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diff --git a/old/12355.txt b/old/12355.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf5c2b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12355.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2317 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Constitutional Development of Japan +1863-1881, by Toyokichi Iyenaga + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Constitutional Development of Japan 1863-1881 + +Author: Toyokichi Iyenaga + +Release Date: May 15, 2004 [eBook #12355] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF +JAPAN 1863-1881*** + + +E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Louise Valmoria, David King, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY STUDIES IN HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE + +HERBERT B. ADAMS, Editor + + + + +History is past Politics and Politics present History.--_Freeman_ + +NINTH SERIES + +IX + +THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF JAPAN, 1853-1881 + +BY TOYOKICHI IYENAGA, PH. D. + +Professor of Political Science in Tokio Senmon-Gakko + +September, 1891 + + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +INTRODUCTORY + + +CHAP. I. (1853-1868). BEGINNING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL MOVEMENT + +THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT GAVE RISE TO THE MOVEMENT + +THE ACCOUNT OF COMMODORE PERRY'S ARRIVAL BY THE AUTHOR OF GENJE YUME +MONOGATARI + +DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE PRINCE OF MITO AND THE TOKUGAWA OFFICIALS AT +THE COURT OF YEDO + +CONCLUSION OF TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN + +THE OLD PRINCE OF MITO, NARIAKI + +II KAMON NO KAMI + +BOMBARDMENTS OF KAGOSHIMA AND SHIMONOSHEKI + +THE EFFECTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT + +1. Showed the Weakness of the Daimios and the Strength of foreigners + +2. Showed the Necessity of National Union, and of the Reconstruction +of the Administrative Machinery of the Empire + +GREAT COUNCILS OF KUGES AND DAIMIOS. + +1. Their Nature and Organization + +2. How they originated + +3. In them lay the Germ of the future Constitutional Parliament of +Japan + + +CHAP. II. (1868-1869). THE RESTORATION + +CAUSES OF THE DOWNFALL OF THE SHOGUNATE + +1. Revival of Learning + +2. Revival of Shintoism + +3. Jealousy and Cupidity of the Southern Daimios + +THE RESIGNATION OF THE SHOGUN + +THE MOTIVE OF HIS RESIGNATION + +THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RESTORATION + +1. Its Organization + +2. Its Departments + +FOREIGN POLICY OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT + +REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL TO TOKIO + +THE CHARTER OATH OF THE EMPEROR, APRIL 17, 1869 + +THE KOGISHO + +1. Its Origin + +2. Its Composition + +3. Its Nature + + +CHAP. III. (1869-1871). THE ABOLITION OF FEUDALISM. + +MEMORIAL OF PRESIDENT OF THE KOGISHO + +ABOLITION SCHEME OF SCHOLARS IS BACKED BY THE SOUTHERN DAIMIOS + +MEMORIAL OF THE SOUTHERN DAIMIOS + +IMPERIAL DECREE OF 1871, ABOLISHING FEUDALISM + +CAUSES OF THE OVERTHROW OF FEUDALISM + + +CHAP. IV. INFLUENCES THAT SHAPED THE GROWTH OF THE REPRESENTATIVE IDEA +OF GOVERNMENT + +JOHN STEWART MILL'S ENUMERATION OF THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR +THE SUCCESS OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT + +JAPAN OF 1871 NOT YET READY FOR THE ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE +GOVERNMENT + +POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF A NATION NOT ISOLATED FROM OTHER SPHERES OF ITS +ACTIVITIES + +JAPAN'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT GREATLY AIDED BY HER SOCIAL, +EDUCATIONAL, INDUSTRIAL AND RELIGIOUS CHANGES + +SKETCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE NON-POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS FROM +1868 TO 1881 + +1. Means of Communication + +a. Telegraph +b. Postal System +c. Railroad +d. Steamers and the Coasting Trade + +2. Educational Institutions + +3. Newspapers + +CHANGES IN LAW AND RELIGION + + +CHAP. V. (1871-1881). PROGRESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL MOVEMENT FROM THE +ABOLITION OF FEUDALISM TO THE PROCLAMATION OF OCTOBER 12, 1881 + +LEADERS OF THE RESTORATION + +EFFECT OF THE OVERTHROW OF FEUDALISM + +THE IWAKURA EMBASSY + +IWAKURA, ITO, INOUYE + +FUKUZAWA + +THE PRESS AND ITS INFLUENCES + +RI-SHI-SHA AND COUNT ITAGAKI + +MEMORIALS OF RI-SHI-SHA TO THE EMPEROR + +ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL ASSEMBLIES + +THE PROCLAMATION OF OCTOBER 12, 1881, TO ESTABLISH A PARLIAMENT IN +1890 + + + + + + +INTRODUCTORY. + +The power which destroyed Japanese feudalism and changed in that +country an absolute into a constitutional monarchy was a resultant +of manifold forces. The most apparent of these forces is the foreign +influence. Forces less visible but more potent, tending in this +direction, are those influences resulting from the growth of commerce +and trade, from the diffusion of western science and knowledge among +the people, and from the changes in social habits and religious +beliefs. The truth of the solidarity of the varied interests of a +social organism is nowhere so well exemplified