The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-11-10

ton, her upper works still pierced In
hundreds OF places. and her tunnels
riddied like a sieve. She stands very
high out OF the water. The Poltava
has been SO patched up that not much
injury is now noticeable. except about
the tunnels. The Apraxine seems all
most unhurt; she was one of the four
that surrendered. with Admiral Nebo-
gatoff. The same applies to the Semi
avin, her sister ship-which, by the
way. has already been decorated with
a gilt chrysanthemum at the bow, in
place of the Russian eagle; most OF
the captured ships still bear the eagle
ADMIRAL ToGo's REWARD.
The Jill, in the course of an article
which describes Admiral Togo as the
man who has borne on his own
shoulders the fate of the nations rise
or fall, suggests that the Diet in its
coming session should vote a sum OF
money to be presented to the Adrnira.
1t points out that such an action would
not really be contrary to the samurai
spirit, as in the old days 1t was coul-
mon for money gifts to be made to
victorious officers. The Japan Mail
makes the following interesting COM
merits on the Jijrs suggestion: AS En-
glishmen we naturally endorse this pro-
pcsal. and we may supplement the Jijrs
historical argument by pointing out
that the whole system of military re-
wards in old Japan was based on the
custom of making pecuniary grants in
recognition of signal service These
grants did not necessarily take the
form of so many coins or so much gold
dust. They were usually in the shape
of landed estates, measured by their
rice-producing capacity. An officer or
official was granted an income of so
many koku Of rice, which, in the case of
any large amount meant that he be-
came lord of the territory where the
rice was grown, and, in the case of
small quantities, signified that he was
paid annually out of the official granar-
les. The system followed in England
is exactly analogous. Grants of corn
yielding estates are not made, since the
Crown has no such assets at it's dis
posal, but grants of money are voted
by Parliament, with the implied condi-
ton that they are intended to support
the rank which, also. has been be-
slowed on their recipient in recognition
of his merits. The bearer of a title of
nobility is merely embarrassed by the
distinction unless some means of sup
porting its dignity are forthcoming,
and therefore practical England, when
a man is made Lord, takes care that
he shall have resources to live as a
Lord. The same principle was recog-
niZed in Japan in the early Meiji years.
Thus, when the Emperor bestowed a IT,
, tie of nobility, His Majesty usually ac-
companied it by sum of money which
was treated as entailed property and
, specially designed to support the recip-
tents rank. We do not know whether
, His Majesty observed this rule in
every instance. or whether its operation
q extended only to members of the ole
| nobility, who, though belonging to tn,
r ranks of the kuge, were entirely with
f out resources to figure in the world al
Princes, Marquises Or Counts. We d.
q not know, too, whether the custom wa.
o operative in all instances or whether
+ 1t has now fallen into allegiance. Blu
1t is at any rate evident that, II AID
mlral Togo is to be raised to the peer.
, age as a Viscount Or Count, he mus
. have an income more or less common
= surate with his rank, and the Die
should not hesitate to make suitable
appropriation. The Jill Shimpo sug
: gests million of yen, basing tina
figure on the amount granted by Par
lament to Lord Roberts. But En-
: gland is not Japan. Togo woui,
: be extremely perplexed by the receip
= of such a sum as a million yen. w,
c imagine, indeed, that his mind will re
volt against the idea of pecuniary re
4 ward in any shape or in any amount
, but that is purely his own persona
+ concern. The nation has to do it's dut.
t by him irrespective of his moral lido
: ! syncracies.-Kobe Herald.