JAPANESE CONSTITUTION.
ITS BASIS. What puzzles the student of Japanese history is that no sooner had Shogun retired than ' the opposition to his policy began to melt away. The foreigner whose cause he had championed soon became an invited guest. A number of causes conduced to this result. First the bombardments of Kagoshima by the English in 1863 and by the united European Powers in the following year convinced the Japanese that, howevei much they wished to be rid of the foreigner, they could not compel him to depart. Then the association wi£h him that followed on the treaties proved that he was not a "bar- 1 barian," and that he might even be a useful model. Then the death of. the Emperor Komei in 1867 and the succession of his son, a boy of fourteen, advised by liberal statesmen, greatly hastened the change. These men saw that there were many domestic matters needing their attention without embroiling themselves with foreign Powers. So we soon find a decree promulgated by whicl injuring a foreigner was made a breach of good faith on the part oi the nation whose Emperor was pledged to maintain friendship with the Powers.
No sooner had Japan adjusted hei foreign relations than the minds oi her statesmen were turned to internal affairs, and we find his Majesty subscribing to the "solemn oath of the constitution," a marvel in its generous distribution of power. It has been the basis of the Japanese constitution ever since, and is as follows :
1. —Public councils shall be organised, and all governmental affairs shall be decided by general discussion.
2. —All classes, both rulers and ruled, shall with one heart devote themselves to the advancement ol the national interests. 3.—A1l the civil and military officials and all the common people shall be allowed to realise their own aspirations, and to evince -their active characteristics. 4. —All base customs of former times shall be abolished, and justice and equity as they are usually recog nised shall be followed.
. 5. Knowledge shall be sdught fo: 'throughout the world, and thus thi •foundations of the empire shall bl extended. —'"Old and New Japan."
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King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 490, 10 August 1912, Page 7
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359JAPANESE CONSTITUTION. King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 490, 10 August 1912, Page 7
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