, 1879-06-04
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE e-revELvn pAaEa

character. III commences tho decree with
tho gonoral declaration thnt "orlor md
ECONOMY In all thinga form tho basis Of all
good government u; thai "it Is easontial 10
nvoil unnecessary cxponso md to amofiornso
tho conditions OF oststoncc Of tho people by
NIL practicable menns"l and TINT "eyery ono
mat (not sllou1d) " conaoianiiously md
strictly 10 his duty" To carry out Tho pro-
visions Of this. worry concise md pcrtinent
tlotuni, ho orders TINT l'encoforth tho groateat
possible economy shall bo enforced ih the
construction OF all public buildings. An orlfr
which will DO likoly to bc observed, since
corrupt contractors and building t4ievos aro
promptly punished in that hNppy country.
Tl,o various nrls and devices by which of1foial
scouutlrela In this country oacapo tho penal
tias Of tho Inv md continue to onrich s,,em-
selves until they nre too powerful to ho tn
further danger are unknown there. Tie
dotcotcd thief IL usually bsheadod, nntt Is
very lucky when ho gets OF with public
logging. Tho 3likado iasues peromptory
or1lor to tho projects Of tho differoit f1ls !"
and "kens" Of tho Empire TINT they must
act In strict accordance with tho spirit which
leads him to issue Tho docreo. uo says to
them: "You must seek to roduoo expenses
a. much as possib!o. so rs not to OK
coed tho credits allowed you by tho
Budget. Above ali things you will con-
stantly bear in mind tha. you are not
to imrovcrish tho people," One can family
imagine tho Consideration TINT would pre-
vail In rnoBt civilized oountries-our own,
for instanca-woro such an order issued, As
Dick .Deadtye sayB, theao noble sentiments
would Sound like tho black utterances Of
dapravod imagination" Happy land
where suoh an order can DO issued! Happy
people where suoh an order must bo oboyodt
whore ordor and economy aro compelled by
Inv :! where officials arc commanded to
amsliorato tho conditions Of e1istenco and
whore oflcoholdors realizo TINT II they steal
tho public money or impoYorish the people
by burdonsomo taxation they will lose their
bonds, not only officially but also unot1~
oiallyl
He is wiao and great r,1lor who not only
counse1a honesty and moderation in this man-
Nor, but practices 1t also, and to this class
belongs the Mikndo. Simultaneous with
thls decroo the Minister Of the Imperial
Household issued one also, III which ho
says: "Of his gracious will his Majcssy tho
a1ikado has notified tho necessity Of praotio-
ing tho greatest economy. It is therefore
ordered by Lis Majesty TINT the expenses Of
food mud all other household mntsers must DO
roduocd." Hore We have the oasc Of great
ruler not only ordering his officials under
aovero penalties to practice economy and to
lesson the burdens Of the people, but setting
tho example by ordering the expenses Of
his own household to ho reduced,
thus unofIicially issuing dcoros Of economy
to every household in his Empire, and giving
them losson in princaly virtue and dignity
which, 1T followed, will certainly inure to
tho happiness Of tlo whole people Of japan.
These decrces nro worthy the seriouH con-
sidcration Of the people Of this country. We
have been too long accustomed to set our
selvos up a. models Of civilization for i.nita-
ton by the people OF tho farthernost isles Of
the sea, but in this oaso tho heathen Of Japan
hive sotus lesson wo might protitably study.
While wo aend them missionaries 10 preach
them religion, thoy should send us tnisaion-
arios 70 teach us tho moralities mud o1i-fasL-
ionod virtues, and to acqnaint us with tho
principles Of public honesty aud economy.
They would find hero field wAito with tho
hnryaet