New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09

THE EFFECT OF TWO RECENT TRIALS
1,lII. WIN. GANS.rlII WHOM

TIE NEW CONStiiL lion.
IRON AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE rRIBUNEl
Toxic, Oct. 27.-The TrDune's attitude in tho
court martial Of Captain Thomas o. selfrdse. late
commander OF the United states steamer Omaha, IN
japanese waters. is fully approved here, and couli
not but make the best impression, also. among the
japanese who IN n another evidence OF Americas
Just and friendly attitude toward their country Tho
more recently decided Of the master OF the
United states bark Freeman Marcus l. Howes, who,
indicted before the United states Court at Boston
for the murder OF japanese sailor and found guilty
Of mansaughtcr by the Jury sitting I'm the case, has
been condemned to three years imprisonment, Is
another case that has attracted considerable a.
tcnton among Americans here and japanese law
ycrs The japanese witnesses In the case had been
to Boston the application Of the American
Government. From legal point OF view, the case
IS remarkable for the admission by the Circuit Court
Of the japanese formula for an oath. II Is very
simple one indeed ard reads: that the
evidence which l shall give before the Court in
the case of ---- shall honestly be stated. without
love- hatred or fear" This OATH applied 10 Pagan
witnesses, Is vast Improvement On the Ole Bailey
Invention OF the breaking OF the saucer and that
Of the burning OF the paper Of imprecaon,7 formu-
las and proceedings that little binding upCa
the conscience Of the witness they ridiculous
and absurd in themselves.
Recent investigations and exact measurements at
the Bandai Mountain the scene Of the great volcanic
eruption described In The Tribune. show that the
land covered by the elected rocks and the pull
velized earth extends over twontyseven square miles
that the weight Of the material thrown out is 29-2.-
100000 tons and that the cause of the eruption
Is TO be sought in the sudden explosion OF steam
generated by the contact OF water with the molten
masses Of the earths Interior
As is well known. Japan enters upon the twenty
third year OF Melt; that is OF The present Governments
era tor in other woNls, the year l59Ol, into the
ranks OF constitutionally governed States As the
time for the publication OF the japanese Constitution
approaches, the political activity among the peopc
increases. \ manifestation Of this spirit Is 10 he
seen I'm the recently effected organization Of the So
cieiy for investigating the Principles Of selfGoyern
nents How great the expectation Is among the
people may appear from the following account Of
Vlscount Mshma's death. This high Official. the
chief Of the Toxic police, had sent word 20 hts
friend Baron Takasaki. the Governor Of Toxic, when
the latter was most seriously ILL., that It necessary
10 live Ill the twonty-third year OF MeiL Now.
when Viscount Mshima himself fell III. and growing
worse. failed to recognize his friend, and had lost
apparently all power Of speech, he was asked by
Baron Takasah in the dialect which both used TO
speak when still IN their native province, whether
he remembered what he had said of the necessity Of
living I'll the twcntythird year Of MeiL The dying
man, TO the astonshmcnt Of his friends. recovered
consciousness, and. graspins the Governors hands,
repeated, The TWEEN Ind year, the twenty third
year. lie died soon after
As regards the Constitution, all Japan Is on the
tiptOe OF expectation. The world al .arge. too, Is
scarcely less interested IN tho Introduction Of
modern constitution ia country that emerged from
tie thra!ls Of the fcufa system but a few decsd
ago the first impulse 10 which il due 10 he appear
ance of Commodore Perry al fcddo, in l552.