The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-09
IAeAN's AWAKENING.

~ ~ y fNW m EtNfN0.
Either the Toxic government is mu-
liating the press dispatches reporting
the riots ia the capital, or the CORE
sDondents themselves are al. sea as 10
The exact cause OF the disturbances.
one report has it that the mobs are
making u demonstration against the
ratification of the Portsmouth treaty:
another correspondent says the trou-
bic arose over the closing of the Hobaya
park and the denial of the right to hold
h public meeting in the park to express
dissatisfaction with. the peace treaty.
Whatever the cause. the sudden. out
break of public disorder is a surprise
To Credentials who had come TO regard
the japanese as ready TO accept any
government action without protest be-
cause Of their reverence for the en-
peror. II is worth noting, too, that the
eenter OF the disturbance is the gov
eminent newspaper, the Kokumin
shimbun. Although no explanation is
Fouchsafed as TO the reason for special
dislike Of the newspaper. it is probably
due 20 defense Of the local authorities
who closed the park and forbade a pub
lie assembly; and it is a sign Of awak-
ening among the people that they are
aroused to the point Of violence by the
neeation OF what they consider THEN
rights.
Another factor in the situation is the
refusal, so far, Of the government to
announce the terms OF the treaty. In
view OF the fact that no one save the
peace ENJOYS themselves has seen the
final draft OF the agreement, il is not
surprising that the full text has been
withheld; but to the American mind, il
seems unwise 10 allow the public TO
grope in uncertainty as 10 what the
general terms OF peace are. magnify
ing the unfavorable features and guess
ing at the whole treaty,
So long as national existence was
threatened by Russia, the japanese
were naturally willing to follow blindly
the leadership OF the elder statesmen
in whom they had confidence; but, hav-
ing won their war and having tasted
the sweets OF victory it is not surpris-
ing that the common people. the
masses. should rebel at a peace settle
ment which deDrives them Of the re-
venge they longed for in the humilia-
tiOn of their foe.
IL is unlikely the outbreak will spread
beyond the capital or that it viii as
sumo threatening proportions since the
government has at its call the troops
on home duty, and the pOpulace idol
ICES its lighting force as shown in the
midst OF the rioting when the soldiers
We're called in. But the demand for the
right Of assembly is significant out OF
all proportion to the amount Of dis
turbance because il shows the existence
OF a desire FOR individual freedom and
q voice in the affairs Of government
which must eventually have its effect
ia a broadening of the rights given the
whole people.
From an absolute despotisIn, Japan
has come into a benevolent autocTacy
restrained by the power of the aristo-
cratic classes who have hitherto been
the dominant force in national affairs
From this form Of government 10
genuine constitutional monarchy with
the emperor as the nominal head OF
power is not so long a step as might
have seemed a year ago. and this gen.
Grafton may yet see Japan following
n the footsteps of Great Britain in the
extension OF civil rights TO its people.
To the student Of history stich de-
velopment would be the natural out
come OF the forces which have been at
work in Japan from within and with
Ont. The Strengthening OF the national
spirit due to the Chinese war, the edu-
cation OF the people that followed PTS-
sia's seizure OF the spells which should
have been Japan's, the tremendous /
strides in every line OF national energy /
which followed. and finally the revela- /!
ton OF internal strength which came |
with the recent triumph-all these have I
been steps toward the enlightenment OF !
the nation. With the war has come 4 |
modern press and its accompaniment |
has been a spirit or unrest, OF study |
and OF liberal tendencies such as have /
almost Invariably followed nations sud |
denly brought 10 a realization OF IN /
suspected power.