JAPAN.

Evening Star, Issue 3129, 28 February 1873, Page 3

JAPAN.

An article on Japan, in a recent number of Blackwood, extensively quoted, deserves to be read by everyone who is desirous of understanding the wondrous changes that have lately taken place in that wondrous country. Japan, we are reminded, has a written history which stretches in an uninterrupted tale over 2,532 years ; its sovereigns have formed one unbroken dynasty since 66.0 B C.j its first ruler of the still reigning family was contemporary with Nebncliadnezzer, and Tullus Hostfliusj its present t mperoris the 122 nd o,f his raco, and its principles of action have remained unchanged for five and twenty centuries. The account given of the suppression of the Shiogun, in 1868, by the Mikado, and the Chief Daimios, and of the voluntary extinction of the feudal system hy the feudal chiefs themselves, is an almost incredible piece of work.

Four of the Great Daimios of the West took it into their heads,- in 1869, that it was their duty to offer their rights, their property, and their serfs to the Mikado, in order to strengthen and consolidate bis nearlyacquired authority. The others followed this example of relf-sacrificing patriotism; the Daimios suppressed themselves for duty’s beyawse it seemed to be the right thing to do. The Government did not advise them, it did not even say one word ; they acted on their own account between themselves. Not one of them attempted to resist (though some of the smaller ones did not altogether like it); one and all they abandoned to the Mikado not only their feudal privileges and dignities, wfcat is far more wonderful, the \vhoje af their fortunes —all for tho greater glory of Japan ! The oldest aristocracy in the world, sitting in a special Parliament at Yedo, had the courage to decide to voluntarily resign its ancient rights and its vast possessions, with the single object of fortifying the Government of its country, and of aiding it to become one and strong. This really was a erand act; history offers no parallel to it, at least on such a scale. Two hundred and seventy-eight military princes, possessing powers, vast wealth, and separate armies, abdicated, from pure patriotic feeling, the station which their families had held for twenty centuries, One or two of them had revenues which reached the almost fabulous amount of T. 800,000 a year ; others had only a few hundred pounds of income ; but large or small, tfyeir incomes and their property were given up: they kept nothing for themselves. The Government returned to them one-tenth of their annual receipts, aud "'as all that they pieserved of their previous splendors. It was, however, necessary to establish an honorary position for these dispossessed suzerains aud their families ; and with that object the class of flowery nobility, which had formerly existed in another shape, was re-established ; and the ex-Daimios and the privileged casteof “ Courtiersof the Mikado” were mergo'd together in it j and all that now remains to tho descendants of the feudal lords is a graceful title, aud, in most cases, an utterly insufficient income. Neither Louis the Eleventh nor Kichelieu could have done the work of decapitation more completely. The Government of Japan is now organised on a basis which is partly European and partly Japanese. The Mikado is theoretically an absolute sovereign, but the work of Government is done for him by a great Council. An elective Parliament has been proposed, rind tiiay in time be organised. Tlje Budget for 1872 shows total receipts to the amount of L 12,229,531, and the expenditure leaves a surplus of 1809,146. Hciw parties of young Japanese have l>®eft despatched to the chief countries of Europe, to acquire the arts aud civilisation of the West; how Japanese Ambaasadora have bees, and are travelling from kingdom to kingdom, inquiring into laws, customs, manufactures, aud commerce; and how the Mikado himself is reported to be contemplating a grand western tour, are matters which newspaper readers are hearing of daily. The exclusiveness in which the Japanese onco wrapped themselves has utterly disappeared, and sovereign, aristocracy, and people have rushed into the opposite extreme. Whether Japan will be the happier for the change, who shall say ?