St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-11-29
JAPAN OF TODAY
G. H. Colby Describes the COnsti-
tutiOnaI Monarchy.-Habits of
the japanese.


is a well educated ruler, liberal in
his views and loved by his subjects,
while the Empress is a generous pa
iron of every worthy cause and equ-
ally loved and admired by the peo-
pie. The Emperor organizes the va
rious branches of the government,
appoints and dismisses officials and
adjusts their salaries. He is the
supreme head of the army and navy,
declares war, makes peace and con-
cIudes treaties. He cOnferS titles
of nobility, orders amnesty and
pardons or commutes sentence of
the guilty. The Privy Council num-
bers 80, the Ministry ten; premier,
foreign affairs, home finances, war,
navy, justice, education, agriculture,
commerce and communications. The
salary of the premier is 5000 yen,
or $4,000, while the other ministers
receive 5000 yen each. The people
are divided into three classes: the
nobility, which embraces the emper-
or, princes, marquises, counts, Wis
counts and the barons; the gentry,
who are largely composed of the old
samuri; and the common people.
The Diet is composed of House
of Lords and House of Representa-
tives. The House of Lords embrac-
es the Imperial family, the princess
and the marquises, as hereditary
members; the elective members are
chosen from the counts, barons and
Viscounts; and the appOintive mem
bers are by the Emperor, and for
merit only The peers number 376
and of these 54 only are hereditary,
119 are elected, while 1876 are i'm
perial nominees or represent the
highest tax payers. The members
serve seven years. The House OF
Representative numbers 376, and
members must have attained the age
of 80 years and only Japanese males
are eligible. They are elected by
the votes of male japanese who have
attained the age of 25 years. The
native voters number little over a
million. The first election was July
4, 1890 and the Diet assembled Nov.
20. 1890. The constitution which
took Japan out of the ranks of ORR
entail despotism was promulgated
Feb. II, 1889 Local self govern
ment went into effect April 1, 1889.
Rights of the Japanese.
The rights and duties of jap
anese subjects under the const1tu-
ton are very liberal. The two great
parties are under the leadership OF
the late Marquis Ito and Count
Okuma, the former represented the
imperial, while the latter represents
the Kaishinto, or progressive party.
When the constitution was promul-
gated Japan was only Is years out
of feudalism and ri out of military
despotism. In 1871 feudalism was
abolished and the feudal lords were
retired on annuities and their fiefs
were incorporated by the central
government. The last shotgun alb
Dictated in 1867 and now lives much
of his time in Toxic.
The complete recognition of Jap
an as a world power was manifested
in the Anglo-Japanese alliance OF
1892, and of this alliance Count
Okuma says: "Great Britain and
Japan have been allies in effect for
some years; they now are allies IN
name" This alliance includes the
greatest power each of the Occident
and of the Orient, a guarantee OF
the first quality for peace in the ORR
ent. and lust dealings with China
and Corea.
Japanese Religion.
Japan boasts of a national rel1-
eion. Shinto is purely a system OF
hero worship, a worship OF family
ancestors and of nature, a mere
cult. 1t has no sacred books nor
moral code. It's form of worship Is
largely by utterance OF a snort
prayer at the temple or shrine, the
ringing of a bell and the making OF
a farewell bow. Today Buddhism
is the accepted religion of the Jap
int
century from Corea. The temples OF
the Buddhist are magnificent struc-
lures an the ritual is very elabor-
ate. While Confucianism is a phil
osophy of the relations between man
and man, Buddhism is true re-
Iigion with ideas about sin and sal
walton.
Japanese Grimes.
The crimes in the criminal code
are of three kinds: against the
State or Imperial family, against
Derson or property and police Of
F. fences. They are punishable by
death, deportation for years, to WORE
in the mines for a term of years OF
IMPRISONMENT with or without hare
labor. Minor offences are punished
by fines and labor. The conv1cts are
clad in crushed strawberry uni
forms. The police are clad in white
or blue uniforms, according to the
season. They wear sword and arr
poorly paid but very efficient. Inc
courts are of the inquisitorial type
as in France and hearsay evidence il
admitted. The public brothels arr
legalized by license. The marriage
able age is II years for men and Il
for women. No marriage is lega
now unless the parties are register
ed.
The war footing of Japan exceed
half a million of men, the peace
footing two hundred thousand. Thi
army has been called the best in tn
world of it's size. Their heavy gun