Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-01-30
a Stride TO the Front.

A correspondent of the Springfield Re-
publican, writing from Yedo, Japan, gives
view Of the progress made in that coun-
try since the Mikado attained his present
undivided sway. The comparison between
Japan during the Tycoonate and now is a
striking one. All power in the land was
held by the mobiles and their retainers un-
der the Tycoon, the great producing class
es being really slaves. Now the great no.
bles have been deposed, their retainers
scattered, and the people, freed from bond
age, are required no longer to humiliate
themselves before the higher classes. They
look upon the Mikado as their benefactor,
and they are the bone, the sinew, and per-
laps the intelligence of the country. Edu-
cation among the lower classes is universal,
it being but rarely that Coolie is found
VIII o cannot read or write. The percentage
of uneducated persons is as great among
the old mobiles and their retainers rs among
the lower orders. The Mikado has not on
ly freed the masses from the nobility, but
has attached them 10 his throne by recog-
nizing them in the formation of his govern
ment. Serashmia, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, was simple employe in the Gus
tom House. His Assistant Minister was
poor boy, and a servant for a foreigner.
The heads of several important bureaus of
the different departments of the govern
ment are from the laboring classes. They
are men of great ability and attainments.
The writer, afler arguing from facts like
the above, of the permanency OF the Mika-
do 5 Government, says:
''Strange as it may seem, there is DEM
ocratic sentiment among quite number of
the educated classes. In the capital there
is a teacher and publisher of ability and
means, who openly teaches that all men
were created free and equal He has issu-
ed several books from his press, in the jap
anese language, containing the same doc
trines. Ono OF the English papers here
has been very much exercised over the
promulgaton of such heresies. The school
Of which this teacher is the head has four
or i've hundred students, and his publish
ing house is one of the largest in Japan.
His means of spreading these democratic
doctrines are not to be despsed. The re-
suit of all this may be to give Japan a con-
stitutional monarchy, in which the people
will have real representative. How strange
child of yesterday, was really leading the
old nations of the world in reforming gov
ernments and elevating the people, and yet
il is likely 10 be. Certain it is that four
years have seen reforms accomplished here
that required four hundred years in Eu-
rope"
The great interest of the country now
seems to centre on the revision of existing
treaties. Japan is not really open to trade,
though she is so nominally. The govern
ment seems willing TO accede 10 the propo-
sitions of other countries with a view to
remed yng this condition of affairs, but an
obstacle is in the way in the feet that Japan
has really no civil or criminal code. Cases
are arbitrarily decided by judges repre-
senting the throne, without regard to rules
or precedents, such decisions being as unal-
terable as the laws of the Medes and Per-
slams. Torture is used to extort confessions
of guilt. Consequently no foreign govern
ment will allow the Japanese courts TO ex-
ercise control over the lives and property of
its citizens, while Japan will not open all
her ports until this control is conceded.
There is little hope, therefore, that such con-
coesons will be made on either side as to
open the country more thoroughly to trade.
The Japanese government proposes to a
dopt the code Napoleon, and an eminent
French jurist has gore to Japan to aid in
its establishment.