as in the history of +modern Japan. Her remarkable political development would have been +impossible had there been no corresponding social, educational, +religious, economic and industrial changes. In order to trace the +constitutional development of New Japan, it is therefore necessary: + +1. To ascertain the political condition of the country at and after +the advent of foreigners in 1853. + +2. To describe the form of government of the Restoration. + +3. To examine the state of commerce, industry, education and social +life of Japan at each stage of her political transformations. + +4. To recount the constitutional changes from the Restoration to the +Promulgation of the New Constitution. + +As a novice in travel marks the broad outlines, the general features +and more important products of the country he visits for the first +time, so I shall dwell upon the historic landmarks of Japanese +constitutional development. This development no writer, native or +foreign, has yet attempted to trace. I shall withstand as much as +possible the temptation to refer to the multitude of events which +are more or less associated with the constitutional movement. I shall +endeavor to ascertain from the edicts, decrees, and proclamations of +the Emperor, from the orders and manifestos of the Shogun, from the +native authors and journals, from the memorials and correspondence +of prominent men, both native and foreign, the trend of our +constitutional development. I shall also endeavor to note the leading +ideas and principles which, after manifesting themselves in various +forms, have at last crystallized into the New Constitution of Japan. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +BEGINNING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL MOVEMENT. + + +The constitutional movement of Japan began in a spontaneous agitation +of the whole body politic when the nation was irritated by the sudden +contact with foreigners. The sense of national weakness added a force +to this agitation. Had not the foreigners come, the Restoration might +have been effected, feudalism might have been abolished, but the +new Japanese constitution would hardly have seen the day. Had the +government of Japan at the time of the advent of foreigners been in +the strong hand of a Taiko or an Iyeyasu, the rulers might have been +greatly exercised by the extraordinary event, but public opinion +for reform would hardly have been called forth, and the birth of +constitutional liberty would long have been delayed. As the vices of +King John and the indifference and ignorance of the first two Georges +of England begat the strength and hope of the English Parliament, so +the public opinion of Japan sprouted out of the ruins of the Shogunate +regime. We must therefore seek for the beginning of the Constitutional +Movement of Japan in the peculiar circumstances in which she found +herself between 1853 and 1868. + +The advent of Commodore Perry in 1853 was to Japan like the intrusion +of a foreign queen into a beehive. The country was stirred to +its depth. Let us note what a native chronicler[1] says about the +condition of Japan at the arrival of Perry: + +"It was in the summer of 1853 that an individual named Perry, who +called himself the envoy of the United States of America, suddenly +arrived at Uraga, in the Province of Sagami, with four ships of war, +declaring that he brought a letter from his country to Japan and that +he wished to deliver it to the sovereign. The governor of the place, +Toda Idzu No Kami, much alarmed by this extraordinary event, hastened +to the spot to inform himself of its meaning. The envoy stated, in +reply to questions, that he desired to see a chief minister in order +to explain the object of his visit and to hand over to him the letter +with which he was charged. The governor then despatched a messenger +on horseback with all haste to carry this information to the castle +of Yedo, where a great scene of confusion ensued on his arrival. Fresh +messengers followed, and the Shogun Iyeyoshi, on receiving them, was +exceedingly troubled, and summoned all the officials[2] to a council. +At first the affair seemed so sudden and so formidable that they were +too alarmed to open their mouths, but in the end orders were issued to +the great clans to keep strict watch at various points on the shore, +as it was possible that the 'barbarian' vessels might proceed to +commit acts of violence. Presently a learned Chinese scholar was sent +to Uraga, had an interview with the American envoy, and returned +with the letter, which expressed the desire of the United States to +establish friendship and intercourse with Japan, and said, according +to this account, that if they met with a refusal they should commence +hostilities. Thereupon the Shogun was greatly distressed, and again +summoned a council. He also asked the opinion of the Daimios. The +assembled officials were exceedingly disturbed, and nearly broke their +hearts over consultations which lasted all day and all night. The +nobles and retired nobles in Yedo were informed that they were at +liberty to state any ideas they might have on the subject, and, +although they all gave their opinions, the diversity of propositions +was so great that