New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16
FROM TOMORROW ALL FOREIGNERS IN
JAPAN WILL BE SUBJECT TO NATIVE
JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY.
FIRST INSTANCE OF A HEATHER ORIENTAL MA
1IoN BEING ADMITTED ON FOOTING OF
EQUALITY INTO THE Comfy OF
THE CHRISTIAN POWERS OF
THE OCCIDENT.
THE OCCIDENT.


protesting Christianity to a yellow skinned Ash
attic people whose characteristics are essentially
Oriental and both of whose religions, namely,
Shintoism and Buddhism, are largely phallic,
and az such repulsve and abhorrent to the
civilized nations of the Occident. 1t Is an ex-
pertinent that is viewed with the utmost appre-
hension and uneasiness not only by all foreign
ers now resident in Japan, which is the country
concerned, but likewise by all those who have
ever lived in or visited what is known in Eu-
rope as the Far East.
1t is perfectly true that the people of the
Land of the Rising Sun have many admirable
qualities, some Of which are Of a nature to IN
vite goodwill bordering on affection. But 1t may
be questioned whether with all their adoption OF
Western civilization, they are as yet ripe to be
intrusted with responsibilities that are so grave.
or whether it is ever at any time judicous and
right to subject white races whose civilization is
based on the Christianity which they profess to
the authority Of Orientals who, while accepting
many Of the superficial features Of our civiliza-
ton. decline to accept that Christianity on
which it is founded-Asiatics, indeed, whose ira
ditions, customs. philosophy and climatic condi-
tions are such to convey the assurance that
their Standardization If may coin the word,
will never be anything but superficial. mere
bhlH uccp NeHecI, WHICH, even NC uS-
scribed a polish.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ABANDONED.
In order to understand the importance of the
which is about to be inaugurated to-mor-
row, it is necessary to explain that in Japan. as
In all other Oriental countries the white alien
races have until to-day enjoyed the privilege Of
extraordinarily. That is to say, they have
been amenable only to the jurisdiction of CON
suls and magistrates Of their own nationality
and appointed by their own governments. They
have been entirely exempt from the jurisdiction
of all native tribunals, and consequently also
from native taxation. except the customs dues.
This system which has been in existence
throughout the Orient for centuries. was origi-
mated by a desire Of the Western nations to pro-
tect their fellow countrymen from the appalling
cruelty which characlerizes the legal punish
ments Of nearly all Asiatic Powers.
Thus in Persia people are still sentenced by
the courts to he executed by being imbedded
alive. with only the face exposed in a shroud OF
liquid plaster Of Paris, which. drying, contracts
and brushes life of the victim. In China
the gradual shcing to pieces of convict is con-
sidered perfectly legitimate form OF punish
ment In Turkey men are still killed by being
fOgged with long canes to death with blows on
the stomach. Binding. loss OF nose, ears hands
and feet form part Of the legal pains and pen
alties of other Oriental States. while it is only
comparatively short time ago that Japan herself
abolished legal torture. 1t is perfectly true that
Japan has d brand code based those Of
Western nations and embodying all that is best
In the system Of laws Of the United States of
France. Germany and Great Britain. But.
fortunately the new civil ana criminal codes Of
Japan after all. in the words of a foreign
diplomat long resident in Japan, mere books"
only recently compiled. Jaj..s ard magistrates
competent to read, understand and Interpret
these books cannot be produced, speaking OF
them class. in single generation 1t is
more than doubtful whether they exist now, and
the wise st laws, in the hands Of incompetent and
inexperienced judges who have not even the ad-
vantage If having been reared in that Western
civilization that botn produced these statutes
and is governed thereby. are likely to become
Instruments Of tyranny ana injustice all the
more when one bears in mind that in spite Of all
that is said to the contrary there IL intense
latent hatred on the part Of the yellow races Of
Asia for the white races Of America and Eu-
rope
CODE FOR SHOW.
It must be confessed that there is a good deal
Of ground for the contention advanced hy the
foreign population Of Japan to the effect that
the new Japanese codes OF law are mere books'
that were primarily destined to serve as an in
duccment to the Western nations to abolish
that extra territorial jurisdiction which has
been extremely calling to japanese vanity.
Thus the new statute book depriyes Of all legal
sanction that concuhnage which. until the
PRONUNCIATION Of the code in question, const-
tuted an important and recognized feature Of
domestic and conjug il life in Japan. Yet, not