The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-11
JAPAN.

plOyes-A " Mint Of Trouble for the
kmpire.
The steamer Vancouver, which ar
rived at San Francisco, on the LIST inst. +,
brings late and interesting news from
Japan. A typhoon at Yezoo had
wrecked many junks and swept away
several villages, causing the destruction
of 200 lives.
Public expenses are being reduced in
various ways. The Mikado and men,
bers of the imperial family have re-
nounced part of their incomes. Nu-
merous employees have requested re-
duction of their salaries, and even the
scholars in the national academies have
petitioned that the amount allowed for
their education be temporarily reduced.
The enthusiasm and offers of personal
sacrifices are universal. Volunteers
are forming throughout the empire.
There is much discussion concerning
the displacement of the Director and
other English employees of the mint at
Osaka. The British community and
newspapers of Yokohama complain bit
terly, as if an actual wrong had been
done them, and proclaim that the ma
tional coinage will become valuless with
the mint taken away from the British
management. The matter is serious
one for the Japanese government, and
is totally misrepresented here. Some
time since, contract was made with
the Oriental Bank Corporation to super
intend the establishment of the mint,
among other public works. This con-
tract expires early in 1875, but the cor
poration has claimed the right to make
future engagements with the officials in
the mint and elsewhere. The govern
ment denies this, finding that it has al
ready placed itself far too unreservedly
in the hands of the Oriental Bank Cor
poration, and announces that the en-.
gagements heretofore made with that
body must terminate with the expira-
ton of the general contract, next Feb
ruary. So far as is practicable, there is
no intention of removing the foreign
assistance from the mint, but there is
a positive determination to get lid OF
oppressive interference of the bank in
government affairs. The bank is natu-
rally unwilling to surrender its valuable
privileges, and its pretensions are
strongly supported by British inhuen-
ces, but the government is quite de-
cided
The superfous supply of silk-worm
eggs had been reduced by burning num-
bers of cartons.
The Japanese Postoffice Department
has decreed fine OF $3.50 for wrong
fully opening any letter.
The United States Minister'S relations
with the japanese government are per-
fectly harmonious, but his representa-
tions in regard to the military registra-
ton of the servants in his service, and
the employment of Mr.. WATSON, have
passed unheeded.
The British Minister has notified the
English employedin the naval service of
Japan that, in case of war, they must
resign their positions.
The impression appears to prevail in
American journals that Iwakura es-
pecially directs the government in it's
present crisis. This q mistake. There
are three ministerial offices near the
throne, only the third of which, in rank,
is held by Iwakura. When he visited
America and Europe, the second place
was vacant, but this has since been
filed by Shimandzee Sabulo. The first
is occupied by Sanjio. Iwakura, in
fact, takes comparatively little part in
the war discussions.
The Mikado's birthday was celebra-
ted Nov. B with military reviews, state
receptions, and public festivities of all
kinds. The Foreign Diplomatic Corps
dined by invitation at the Imperial
Guest House at Yeddo.
The Japanese are rapidly preparing
to erect Notifications on all the i'm
portant points along the coast.
The boiler of steamer on Lake Biwa
burst, and her passengers and crew,
numbering 100, are reported killed by
the explosion or drowned.
LawlessneSs i'm the Scranton Coal
Fields.
The lawlessness which prevails in the
Scranton coal region of Pennsylvania
excites serious apprehensions on the
part of correspondent who has visited
that district. In letter to the New
York Herald he explains the reasons why
some of the unemployed and destitute
men refuse to seek work elsewhere. II
seems that a great many of them own
the huts in which they live others own
half of the huts, and others have paid
for still smaller portion. In the pres.
ent depressed state of things it is i'm.
possible to find purchasers for the
property, no matter at what sacrifice II
may be offered for sale. AS the men
are nearly all married and have fami.
lies, they are naturally unwilling to
abandon homes which they own either
entirely or partially after years of
economy and toll. They remain, there.
fore, even at the risk of starving. I'm.
der these circumstances they have
grown desperate, and riots are daily
occurrence. Murders are frequent
thefts and assaults the products OF
every hour. The few men employed in
the mines are compelled to go to and
from their work armed with rifles.
There is no prospect of work, and the
long winter is just opening. With such
elements at work, it is no wonder that
the Herald correspondent INDUCES in
the most gloomy forebodings.
Collections for Kansas Sufferers.
Lieut.. Gov. Slower, of Kansas, the
President of the Central Kansas Relief
Association, has issued an address set
tipc forth tho axfapf of the deetifut;O,,