no decision was arrived at. The military class +had, during a long peace, neglected military arts; they had given +themselves up to pleasure and luxury, and there were very few who had +put on armor for many years, so that they were greatly alarmed at the +prospect that war might break out at a moment's notice, and began to +run hither and thither in search of arms. The city of Yedo and the +surrounding villages were in a great tumult. And there was such a +state of confusion among all classes that the governors of the city +were compelled to issue a notification to the people, and this in the +end had the effect of quieting the general anxiety. But in the castle +never was a decision further from being arrived at, and, whilst time +was being thus idly wasted, the envoy was constantly demanding an +answer. So at last they decided that it would be best to arrange the +affair quietly, to give the foreigners the articles they wanted, and +to put off sending an answer to the letter--to tell the envoy that in +an affair of such importance to the state no decision could be arrived +at without mature consideration, and that he had better go away; that +in a short time he should get a definite answer. The envoy agreed, and +after sending a message to say that he should return in the following +spring for his answer, set sail from Uraga with his four ships."[3] + +Thus was the renowned commander kept away for awhile. He went, +however, of his own accord. Perry was an astute diplomatist. He knew +that time was needed for the impressions which he and his magnificent +fleet had made upon the country to produce their natural effect. + +The news of Perry's visit and demands spread far and wide with +remarkable rapidity. The government and the people were deeply +stirred. Soon the song of the "red-bearded barbarians" and of the +black ships was in everybody's mouth. The question "What shall Japan +do when the barbarians come next spring?" became the absorbing theme +of the day. + +There was now but one of two policies which Japan could pursue, either +to shut up the country or to admit the foreigners' demand. There was +no middle course left. The American envoy would no longer listen to +the dilatory policy with which the Japanese had just bought a few +months' respite from anxiety. + +The majority of the ruling class, the Samurai, were in favor of the +exclusion policy. So was the court of Kioto. But the views of the +court of Yedo were different. The court of Yedo had many men of +intelligence, common sense and experience--men who had seen the +American envoy and his squadron, equipped with all the contrivances +for killing men and devastating the country. These men knew too well +that resistance to the foreigners was futile and perilous. + +Thus was the country early divided into two clearly defined parties, +the Jo-i[4] party and the Kai-Koku party. + +Meanwhile, the autumn and winter of 1853 passed. The spring of 1854 +soon came, and with it the intractable "barbarians." Let us hear the +author of Genje Yume Monogatari relate the return of Perry and the +great discussion that ensued at the court of Yedo: + +"Early in 1854 Commodore Perry returned, and the question of acceding +to his demands was again hotly debated. The old prince of Mito was +opposed to it, and contended that the admission of foreigners +into Japan would ruin it. 'At first,' said he, 'they will give us +philosophical instruments, machinery and other curiosities; will take +ignorant people in, and, trade being their chief object, they will +manage bit by bit to impoverish the country, after which they will +treat us just as they like--perhaps behave with the greatest rudeness +and insult us, and end by swallowing up Japan. If we do not drive them +away now we shall never have another opportunity. If we now resort to +a dilatory method of proceeding we shall regret it afterwards when it +will be of no use.' + +"The officials (of the Shogun), however, argued otherwise and +said: 'If we try to drive them away they will immediately commence +hostilities, and then we shall be obliged to fight. If we once get +into a dispute we shall have an enemy to fight who will not be easily +disposed of. He does not care how long a time he must spend over it, +but he will come with myriads of men-of-war and surround our shores +completely; he will capture our junks and blockade our ports, and +deprive us of all hope of protecting our coasts. However large a +number of ships we might destroy, he is so accustomed to that sort +of thing that he would not care in the least. Even supposing that our +troops were animated by patriotic zeal in the commencement of the war, +after they had been fighting for several years their patriotic zeal +would naturally become relaxed, the soldiers would become fatigued, +and for this we should have to thank ourselves. Soldiers who have +distinguished themselves are rewarded by grants of land, or else +you attack and seize the enemy's territory and that becomes your own +property; so every man is encouraged to fight his best. But in a war +with foreign countries a man may undergo hardships for years, may +fight as if his life were worth nothing, and, as all the land in this +country already has owners, there will