Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-10-31
JAPAN FORGING AHEAD.
LIGHT AND LIBERTY ABROAD IN
THE LAND.
The Changes From Absolute Despotlsm
20 Constitutional Monarchy Have
Been Strengthening 10 the
Nation.

In no country have such momentous
political and industrial changes oc-
Cured in brief period as Japan.
Prior to 1868 it was an absolute des-
potism based upon divine right. The
common people and, above all, the
laboring classes, were mere property
attached to the soil. Socially and POI
litically the Japanese coolie Of the past
| generation was lower than the negro
slave of the United States prior "
1860, the Russian serf prior to 1886,
the feudal yillein or the Saxon thrall
A daimio or prince was justified ia
killing one for an insolent look.
To-day Japan is constitutional
monarchy, says the Chicago Herald
under which the laborer has almost
the same privileges as has AN Ameri-
can citizen at home. He can own land
and bring suit against the most power
ful prince or richest arch priest: his
life, liberty and property are as secure
as law can make them.
Unlike France and America. these
changes have come from the govern
ing and not the governed. The peo-
| pie still cling to and love the old
forms and usages. II on the road
when on horseback or in vehicle
they meet superior, they dismount
and kneel or bow until he Is hundred
yards away II one OF higher caste
| enters their home or store. they ex-
press their delight and gratitude al
his condesceusion by salaaming ana
kotowing until to the American mind
II becomes utter WEAKNESS and yexation
OF spirit II prince or a noblc takes
fancy to young girl. daughter OF Il
! tgatesman or farmer, the parents hand
her over to the admirer as IL ii were
| the greatest possible favor 10 be al.
lowed so to do, In the theatres. al
though they are passionately fond Of
amusement they give up their seats
without u murmur TO any late party OF
social superiOrs who chance to drop in
Tor few minutes to see the show
Up to 1870 society was purely patri-
archal. The patria potestas was al.
most unlimited. man could sell his
wife, daughter. daughter-in-law ana
even grandchildren Within the fam
ily his will was law. He had the pow
er OF life and death over all the other
members and used II at his discretion.
Among curious powers possessed I'M or
this system, he could pawn his wife
and daughters for coucuhines and his
sons and grandsons for slave laborcrs
for period not exceeding five years.
The peaceful revolution mentioned has
instituted the domestic relations 81
Europe and America and has abolished
the patria pOtestas. The people &C.
cept the change a. necessary evil
and IN their habits preserve the old
system.
In the old days the people were
Buddhists with sprinkIing OF follow
ers OF Confucius and shintoism. II Il
now fashionable TO be christian. and
there are probably 500, 600 nominal
christians in Japan. No matter what
the sect or denomination. the people
are rapid believers in that queer doc
trine known as faith cure and christian
healing. The result Is that hundreds
Of thousands die or become disfgured
or MANNED for life who with proper
medical treatment would have been
healthy members Of society. A wealthy
family in Toxic affords a good illustrn-
ton. Their children, six in number.
we're attacked with ophthalmia They
declined to cali in a physician, and
when two friendly doctors volunteered
their services refused them In positive
anger. For three months the father.
mother and relatives spent all their
time in prayer at either the temple or
their home. BY that time the disense
had run its course and the children
were hopclessly blind. Even then
they displayed no sorrow. but declared
the misfortune to be an inscrutable
providence Of loving Lord. Anv
one who RECEIVERS from Illness. no
matter how slight or trivial, IS believed
to have regained health through a
special interpretation OF the divine
being through the instrumentality OF
some particular shrine or priest.
Gratitude is the same the world over.
Under these auspices It expresses
itself in an immense revenue to the
temples NJ. Kato. q publicist OF
standing, states that il varies in amount
according to the healthfulness or UNI
healthfulness OF the year and that Il
never falls below $50. 900. 600 per an
mum. The wealth and power OF the
hierarchy arc as formidable in Japan
as even those Of the church In Mexico
before our sister republic confiscated
tho church properties