The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-03

mat body. his Majesey's decisions in
cllnsd almost Sinvariably toward liberia
and progressive ideas. 30 that We have
heeO able ultimately to obtain the Cou.
stitutlon a. Il exists at present
There we're peculiar features IN the ma
flnnal life of Japan which made the d@vel'
"'m~nt 81 a constitutional system o:
government especially dihicult Ia IA,
other country IN the world IL the crowd
regarded with - much awe end rover
-nce. The same impartial house has ruled
the country IN en- unbroker line for more
than am years. from the time Of the
| Emperor Jimmu aoo u. G. and yet IL has
n"ver been known by family name The
I spirit % the monarchy il 80 deeply rooted
7 IN national sentiment that Il was essen.
tial TO preserve Il in the Constitution. and
that instrument instead of being a recog-
milton Of popular rights -SRCted frOTn the
Emperor took the form OF = sovereign gift
generously and wisely granted 10 promots
IN" public prosperity. The Constitution
Nas framed in a period OF transition
When there was IN intense conflict Of apin-
, ion IN Jspan between the conservative
supporters 10 ih@ocratic imperial pre-
rogativs and a younger generation sdu-
Gated IN radical ideas derived from repub-
lIoan enthusiasts and the Manchester
school ~ political economy. Upon its
PRONUNCIATION. SAYS Prince Ito. the first
contact II bureaucratic Japan with the
popular or democratic elements was ex-
tremely stormy; but looking backward
over sixteen years Of its operation he
deemed the experiment a success To
the outsider u seems simply wonderful
that a workable system Of constitutional
bIcameral Government preserving the
dignity and authority and influence 81
the ancient monarchy could have been
established AZ this time m Japan at all.
IL siEnIfied the adoption ~ the civilization
Of the West not only by the rulers hut by
the japanese nation.
Turning from the constitutional or
the fundamental Law to the law IN u more
direct applications 20 the daily life 81
the community. ~" 6nd in the present
work a chaptef On the development %
Japanese legal inst itutions. another On
Japanese personal leg isIafion AMI a third
chapter on the poli"e 81 Japan II ~
interesting 10 learn that laws relating
Ia civil cases were unknown in Old Japan
Inder the feudsl system controversies
which could now give rise 10 ciyIl law
suits were adjusted chiefly by moral
sense and local customs An elaborate
system Of penal and civil codes has been
built up chiefly from foreign sources
hut the authors Of the chapter on per
sonal legislation. one Of whom 10 a MEM
her of the Japanese Parliament. pro-
nounce an unfav"rsble judgment upon
them. saying We ar. bound. however.
Ia confess that after only twenty years
experience IN the execution Uf the preseIt
codes We have already found them IN
cungT1Ous IN many re~p@cts With our
nationality and our customs. and the day
must be drawing nigh in which must
Worl; out a code purely ~ our own Nv
diut 81 careful revision and by follow ing
the l-sSu4S given by many sister nations
IN the world
Thin - ons ~ the most pessimistic ex-
pres-ions 20 opinion 10 be found in q work
generally characterized hy a tone of ex-
treme opiIuiSm. There ~ aItotl.eT. how
ever in the chapter relating 70 Christ ianity
IN JApsn. which is written in part by
Nnschi Honda. Bishop - the Japanese
mos, influential - Jauans-- religious
rIcisrism ana hastily Christianity Th.
present condition ~ Christianity IA th.
empire - thus portrayed Nv Ri>npp Honda
In fact Jspaness .Christendom has pre-
ssnied d~plDTabla ,igns "a all sides during
're last sixteen years. the most notewOT-
thy ~ them oil being that number ~ the
-r-,allcd christian leaders have gradually
n,.,ls-i a. their relat ion~ toward the nurvh
som" who wsr" once renowned captains
81 ,h-t nuTrh r'tir.-i from ~ work atlite
early aud placed thsn~stVr- ~ hu-ins,.
ci-Cl-s som" ~ tha-a did not
hesitate 10 say thai they cpIid lind hotter
means 80 improving their spiritual nature
hv reading such writers 49, l.rnrrSpn ur
Nv attending church Never
thci--. m" Bishop j. not without hop"
JHa' Jstsau'- International relations may
gain turn the mind II h"r T.-npl,. - q re-
examination IT hristiSUi,v and the adop-
iIIr IT IT. 'iuctrin..-
Nsstlv ISL uAC.- pl -rlItv 1~..r- of
New Japan aTs d.g nis-I o. 49, account
ct the origin and lev ..iDpm"nt ut 81" ,-,it!-
"a ilrnal system 1T ~. country and th,.
..dvanr-msnt II PuilO-nphy and natural
science Count pkuma himself ,,pu-
tributes the chapter on -Cultur" and
Eiucrtion ~ Old japan and giv-- y
vivid picture nf the contrast which pnc.
existed between TIA. imperial capita. %,
ktotp and the capital 81 tho Shpqun 1T
ono" . city 81 a iniIlion in
ha hltants and npw heap uf sand hills
an the coast south 81 Yokohama The
refinement of Athsr- originally prevailed
~ kamakura while AZ kiutp the parting
injunction To young warriors was Re
C"iVs arrows m your forehead hut never
in your hack Count Okuma Quotes the
prec-pts ~ the famous military leader
! Oritpno - follows
Respect the bette esteem B4ddhA anu raise
tho 'sns NJ youT family
. rain yovrs~li 10 martial exercise.
Is"I~V ever, thing ulss- and indrcsu
amor 'imid e1su Ira'- deed.
p-aS'is~ plalnnss, md s~onornr
strive for the 70, or o. our iorI
Keep YOUR promise.
~ '4!'tlI gH'p dss lu
F~sT no a pou~rf'li ~U~-.
Dl.dslu not . weak ~rsfr.
II T. 20 tn. habits al cli,s iry AID fru.
guilty thu iuc'Ilcated among 'lair fol. !
lowers 10y tine great .'rIdal prince that /
cunt Okurua attributes III" r",uIse 81 !
the vast MDnRol invasion Vhicl! swept
over China bat Wa checked ly Tie trained