The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-04
IA. Arlington Bruce in Color
Springs Telegraph.

Springs Telegraph.
is just thirty-five years since
Japan underwent, by baptism of the
sword, the transformation from feu-
dalism to western civilization, the. first I
forward step in that wonderful adj
vance which has since won the adj
miration of the world. History re-
cords few countries more devoted to
feudal institutions than was the Japan
of the old regime. Two hundred and
fifty noblemen, known as da1m1os,
ruled the land thru chief executive
called the shotgun, the mikado being
virtually a prisoner, living behind a
screen not daring to show himself
on the streets of his capital. Each
feudal chief had his powerful retinue
of followers, devoted to him and
boasting no other occupation than the
study and exercise of workmanship.
Foreigners lives were not worth a
moments purchase if they angered
the daimios or any Of their men. The
islands isolation from the rest of the
world was we'll nigh complete, an iso-
lation of choice, not of necessity.
From the appearance of Perry and
his fleet in Yeddo bay July 8, 1853.
may be said to date the awakening of
Japan. Perry's mission was to over
awe the Japanese into extending to
enjoyed by the Dutch only. History
does not say to what lengths he was
prepared. to go should his show of
force prove insufficient, the fact be-
ing that the mere sight of the war
ships was enough to convince the sho-
gun Of the expediency of acceding to
Perry's wishes. Accordingly, much
against the desires of the mighty
daimios, American trade was granted
,;rrI how
been expected, the European powers
were not slow to profit by the exam
pie, forcing similar concessions until,
little by little, the Shotgun had sur
rendered the domestic trade of the
country to the control of the treaty
powers. Out of this state Of affairs
ultimately grew the revolution Of
1868, in which several of the most
influential among the daimios took
charge Of the person Of the young
mikado, Mutsuhito, declaring their in
tention Of restoring him to full
power as the real ruler of Japan
made war on the shogun's troops and
signally worsted them. Thus did the
young emperor find himself placed
on the throne of which his ancestors
had been deprived centuries lore.
The ultimate result of this rebel
lion was anything but pleasant even
for those daimios who had partici-
pated in the restoration of the
nnikado. Gradually falling under the
sway of cultivated and liberal minded
statesmen, the youthful Mutsuhito be-
gan to exercise his titu1ar prerogatives
in way that was contrary to all Jap
anese traditions. For this change
two men, who have since been promi.
nently identified with Japanese poll
tics, were largely responsible, these
two being the Marquis Hirobumi Ito
and Count Inouye, the formers life
long friend and political coadjutor.
Chiefly as result Of their efforts the
policy of cultivating the foreigner
sprang into being, and it was also in
no small measure owing to them that
the mikado annO2Yced his intention
of providing the country with an up
to-date western parliament. Then it
was that the daimios surprised them
selves and the world by taking a step
which insured the solidarity Of the
empire and it's future high position
among the nations Of the world. Vol
UNFAIRLY they agreed to surrender all
the privileges hallowed in their eyes
by centuries of custom and at the
same time promised to do their ut
most to further the interests Of a
: united Japan. In return the govern
ment Of the mikado pledged itself tc
give each daimio thus yielding his
rights a pension equal to one-tenth OF
what had been his income, and fol
this, purpose found it necessary tc
effect the loan Of no less a sum thar
S165, 100000. BY this grand act OF
self-sacriice was born the modern
Japan. ~
In this act we can discern what has
since been widely recognized as one
of the distinguishing traits of this
most remarkable people-the readi.
ness to yield life itself if by the death
of the individual good will accrue tt
the. commonwealth. But self sacri
flee alone cannot account for the
progress Japan has made, nor, fol
that matter, can the faculty for imi
tation which the Japanese possess tt
so great a degree. Their adapta
bility to western civilization, their
willingness to accept the novel il
the place of the customary, thei1
amenability to discipline, all of which