Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-10-25


We will not attempt to set forth at any
length the dark side Of the advantages arising
from the modern intercourse Of the Japanese
with the rest Of the world, and will only de.
vote few words TO the administration OF the
finances, to jurisprudence and to the questions
connected with them.
Among the growing an&ieties d modern
japanese statesmen the bad condition Of the
finances and the question Of jurisdiction over
foreigners must no doubt be considered As
the imports have during the last fifteen
years much exceeded exports, aud the differ.
cnce has gone abroad in the shape Of bullion,
the stock Of cash has continued to disappear
and kinsatsu paper money has taken its place.
The latter has been increased alarmingly dur
ing the last few years, and this not only by
the government, in ordcrtoc cover the most the
enormous costs OF the rebellion in 1887, but
also by more than six dozen so.called national
banks which have shot up like funguses, The
mistakes thus committed were still further in
creased by the government which permitted
the nobility and Samurai to transfer as mer-
chandise the promisory notes which they hadre.
ceivcd in the discharge of their yearly rents
Large amounts thus came into the market at a
considerable discount, and were exchanged ior
paper money.
Ten years ago this kinsatsu stood at par,
and was even preferred by the natives to the
silver and gold currency now from 30 per
ent to IS per cent premium is paid. Thus the
paper money has become a plague to the
country, injurng commerce, damaging credit,
and will bring the state to the verge of bank.
rup,cy, il means are not speedily found to avert
the evil. Reduction in expenditure, and con-
sequent improvement of credit, another and
more fre.proof mode of building houses, the
introduction Of rational cattle. breeding and
forestry, would be such remedies but first and
foremost proper control Of the finances and
papcr-money by the people. The merchants
in the japanese treaty.por,s; as well as the
representatives of their respective governments,
have for years been pressing upon Japanese
Observation-Disclosures forthe opening of other ports
(c. &. of Takado on the Sea Of Japanl or Of the
entire country, expecting from such step
probably from misconception ofthe productive
capacity Of the country-a fresh revival OF
trade from its long depression The japanese
hesitate to make such further concessions un.
less they are allowed to exercise jurisdiction
over foreigners. Not only do they fear, and
with justice, that any further concession in
this direction would involve the country in
fresh expenses and numerous complications,
but their pride, and sense Of independence re-
volt against not being in this point first upon
an equal footing with the treaty powers. The
latter have, however, serious grounds for de-
clining to strike this clause out of the treaties
Their representatives are acquainted with
Japanese Jurisprudence and have as yet nc
confidence in it. They know that the country
lacks juristically trained judges, that its legal
notions still differ in many points from ours,
that the prison system is in need of reform,
and that the Japanese prisoner under examina-
tion is still frequently exposed to cruelty oi
treatment which with us is not even inflicted
upon the convicted felon.-"/apai and Mt
/afanese," by f. pon kempE