New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-30


position TO the supremacy Of the lmpe-
rial will, and then followed the endow-
ment Of the nation with a code Of civil
and criminal law, elaborated by foreign
and native jurists, In which the code
Napolean and English law are SO inge-
niousiy and advantageously blended with
old japanese Jurisprudence as to take
into account Oriental customs and tradi-
tions. So satisfactory was this code, and
especially the manner of its application,
that ere many years were past, the Tor
eign powers abandoned 10 Japan the
extra territorial rights Of their citizens
and the foreign courts OF law, winch mad
been maintained In every treaty port Tor
their protection, as is still the case In all
other Oriental countries. Here again the
United States led the way, and to-day all
foreigners In Japan are subject to the sole
Jurisdiction OF the native laws and tribu-
nails.
In 1889 the Emperor granted his people
constitution, on English lines, with
House Of Lords. a House Of Commons
and Premier whose power depends upon
his ability to secure a majority In the
lower house. Suffrage is enjoyed by every
man OF more than twenty-five years OF
age who pays SO a year in taxes.
Not Reien Of Peace.
That the reign OF Mutsuhito has been
one OF peace no one can assert Indeed
what with his two great domestic insur-
rections, and his still greater wars with
snrn
OF which his arms were crowned by
victory, 1t is difficult to see how he and
his ministers could have found time TO
enrich the nation with SO many Western
institutions, from a wonderful educa-
tional system TO a Red Cross Society! His
death finds Dai-Nippon Great Japan far
stronger then ne found her. and greater
indeed, by the acquisition OF Formosa
Corea, and the virtual possession Of
Southern Manchuria. When he assembled
the throne, Japan was hermit kingdom,
utterly unknown 10 the outer world.
To-day Japan. thanks to Mutsuhito's en-
lightened and progressive rule, is one OF
the great powers Of the world. command
ing not only the respect OF all, but the
fear OF many. For those who have ter
rtorial possessions in the Orient hold
them more or less by the good will of
Japan, which could at any moment Sc
riously interfere with these insufficiently
guarded dependencies.
Emperor Mutsuhito has been ably Sec
onded by his cOnsort, the Empress Haru-
ko whom he married in 1869. and who
has been his principal supporter and ad.
wiser in bringing about the innovations
which have placed their country in the
forefront OF the progressive nations OF
the world It was she who first caused
japanese girls TO be sent to America, In
1871, to acquire Western learning. who
suggested the founding Of the Western
Normal School at Toxic. and who or
ganized the japanese Red Cross Society.
In fact, there are no institutions Of q
charitable or philanthropIc character In
Japan toward which she has not mani
tested a very active interest, and al
though she naturally is not a Christian
she has nevertheless taken the Christian
missions under her immediate protection
Her great sorrow in life is that her mar
rage TO the late Emperor remained child
less. In consequence, she adopted as her
son the Emperors son by one of his
deputy wives"-a prince vino now sue
ceeds TO the throne as Tenno Yoshihito
He has outgrown the delicacy OF his
Kujo. and has three healthy boys, thus
assuring the succession TO the crown.
BY his fathers wishes. and in accord
ance with the bent OF present national
sentiment. the prince practices monog-
amy, and that characteristic phase OF
Oriental life, the seraglio, disappears
from the court of Toxic with his aces
sion. The new Emperor and his consort
have invariably been seen in western
dress. and their mode OF life is IN almost
every respect that Of European royalties
OF the present day. Many old customs
however. have been retained, among them
the peculiar national marriage ceremony
which signalized the union OF the ne"
imperial pair In 1900. Its principal feat-
ure was a two-spouted teapot! instead
OF there being any exchange or rings as
I'm the Christian ceremony. the bride ana
groom drank simultaneously from the
two spouts the teapot being held 10
their mouths by gorgeously dressed at
tendants, the meaning OF this strange
form OF taking Joint beverage oelng
that husband and wife should always
share both toys and sorrows. The En-
peror Yoshlhlto is now thirty-three years
Of age, and therefore much more mature
than was his father on his accession 70
the throne. f'A-h Az