New-York tribune., 1875-10-09
The JAPANESE PRESS.
PRINCIPLES UPoN WHICH THEY ARE C1NDUCiED-
WHAT rHEIR EDITORS WRITE ABOUT.

FllNNIlIS IPDN WHICH liiI.i AiNss N'+'''''''
WHAT THEIR EDITORS WRITE ABOUT.
TO the EdftOr OF Tke Tri6une.
SIR: Ten years ago there was not single news
paper published in Japan. Soon after the restora-
ton to power of the Milado three four were es-
tablise, bnt as they were conduct3d by the friends
of the late Tycoon and were particularly disloyal,
the Government was compelled 10 suppress them.
Not long afterward rs public affairs advanced into
the light of what is called civilization, other Journals
were established, and the number now published IN
the Empire is not less than 900. They are gem
orally conducted On the principle of having one
leading editor, but the prominent articles are
often written by outsiders, and invariably signed
by the WRITER'S upon whom alone rests the RESPONSE
bility of their opinions These writers numerous,
and many of them Of great ability; they are also
truly patriotic but some of them have very decided
IDEAS as TO how the affairs Of the Government should
be managed. and occasionally over-step the bounds
of propriety in their language against men and
measures. Within the last few months some OF
them have been warned and reprimanded, hut they
took little heed, and finally it decided that one
OF more Of the more rabid among them should be
punished They were arrested. fined 10 a small cX-
tent. and imprisoned, but the latter penalty only
consisted in being confined to their own dwellings,
there TO be guarded by their relatives and friends
BY way OF giving the reader idea of the subjects
which are daily discussed by the japanese papers,
subon the following list taken from the issues OF
one week in the cities Of Yedo and Yokohama.
In an article on Popular Rights the writer at
temps to prove that the Government Is not oppres-
sive and arbitrary and that the apparent evils in
view are but as the fading lights which re-
hccted upon the Ship of State, as she sails awayfrom
the shores Of oppression and tyranny, TO the deep
4, -. IL, f,,s,r bon
letter Oh "The Press Laws appears IN one journal
as anonymous but the editor takes the responsibility
of its opinions one of which is this: If shrink
from the responsibility Of doing our duty through
the press. We shall gain the character of ignorant
and craven hearts" In All article on the newly or
ganized Parliament, the author, while complaining
of MANY things SAYS that its results likely 70
prove OF benefit 90 the country also that We have
yet hrardtte of the deliberations OF the GalTo-tn we
cannot complain Of II is Ike the ease Of newly
married girl who has not yet completed All her toilet
arrangements, and has yet little time for household
matters
4 communication on Religion" closes with these
words Religion, in its various forms, exercises
both good aud evil in the world bat IFS practice in
a country must not be prohibited must it, intro
duction into a country be opposed. Writers of
Japan. what think We Of Our views :" second
letter on the Pres Laws which caused the
arrest of the writer. began follows: How Is
your health at pFcsent and contains these two sem
tences: "lou have all become "A set of Splritless
Ounces. because on account Of the lately enacted
laws the points of your editorial pencils have he
come very blunt and also. although You should
give your life for the good of your country, still do
not finch. but 90 on boldly in the good cause a
second editorial on the "New Parliament says
THE lack of unison between the mind Of the Gov
ernment and the people has in all ages been, and
still is regarded by all thoughtful minds as matter
TO BE sincerely regretted 4 writer, after saying
some sharp things on the Effects of ONCE" con
cludea: " But az / am now young and ignorant l
shall endeayor with all my might 10 become more
sober when am man.
writer applauds the Government for its inten-
ton to abolish the custom of tJrturiug criminals.
third editorial the Press Laws begins in
this style: "Oh! what a month is this, the August
or 1870 Great Heaven has caused its thunJers 10
fall upon the newspapers, the wholesale promoters
of civilization. The might OF heaven is exceedingly
greatw Again: Our monarch is vITtuOuS, our 0il-
cias are Intelligent, and country is said to be
civilized ana the pride of the East We have never
heard of places of which these things can justly be
said being collectively brought before Government
as violatnrs of rs laws One Journal has an article
on the late treaty with Russia IN which the failure
of the Japanese in colonizing Saghaen was attrlb-
uted to the cOldncss of the climate, which 10 TOO
severely cold Tor the japanese constitution.
Very many of the articles which appear in the
native press of Japan are regularly translated and
copied by the English newspapers printed IN ledo,
and constitute of their most interesting features
The advertisements which appear in the japanese
newspapers are numerous, aud often illustrated with
wood-cuts of steamships aad the attractions Of a
circus or public exhibition. Poetical contributions
are also frequent. C. l.
Washington, D. O., Sept. 20, 1873.