New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-23
JAPANESE TOPICS.
CHOLERA, FLOODS. RICE, EXPOSITION AND
POLITICAL MEETINGS.

CHOLERA, FLOODS, RICE. EXPOSITION AND
POLITICAL MEETINGS.
unon AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE,
Nagasaki, October 10.
The cholera epidemic continues, though with
signs of abating 1t was greatly aggravated last
month by the hot and damp weather. But now
the air is cooler and dryer and the number of
cases is daily growing smaller, while the per-
oentage of fatality is still more reduced. Here
in Nagasaki, where the plague began. 1T has al
| together disappeared. Osaka also is practically
free from it. At Toxic, however, its ravages are
still widespread But it must be said that Japan
has made great sanitary progress in, late years. so
that this epidemic has not been nearly so deadly
as former vsitatiOns. Deadly enough, however.
In Osaka they had 265 deaths in one day last
month. The total number of cases up to date is
about 1000, and two-thirds of them, or 10000,
have proven fatal. Osaka has suffered worst, and
it is worthy of remark that there the outbreak
was due to criminal carelessness Stops and refuse
from the house of cholera patient were thrown
into the river from which the drinking-water Of
the city is procured Within three days there
after there were 500 new cases of cholera re-
ported But it has taught Osaka a lesson: and
as a result good waterworks system is at once
to be constructed
In addition to the cholera, Japan has been ter
ribly afflicted with rains and floods. Rivers have
overfowed their banks devastating thousands of
miles of country destroying crops, washing away
whole villages and drowning some thousands of
persons. The demolition of bridges and embank-
ments in this way almost Frustrated the railway
service, and caused great inconvenience and some
suffering. The storms on the coast also wrecked
many Japanese vessels. beside the Turkish war
ship ErtougrOul.
<l,o ,;o
caused great distress among the poor, and ne
cessitated the importation of great quantities of
rice from China During the month of August
alone the amount imported was valued at more
than S1,5O0,000. People, even the poorest, de-
clared that they did not like Chinese rice and COM
planned bitterly at being obliged to eat it. There
is really little difference between it and Japanese
rice, but there is natural antipathy between
the two nations. This year more land has been
brought into cultivation and despite the floods, the
harvests are abundant There will therefore be
a great deal of rice to export, and it will prob
ably be the turn Of the farmers to complain of
low prices!
The third National Exposition has closed; not
exactly in blaze of glory. During the exhibition
only about 81 $4,000 worth of goods were sold.
When it closed the question arose, What should
be done with the remainder of the goods Pa
answered..
Of the goods never can be sold except at q heavy
loss being far too costly for the general public
to purchase. The exhibition abounded In exquis-
itely beautiful goods such as porceains, LACQUER
ware and silk embDideries But they were badly
arranged and were not displayed to advantage.
Indeed, there was no rational classification of
goods, and the reslt was that one had to hunt
| through the whole exhibition before he could find
what he wanted breign visitors mostly became
dlsgusted and cut teir visits short.
Since the promulgtion Of the Constitution and
the general elections there has been more politics
TO the square inch 4 Japan than in any other
| country on the face # the globe All educated
Japs are natural oratos. and that that they
are now all political stump-speakers This has
| led to the promulgatiolof law regulating mass
| meetings and stump ortory. 1t appears to have
| been prepared In view othe approaching meeting
| Of Parliament Every netting is to be arranged
| by protector, who shall give forty-eirht hours
| notice TO the police. l. the previous law the
| protector had to petition three days before for
leave to hold meeting The intimation is to
contain the place and dateof meeting, and the
residences and ages of the peakers. No person
| who is not an adult male Jaanese and in possess
sion of public rights can bethe PROTECTOR of a
| political meeting. Soldiers, ,iors Government
| instructors and students, infan and women. NAV
| not assemble in political meetits. No foreigners
| can speak at political meetin, and no meeting
| can he held in the open air. Aiopen-air political
procession cannot take place whout forty-egbt
| hours notice to the police anCtheir permission
| being obtained. Police consoles may attend
political meetings i'll uniform TO the purpose of
| regulating them and projectors INST supply them
| with any seats they require, al with any in
| formation respecting the meetinghat they need
| Arms or other lethal weapons mu not be taken
| to public meetings, save by those lowed by law
| 10 carry arms. Meetings may be bken up where
| soeeches are delivered to shield cminals or TO
| protect or congratulate persons guy or charged
| under the criminal law, or TO lnstate the com
| mission of a crime. The police 1t only have
power TO break up and disperse aneeting, but,
| without going far as this, the may stop a
particular speech or discussion, with't suspendng
| the whole proceedings, and If IL is It stopped at
| this order they can disperse the mvng. I'm
| prisonment and fines are ordered fobreaches of
| this law.
| hand is kept over them; they must hfe RESPONSE
| bic persons at their head TO whom the dice may
| apply for information: they must q detailed
| Information about themselves; they mu have no
| masks or flags: they may not inliuencthe pub
| lie by issuing documents or sending deities, or
estab lsh branch Offices or combine and orespond
| with other political associations" they ust not
| make or try TO make a member or an sembly
established by law responsible outside I what
he has said inside that assembly. Is last
clause is naturally viewed with the utnit dis
| favor i'm Japan, Tor il appears 10 destro at q
single blow all the ordinary agents OF pitcal
! nronagandism. The article prohibiting omen
| from becoming members OF political parties also
generally condemned by the native press ines
and terms of Imprisonment are provided for
| breaches Of the regulations.