The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1915. THE SENTINEL OF THE FAR EAST
taken ..place in her political institutions arid social customs. From G6O B.C. till 18S9 A.D. the country was foverncd by an absolute monarchy, n 1889 the Emperor gave Japan its present constitution, but though he is in a sense a constitutional ruler, the ancient coronation ceremonies were an impressive reminder to his own people and to the outside world that' the Mikados base their authority, not on the will of the people, but on divine right. The Emperor is still supreme. He is "the Son of Heaven." The coronation ritual contained no oaths and no promises, and no priest placed a crown on the monarch's.head. The essence of the coronation, or consecration, was the Ejiperor's announcement to the spirits of his ancestors that he had formally assumed the Imperial office and that he had actually ascended the throne. This was followed by his declaration to his people that ,he had been duly consecrated. But the ceremony marked another step forward in the direction of modernisation. The traditional exelusiveness of the proceedings, was broken down, and'for the first time foreigners and representatives of the Japanese people were allowed to .be present. The question .whether Christian clergy should be permitted to take part in the functions was seriously debated, but it was eventually decided that this innovation would be impossible, as no share in the ceremonies was allotted to them, whereas an important role was prescribed by the Buddhist and Shinto priests. The fact that such a proposal was given careful consideration is a striking indication of the of the Japanese to embrace new ideas, aud of the permeation of the country by the modern spirit. . Japan's sudden appearance in the ranks of the great Powers has provided Europe, and America with a good deal of food for anxious thought., Japan has already played an important part in the present war. She is still a belligerent, though hei' army and navy are not just now in actual conflict with the enemy. Tho latest English papers contain the text of a Note from Britain, France, and Russia, inviting.thc Japanese. Government to signify its- adherence to the declaration signed by these three Powers on September 5, Ipl4, agreeing that when the terms of peace come to be discussed no one of the Allies will demand conditions without the previous agreement of each of tEe other Allies. The Japanese Government expressed its full and complete adherence to the terms of this declara-: tion. This _is a very important matter, for it is well known ' that Germany is desirous of detaching Japan from the Entente, Powers. The German propaganda is very active in Japan. In yesterday's issue of The Dominion it was stated that Geruian literature, printed in Japanese. is being circulated all over the country, with t)>* object of sowing ■seeds of suspicion and distrust. The Germans have tried hard to make France and Russia believe that' Britain is not bearing her fair share of the burden of the war. This campaign of slander has failed, and now they are hoping to shake Japan's faith by 'suggesting that Britain is playing a double game in. China. Germany will use any weapon, however foul, that she thinks will serve her purposes. • But ythe Japanese are not likely tobc deceived by Gerniari lies, even if they -are printed in Japanese, and no ...doubt th Mikado's Government will know how to deal with this latest move of the enemy. In a recent interview with the Tokio correspondent of the Paris Matin, tho Japanese Premier (Count Okuma) said the principle underlying Japan's action is tnat while her Allies are fighting she. will not permit them to be attacked fr6m behind. Her arsenals are mobilised, and she is acting as sentinel in the Far East.. She is preventing the enemy from stirring up trouble in her_ sphere<of influence; she is supplying Russia with munitions and guarding the Trans-Siberian railway. 'Speaking to the representative of a Parisian newspaper not long ago, Baron Hayashi remarked: ''The- world will be rather astonished when it hears what we have done; what,we are doing, and what we shall do." The discussion which is now taking place in the United States on the army and navy question shows that the rise of modern Japan is an event which America cannot afford to ignore.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2654, 28 December 1915, Page 4
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729The Dominion TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1915. THE SENTINEL OF THE FAR EAST Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2654, 28 December 1915, Page 4
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