New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17

eeIept character was. lust when he left his house
to be present at the promu1gation OF the Constitu-
ton. assailed with o kitchen knife and severely
wounded in the abdomen by young man, appar-
entity bereft OF his senses The assassin was killed
at one stroke by guard near by, and the Minister
was carried inside, and died after much suffering
on the day following. So dense was the thRong
outside, and so great the pressure OF the crowd
On that morning. that sey eral people were crushed
m death in the streets, and 50 difficult it was to
pierce this multitude that three hours elapsed be-
fore medical aid was at hand, and then IL was too
late The Emperor as soon as he heard OF the
sad event sent his court physician. Dr. McKeda,
70 aid. and chamberlain to inquire into the con-
dition of the sufferer; but, faint and weak from
loss of blood the Minister had fallen into state
of Inconsistencies, and thus he passed away on
the day following 3ttJ a'H
Thus passed Constitution Day. This 18th Of
February win forever mark an epoch in the his
tory of Japan, the epilogue of noble and vener-
able but somewhat unsatisfactory past, and the
prologue Of future bright with hope and aspira-
ton, but full of toll and labor to the statesmen as
well as to the people Of Japan, period
Of selfsacrince and not OF self-indulgeuce, of
moderation and wisdom, not oil rashness and
conceit. The interests of rulers and ruled
are never dHu HOWHtrt bruiy uhNiSohiotiS' -
feudalsm has disappeared, Il religious freedom Is
secure, il powerful and influential press has
been created, IL internal improvements and foreign
commerce have advanced, IL scientific and liu-
guistc studies have hourished. if paper money has
been brought from about 75 per cent discount to
"a par with specie, il in. zen years the volume OF
trade has increased elm0st 90 per cent IL more
than 500 miles of railways arc open to traffic with
ont the contraction of any debt abroad, If treaty
revision has remained the Governments imniov-
ably fixed aim, if in 1875 the Emperor could
promise constitutional form OF government and
could in S81 fix the year 1890 as the time for
the meeting of the first Parliament then this
is largely, and in respects almost exclusively,
owing to the Joint efforts of the princes and the
ancient nobility as we'll as the leading knights and
present statesmen who restored the Emperor TO
power, stood in the van Of progress, and carried
their country safely through the Corean, Formosan
and Chinese imbroglios abroad ana the Saga re-
volt and the grave Southwestern rebellion at
home; it is owing to the men who, standing on
the trembling ruins Of past irrevoca6ly gone,
effected q great though not yet fully completed
work Of reconstruction, and arc still tolling WIFI
might and main to guide the ship Of state be-
tween the rocks and quicksands besetung the
political and National existence of their country
That in this task the United States has never In
tentionally stood in their way, has undone what
wrong had been committed unawarcs. has sup
ported Germany's friendly policy toward Japan
and aided the wrllmeant and commendable bdr
not sufficiently energetic efforts Of Great Britain
to make some amends for o past regretted BY many
EnRlishmen themselves-this Will ever constitute
the well-founded boast Of American citizens in
the East and form pleasant oasis TO japanese
statesmen looking back to the long weary anu
anxious journey through the desert OF treaty re-
vision so far pursued, and stil not ended