Year: 1868




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The Latest from Japan.


In the HERALD Of yesterday we published
quite mass Of intelligence relative to the
situation in Japan. The letter from the pen Of
our special correspondent and the various ex- i
tracts from the Japanese journals are interest
ing and valuable, not alone because Of the fresh
intelligence which they contain, but also because
Of the confirmation which they give of informa-
ton formerly received Our latest news from
Japan was received by the cable VIA London,
and was to the effect that the empire was
prey to the horrors of civil war. The friends
OF the Mikado on the one hand and Of the Sh0-
goon on the other were in open conflict. Pre-
vionsly we had been informed that the ShogoOa
had acquiesced in the revolution which had re-
stored the Mikado, though an infant to his
original position, making him really as well
as nominally the supreme power in the State.
The intelligence which we printed yesterday isin
perfect harmony with both views of the situa-
ton. The letter taken from the Japan Times.
a journal printed in Yokohama, of January 4,
shows that under the pressure brought to bear
upon him by the greater Daimios the Shogoon
had coolly resigned his position as chief OF the
State the Shogoonate becoming 10y the act
what it originally was--the War Secretariat.
According to the arrangement Stotsbashi was
to have seat in the Cabinet in this capacity Of
War Minister and Commander Chief, the
Mikado resuming the executive power.
From the letter Of our special correspondent.
which is dated fifteen days later, we learn that
the ports of Osaka and Hiogo had been opened
according to treaty arrangement, that the
greater Daimios had taken offence ON the
ground that these ports were opened only in
the interest of Stotsbashi, and that they had
threatened by way OF reprisal to open all the
other ports, each in his respective territory.
Meanwhile Stotsbashf still held the control OF his
soldiers and it was the object of Satslma and
the other Daimios who had brought about the
revolution in the interest Of the Mikado, at tho
date of our correspondents letter, to- induce
him to resign this power also. Later intelli-
gence, as we have already mentioned received
per the Atlantic cable via London goes to prove
that Stotsbashi had not only not resigned his
command of the army, but that he was waging
a war, not without some chance of success
against the chief Of the Mikado party. Y


1t is impossible, after reading all the intelli-
gence which we have on the subject, to resist
the conviction that Japan is in very unhappy
and very perilous condition. Hitherto, for
some centuries at least, it has enjoyed species
of unity-a unity compatible, however, with
the almost absolute power Of the great Dali
nios, or feudal lords, in their respective prov
inces or districts. The state Of affairs in
Japan resembles az nearly as possible the
condition of the various nations Of Western
Europe during the whole feudal period.
1t remains to be seen whether some Henry
VIII. will appear in the person OF
the Mikado, whether some Richelieu will
arise from the privileged orders, whether
the French Revolution shall reproduce itself i'm
those far Eastern seas. or whether Japan
shall be demoralzed, as India has been and as
China threatens to be, by the introduction Of
the foreigner with his love Of gain in the one
hand and his so-called. Christian civilization in
the other. In any case the duty of the United





be true to our principles, to interfere in the
internal affairs of any country. There are
special reasons why we should not interfere in
Japan 1t is, however, equally our duty to
see that no other nation takes an undue advan-
tage of the position Let us keep our eye
upon other foreigners; but let Japon settle her
own affairs Japan IL fruitful of wealth
By and by we must reap the benefit. Mean
while Il is our duty to wait and watch.


THE EXEMPTED TAX LIST OF MANUFA0-
TrREs-We publish this morning an alphsbetic
list of the articles which. by Mr.. Schenck's
bill. that passed the House on Tuesday last. It
is proposed from the lst Of April next to
exempt from the internal revenue taxation
From the large majority by which this bill Ga
shrewd political devics) was passed in the
House--one hundred and twenty to two
il is to be presumed that the action of the
Senate will be equally favorable. BY the
ultimate passage Of this bill great hindrance
to manufacturing win be abolished, and we
NAV, therefore, look for an early resumption Of
trade in the various branches Of business ~
much benefited.