The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-02-23

way, until her people began to grasp the
situation. Then, with one grand effort,
she revolutionized her Government. She
released from his surroundings and re-
stored to his legitimate power the repre-
sentative of her ancient Emperors. She
struck down the feudalism of centuries
with blow. She gave rights to all her
people. She entered into companionship
with the great nations of the earth, and
began running like a racer in the path OF
progress. Whether it would have been
better to make haste more slowly, [ will
not stop to discuss. The japanese differ
widely from the Chinese. They are more
mercurial, accept new ideas and adopt
| new habits with much more ease, and
| once started on the path of national adj
| vancement, they will not be contented
until their beloved "Dai NiphOn" be-
| comes a Christian nation, and is recog-
nized as such, with all the immunities
and privileges attaching thereto by all the
world. The men who now control her
destiny have had task of great magni-
tude and no little danger, and degotedly,
| courageously and with much wisdom have
they taken up their burdens. The revo-
luton of 1868 accomplished, the DaimOis
or Great Princes of the Empire came to
Toxic, the Western Capital, where the
Makado, or Emperor, had fixed his Court,
and there, to the amazement of the world,
surrendered to the Government their
lands, possessions, retainers, and rank,
and received in return pensions, varying
in amounts according to their rank and
wealth. The Samurcie, or military re-
tainers, of these Daimios, numbering
hundreds of thousands, were thus, by the
action of their lords, deprived of support,
and being armed, wearing as they did, &C
cording to their custom, two swords, a
long and short one, and accustomed to
habits of war, became dangerous and
disturbing element in the nation-an ele-
ment that demanded prompt and energetic
action on the part of the Government.
by many it was believed that the
authorities would not have the courage to
p grapple with the evil, and it was predicted
that if an effort was made it would meet
with desperate, and perhaps successful
resistance. Imagine then our astonish'
ment when one pleasant day we read ii
our newspapers the Government decree
aboIishing the right to wear swords and
providing punishment for all who dis
obeyed. None were punished. for al
xIn Ia I'D lilo {
dream, and the dreaded two-yworded mer
"folded their tents like the Arabs" ii
they had any "and silently stole away.
And lately another startling innovation
has been made by the Government, which
is no more or less than the deprivation o
, the Buddhist and Shinto Priesthood o
, all rank, subsidies and special privileges
The Abbott, or High Priest of tn
Western Hongangi, or cathedral, thus de
! prived of rank, was either an lmperia
Prince or has heretofore ranked as one
and from time immemorial was clothe'
with the right of audience with the En-
peror-a right only accorded to officers o
. the very highest rank, and to members o
! the Diplomatic Corps.
For years the press of Japan has beel
= an active and growing power. 1t ha
$ greatly increased in numbers, and in som
t few instances has been conducted by ,,abl
I and astute writer's. The fermentation
caused by the great revolution has neve
, aettled back into the old anti. bellum con
dition. The people in that revolution
: suddenly became impressed with the ide
that they were entitled to certain right
| not Heretofore recognized, aud immedi
ately there began an agitation for govern
D mental reforms, and especially for tn
creation of legislative assembly or pan
lament. That agitation has been widel
= assisted by the press, Notwithstanding tn
o severest press laws and penalties. Man
. reforms have in consequence been accom-
= plished, and the Emperor has formal
=, decreed the establishment of a constitU
ton and converting of a national repre-
y sentative body at the c apital in 1890.
q In the constitution thus decreed, and i
the civil code to be promulgated mex
9 year. provision IS made guaranteeing
3 all entire freedom of religious worsho
throughout the Empire.
n 1t is believed, by those acquainted MOS
s intimately with the upper classes of Japt
!, nese, that the successor of the presen
n Mikado, if not he himself, will join th
E Christian Church, and that the Christia
religion will be that of the Imperii
J.. family. and Japan enter within the circl
II of Christian nations. Returning for
4 moment to the action of Iyesasc in closin
: Japan to foreign intercourse, I desire I
: state the further historical fact that upo
issuing his decree he caused the Emperc
4 and his descendants to be imprisoned
e the Palace at Kioto and its enclosure en-
- bracing some 800 acres, and this state
= | things existed until the revolution of 1866
/ The few Dutch traders, who by the de
e cree were granted permission to renal
e and trade in Japan, purchased the priv
l. ledge by publicly trampling upon the eros
5, annually; and this they continued to d
Y for over two centuries. They lived in Ii
2. greatest profgacy at Decuna in Nag