but unfortunately, have often endeavored
70 explain too often in ways which show neither pru
dence strict integrity. All these additional expenses
be sustained by the people, the laborng and prin
elpay the agricultural class. There is hope for
customs at present and there little prospect
of relief from the burdens of domestic taxation for
considerable time 10 How long it will be possible
for the country 70 bear the strain no foreigner can pos
siby That there is already popular dissatisfaction
ns nacaSse the demands are % yet ntoerabe as
because OF a growing conviction that the rev.
enues are not applied IN necessary proper pur-
poses. There never was worse mudde IN the hnances
any nation than that in which the Treasury Of Japan
tion seems very dim indeed The difficulty is not that
the OF the Empire insufficient 70 clear away
every embarrassment but thar an overwhelming number
Of the officials who either direct or manage the pnDne
finances interested in having matters remain in their
present complicated condition. Among a very large
class OF public agentsn0 the highest perhaps, but GER
tainly not the lOwest seems only Too evident tnat
wholesale corruption is the rule OF NE This is undoub
edy the chief reason why the Treasury IL surrounded
with So much mpenerahle mystery and why monetary
reforms resisted with such persistence aud success
Inc HIst oulcerh OF Sldte, lloeo Nlso -
high above prOaCh do not appear unaware of tins state
things but they generally indifferent 20 i; a least
80 Tar indifferent tnat they the no uecIsFo sePs 70 e
inmate IT, They appear 10 think II Is an eYl which Will
itself in time aud meanwhile, as the country Is sure
20 secure In the end, foreign loan, OF
an augmentation OF taxation now and them may be re-
sorted to for momentary emergencies To the possible
results OF continued OvertaXatOu, DO not ma that
they give much heed. In fact the temperi ana dispos
ton OF the lower classes are subjects that rarely receive
attention from japanese statesmen OF the present day
one great social reform was indeed carried out year
Z
the degradations which had forever oppressed them
but then generous recognition OF any nnd has
free education-tlat is OF education az Government
penseis yet granted 10 them and IN variety "
ways there appears to be disposition 70 interfere with
their traditional liberties, without Offering them any
cOmpensating advantages. Whether the authorities
tna gnn matte OF taxes is question: as have
said, which foreigner has yet the oppor
s ex traOrdnary and their goOdhumored endurance s
more elastic than in any land that have ever visited
not reco But the recent attempts 20 utterly overthrow
old customs and cherished oOservance for no other
purnOse than that OF uprOOtug preiudices which may
have founded IN supersuu0n-ke hosts OF our own
but which are as happy as they are harmless, and
vvhch are maintained with much earnestness by the
multitude are without Justification OF any kind. Among
these which attract attention lust al present. are inter
with household comforts, and with the street decOra
tons and outdoor sports OF New-Years time The last
OF these in fact the Government mas shrunk from en-
forcing II had been declared that the conventional
svpbols inviting peace and prosperity, should not
slTiap spPsp Ia fsToe games hedyng and the Ike should
be discountenanced put iew DAYS Oeiue me beglh,
ming OF the wear, TINS intimatOn was Withdrawn, ana
the powers progress and reform we're checked III this
single direction, for while; . -...,.-,.... ....
20 underae the intelligence and sprt OF their Masses
There have always been Indications Of something more
than want sympathy between the ruling class, which
consisted OF the samurai gentry and the real
tSyn and bnsy population Of the islands l could give
more than one instance of gulatiOns show
ing complete misunderstanding OF the temper OF the
humber part OF the community. Until very recently,
indeed the multitude has not been considered worth un
derstanding worth thinking about IN any way The
interval between and those who nved upOn vas aO-
soIute and hnpassablesOciay, morally, intellectually.
But II that interval presently Dndged over by some
wise concessions and proofs OF humane thOughtInness
on the side OF the Government II VIII be forced ana
swept over the other side II useless 70 attempt
20 push OnefOurth or the population lorWaIu 20 ehgA
enmeut and prosperity, and leave threefOurths behind
There especial desire IN this case at the majority
shall thus be left behind; there s only general care
lessuess about the matter. Japan has always moved
along well enough without bestowlng any attention
upon the groundlngs ana the necessity lof lOng y
now has yet manifested itself So they are suffered
70 20 performing their part toward the public sup
pOrt and contributing the bulk OF the revenue ana are
rewarded with occasional arbitrary enactments d0uht,
less intended for their benefit but whlch may DC wen
i-adysed, as chance not JhdgneLt may deIeImlne'
Few OF the recent DEGREES have been very happily IN
spred and II by means certain that the most radl
cal of all OF which have not yet spoken, Is likely 10
prove an unqualified benefit nom the outset.
refer Of course 20 the change OF the calendar ana
the adoption OF ulat whlcl u ~ common use ahons
western nations Henceforward the years and the
months VIII begin win the Japahese as Win Us. V vi
specific names will not be assumed but the dates VIII be
identical. This viii ne convenience 70 limited num-
Der Of Government officials merchants' eis ~ w 3e
who have hardly heard OF foreign nations, and who
know aud nothing about their way OF reckoning.
In the rst place here as elsewhere, the business settle
ments the are generally competed Just at he
end OF the twelfth month All accounts ali IN dt thJ
time and all debts Cancelled, preparatory 10 resh
departure Last year, however Dy Government decree
there no twelfth month Ihe eleventh, aee9Tains
to japanese computation, nearly cOrrespOnded with oar
December and 80, to expedite matters thrty Qua aays
were thrown out OF existence. and the first month OF the
sixth year OF the new regime was ordered 10 Oesln
with our first OF January An attempt 70 lessen i tle
embarrassments that sure 10 arise was made
bV prOcaimng that the terms Of contracts. &C. should
stand over would have been the appointed date
OF fument under the old system but II easy "a see
how such All arrangement might he turned 70 the sad-
vantage Of the ignorant by crafty and ldsposed spec
nlators To throw the entire private business Oi
such confusion ds nds cnsued is DOld cA-
pernent, though, the Instance Is eXceptOnil ana
cannot recur passed smoothly over; Out other
disarran gemens are inevitable which unlike ms are
nor Tor b d4y hut all time. The ancient and sacred
festivals are swept away, abruptly and everlastngy
Not the familiar holidays with s host oi tradl-
tiOnal assOciatOns. remains undlsturhed Ihe people
are required wipe from the Table OF tnelr iein1ry al
records and forms OF the past and 10 adapt them
selves 10 a new measure Of time, with the DE
fails of which they wholly unaCqualntcd,
and which touches Of the senslDllltes
- ~, a. "a. .tfaehed themselves and