The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-20
General Van Burem's Lecture GA the
LabOrer In Japan.

General Van Buren's Lecture On the |
LabOrer I'm Japan.
(Continued.J
The annual rainfall has an average of
II. II inches. The grea test amount of snow
that has fallen at Yokohama for one year
is Is inches. The highest annual precipita-
ton of rain since foreign trade with the
country was established was in 1868, being
1872 inches, and the smallest in 1867, being
~ inches.
The rainy months are June and Septem-
ber the former averaging 1928 rainy days
and September 11.s5.
I The population of Japan is at present esti-
mated at about thirty-seven millions. The
census of 1878 show the males to be between
80 and SO millions. The only census taken,
however, available for use were those of two
years earlier-the population then being
SO, 300, CTS. These were divided as follows:
No of higher and lower nobility. 1s94,7S4
Common people. 405,S9i
No. of males of whole population. 6s91,729
No of females Of whole population. ....16 4O8,946
No. of farmers-male. ........s, Oof ola
females. ...~...6 ,s66 412- ,s7O.426
No. of Observation-Disclosures. -. sci, 295
females. $50, 121- 7O1,t1G
No. of merchants-males.. s197s2
&C" " females. 4s9, 400 1,309,I91
Mixed occupations-males.... 1,2l8,2sG
females. GIL 256- Ills, 522
Total producing population ........... 19,O1l,555
OF children under ii years of age there
9,056, 3o4
The Government of Japan up to 1868 was
absolute and irresponsible, with an Emperor
at its head who held all authority by divine
right, and who ruled through a number of
feudal princes at whose head stood the
Shotgun (Tycoon.)
The laborer had no privileges except such
as his immediate prince conceded. He was
absolutely under the control and in the
power of his feudal lord and that lords re-
| tainers. There were no courts for the trial
/ of causes which might arise between him
| and his superiors. The position Of the
| laborer was so immeasurably below that of
| the ruling class that it was as much as his
| life and liberty were worth to even petition
| his Prince or appeal to the Slogan or EN-
/
| The common people were bound to the
soil, and could not leave it without permits
sion. Their lives even were in the hands OF
| their immediate superiors, and fancied in
science or characterization was sufficient
| justification for taking them. The Govern.
| ment divided the people into five general
classes, as follows: LIST. Military and official
| This included the Emperor and his blue
blooded nobility, the Tycoon and Daimios
and their military retainers. I'd. Farmers
who held land under lease. Sd. Artisans
4th. Merchants and bankers. 9Th. Laborers
or the coolie class.
There was the widest gulf between the
first class and all the others. The latter
had no rights which the frst-class were
bound to respect.
In 1868 the Government was essentially
remodeled; the feudal lords were pensioned
and their powers taken from them and as
sumed by the Central Government
Although the laborer has no voice in the
making and execution of the laws, he has
been materially benefited by the change
A system of Courts has been established
wherein he can be heard even against the
highest classes. He oan claim the interven-
ton of these Courts to insure the payment
of his wages, which he could not do under
the old organization. A vast burdensom,
system of men-at-arms, with absolute au
thority, has been set aside, the old division
of the people abolished and all, in the eye o.
the law, made of the same class. Of course
the power and influence of the old class sys
tenn is still felt, and will he for years; but i
must gradually die out, and the laborer bt
on equal ground with all.
One peculiar feature of the old absoIutism
however, still exists. refer to the police
surveillance of all the people. The Empire
is divided into districts called ken and fl
over each of which is placed an officer know
as the Ken-rei," or " Fu-chiji," rendered
| for convenience in English Governor
| At the Office of this official, every native
resident must be registered, and he or SHE
cannot remove to another ken withou
written permission first obtained and upor
arrival at destination, he or she must b.
Immediately registered there. And so stric
is this supervision that a japanese canno
| travel, or even sleep, out of his distric
without permission of the authorities. I
block of every ten houses has its supervising
officer, and each hundred a superior officia
keeping watch and ward over the movement
of the occupants, so that any change, ever
for day, is Immediately known.
And this Interference by the Government
is not confined to the movements of thu
people, but extends to all their trades ant
| industries. Every employment is taxed
monopolies are granted to favored partie
| either of trade or transportation, and tk
Government itself is sometimes interested
and often becomes purchasersand seller il
| the market.
All the land of the Empire was the pro
perty of the Emperor. Through the Shogul
(Tycoon) it was granted 10 military favor