The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28
Almost
Incredible
Development
Since the
Shotgun Was
Overthrown
Only
Thirty.Six
Years Ago.

APAN is sitting up and taking no
tice. In fact. she opened one eye
in 1854, when Perry's squadron
e. ran into the bay OF Yeddo. for a
quasi treaty was made then and
there between him and the Shotgun. In
1865 Janan opened the other and
proceeded TO stare the nations of the
earth straight in the face and de-
manded 10 know just what they meant
by sending their envoys TO treat with
the wrong person.
And, indeed, strange as it seems.
such had been actually the case.
Under an erroneous impression the
Shotgun was thought to be the En-
peror Of Japan and all dealings were
accordingly carried On with him. The
title Of Taikun was then for the first
time used, and as its literal meaning
is the great ruler was employed for
the occasion by the TOkugawa officials
TO convey the distinct impression that
their chief, the Shotgun. was in reality
the lord paramount. However. one in
cident, trifling in itself, shows that
strength and privileges, for never even
in these early treaties was the title
corresponding TO his Majesty as
sumed by the Shotgun. But he was so
shrewd and clever that his actual po-
sition remained unknown to the for
eign ENJOYS for over fourteen years.
and during these years if he could not
be correctly called the power on the
throne he was at least the power be-
hind it.
The Office OF the all powerful Shotgun
or commander in chief Of the military
power was created in the eleventh cen
tury and was held by sheer force. In
the middle ages the warlike families
in turn seized the throne and kept il
as long as they could, until two rival
clans found themselves about equal in
influence and strength.
The AIikado. evidently realizing his
own weakness before these arrogant
military dictators. and, fearing that
their power might become too great,
tried 10 play them off one against
the other. For instance, if one of the
Taira rebelled the Emperor authorized
the Minamoto 10 rebuke him, and as
a consequence both clans were only too
delighted 10 obtain an imperial COM
mission against the other Incessant
intrigue ana even blOodshed was the
order OF the day until the twelfth cen
tury. when the question was finally
leading spirit of the Minamoto, was
the victor. and he sraightway went
10 work 10 set UP a kingdom OF his
own and never once did he falter until
he had built city that was the capi-
tai Of East japan.
To such an extent did he overawe
the neighbOring provinces that in 1892
the Emperor dispatched a special en-
voy 10 invest him with the office Of the
Shotgun literally, "barbarian-subjugat-
ing generalissimo'D and he and each
Shotgun who came after him were thus
nominated commanders in chief whose
duty it was to preserve peace and
tranquility in Eastern Japan.
Thus the creating of another great
power gave rise TO the common belief
that Japan really possessed two en-
pcrors-one spiritual" residing at
Kioto. and the other temporal" resid-
ing at Kamakura and afterward at
Yeddo. AS the Emperor is believed to
be an earthly deity" or son Of demi-
sod, this idea was not unnatural, for
while the Shotgun owed allegiance and
was invested by the Emperor his new
position as supreme head OF the mill
tary force and his influence over the
powerful lords OF the country made
him in reality almost the equal Of the
sovereign in his own right. Such a