The Washington herald., 1908-04-19

the rule of the tyrant Shotgun. Revolu-
ton was insldious and 1t required a long
time for it to ripen. but when the time
came the country was so thoroughly pre-
pared for it that the shogunate fell al
most without striking blow In defense.
While the revolution grew out Of internal
matters, the admission of foreigners to
the country undoubtedly had much to do
with pTecipitating IT,
Commodore Perry's visit Ia 1854 was fol-
lowed by embassies from other countries
so that In 1859 the ports Of Nagasagi,
Hakodate and Kanagada, now YOko-
hama, were opened TO foreign trade. The
foreign powers made treaties with the
Shotgun, under the mistaken impression
that he was the real ruler of the coun-
try. To further this misconeeption, the
Shotgun adopted the title Of Tycoon,
meaning the great ruler" Foreign
ideas had been seeping into the country
through the little Dutch chink at Nagas-
aki. and the Shoguns had been translat-
ing Dutch books on military affairs into
Japanese. The little taste Of European
knowledge gained in this way created
a great appetite for more, so that when
the foreigners came the more progress
sive Of the younger samurai became eager
students.
A group Of these banded together in
one way or another, took advantage or
the dissatisfaction of the clans with the
Shotgun, raised the cry Of loyalty 10 the
Mikado and started the resolution. There
We're a few conflicts, but the TOkugaWa
clan was too wefk to defend itself. and in
1867 the last of the Shoguns laid aside
his title and estate, and the Shogunate
passed into history. In the next year
the present Mikado assumed actual con-
troll of affairs. issued a proclamation
promising the people a voice in the af-
fairs of government, and received the
foreign delegation at KyOto. He removed
with his court TO Yedo, and the name Of
the city was changed to Tokyo, the
eastern capital. thus making the I'M
perial power and the seat Of the Sho-
gunate usurpation one. The daimyos
were compelled to live near the court,
and the samurai were given governmental
work 10 DO so that their natural fight
ing spirit might not break out into reyO-
luton.
This great change OF government is
called the Restoration" and from it
dates the history of modern Japan. The
year 1908 is known in Japan as the Forty
first year of Molji, an era being coexten-
sive with the reign of an emperor. The
word "MeiT' is written with the two
Chinese characters for sun" and
moon" and means "the reign Of en-
liehtenment." In view of the progress
Of Japan In its forty-one years the jap
anese think the selection of the name
was good omen.
The Meiji era has not been altogether
peaceful There was a clan revolution in
1871 which amounted 20 civil war, and
at various times there were signs Of seri-
Gus trouble But the Emperor and his
advisers, the same group Of men who re-
stored him TO the ancient power OF his
dynasty, managed by granting conees-
sions and by liberal rule to unite the
country and form a compact nation in
which the clans still exist so far as
minor matters are concerned, but in
which iisloyalty to the central govern
ment is unknown. Okubu, KIDD, and
Saigo were the men who had charge OF
the early reconstruction of the govern
ment, and il was they who deprived the
mighty daimyos Of their feudal powers.
The Mikado gradually increased his
strength by promising q popular form OF
government. often under great pressure
/ from the liberal element In 1850 prOvin-
eiaI popular assemblies were organized,
! and the next year a proclamation was is
sued announcing the establishment of
national parliament ten years later. In
1880 the first parliament met under the
constitution promulgated year before,
/ In 1888 the revised treaties went into
effect. the foreign powers resigned the
/ right of Jurisdiction Of their grants OF
territory in open ports, and foreigners
were for the first time permitted 10 trade
/ in ali parts Of Japan. Hence, it is but
nine years since the foreign powers reeog-
nized Japan as q civilized nation TO whom
/ they might intrust the protection Of their
citizens
| During all this period OF unrest and re-
I construction, Keiki. the last Of the Sh0-
guns, has supported the Emperor and
| has passively contributed much TO the
/ peaceful reorganization Of japan. Had
/ he take nadvantage OF revolutionary SEN
/ tiflent. it is possible that he might many
times have raised his standard and pre-
| cipitated q civil war. But he preferred
! peace and now he has his reward IN a
happy old age. with his American bicy-
/ Gle and his phonograph 10 console him
| for the loss Of his mighty power. his
noble fortress. and his royal prerogatives-
! Copyright. 1905, b. Frederic J. Haskial
To-morOw-The Elder Statesmen OF
/ Japan,