be none to be given away as +rewards; so we shall have to give rewards in words or money. In time +the country would be put to an immense expense and the people be +plunged into misery. Rather than allow this, as we are not the equals +of foreigners in the mechanical arts, let us have intercourse with +foreign countries, learn their drill and tactics, and when we have +made the nation as united as one family, we shall be able to go abroad +and give lands in foreign countries to those who have distinguished +themselves in battle. The soldiers will vie with one another in +displaying their intrepidity, and it will not be too late then to +declare war. Now we shall have to defend ourselves against these +foreign enemies, skilled in the use of mechanical appliances, with +our soldiers whose military skill has considerably diminished during +a long peace of three hundred years, and we certainly could not feel +sure of victory, especially in a naval war.'"[5] + +The Kai-Koku party, the party in favor of opening the country, +triumphed, and the treaty was finally concluded between the United +States and Japan on the 31st of March, 1854. After the return of +Commodore Perry to America, Townsend Harris was sent by the United +States Government as Consul-General to Japan. He negotiated the +commercial treaty between the United States and Japan on July 29, +1858. + +At the heels of the Americans followed the English, French, Russians, +Dutch, and other nations. Japan's foreign relations became more and +more complicated and therefore difficult to manage. + +The discussion quoted above is a type of the arguments used by the +Jo-i party and the Kai-Koku party. The history of Japanese politics +from 1853 to 1868 is the history of the struggle between these two +parties, each of which soon changed its name. As the Jo-i party allied +itself with the court of Kioto, it became the O-sei or Restoration +party. As the Kai-Koku party was associated with the court of Shogun, +it became the Bakufu party. The struggle ended in the triumph of the +Restoration party. But by that time the Jo-i party, from a cause which +I shall soon mention, had been completely transformed and converted to +the Western ideas. + +Among the leaders of the Jo-i party was Nariaki, the old prince of +Mito. He belonged to one of the San Kay (three families), out of which +Iyeyasu ordered the Shogun to be chosen. He was connected by marriage +with the families of the Emperor and the highest Kuges in Miako, and +with the wealthiest Daimios. In power the Mito family thus ranked high +among the Daimios. Among the scholars the Prince of Mito was popular. +The prestige of his great ancestor, the compiler of Dai-Nihon-Shi, had +not yet died out. The Prince of Mito was thus naturally looked up to +by the scholars as the man of right principles and of noble ideas. A +shrewd, clever, and scheming old man, the Prince of Mito now became +the defender of the cause of the Emperor and the mouthpiece of the +conservative party. + +At the head of the Bakufu party was a man of iron and fertile +resources, Ii Kamon No Kami. He was the Daimio of Hikone, a castled +town and fief on Lake Biwa, in Mino. His revenue was small, being only +three hundred and fifty thousand koku. But in position and power none +in the empire could rival him. He was the head of the Fudai Daimios. +His family was called the Dodai or foundation-stone of the power +of the Tokugawa dynasty. His ancestor, Ii Nawo Massa, had been +lieutenant-general and right-hand man of Iyeyas. Ii Kamon No Kami, +owing to the mental infirmity of the reigning Shogun, had lately +become his regent. Bold, ambitious, able, and unscrupulous, Ii was the +Richelieu of Japan. From this time on till his assassination on March +23, 1860, he virtually ruled the empire, and, in direct contravention +to the imperial will, negotiated with foreign nations, as we have +seen, for the opening of ports for trade with them. He was styled the +"swaggering prime minister," and his name was long pronounced with +contempt and odium. Lately, however, his good name has been rescued +and his fame restored by the noble effort of an able writer, Mr. +Saburo Shimada.[6] But this able prime minister fell on March 23, +1860, by the sword of Mito ronins, who alleged, as the pretext of +their crime, that "Ii Kamon No Kami had insulted the imperial +decree and, careless of the misery of the people, but making foreign +intercourse his chief aim, had opened ports." "The position of +the government upon the death of the regent was that of helpless +inactivity. The sudden removal of the foremost man of the empire was +as the removal of the fly-wheel from a piece of complicated machinery. +The whole empire stood aghast, expecting and fearing some great +political convulsion."[7] + +The Shogun began to make a compromise to unite the Emperor's power and +the Shogun's, by taking the sister of the Emperor for his wife. + +Meanwhile great events were taking place in the southern corner of +Kiushiu and on the promontory of Shikoku, events which were to effect +great changes in men's ideas. These were the bombardments of Kagoshima +and of Shimonosheki, the first on August 11, 1863, the second on +September 5, 1864. I shall not dwell here on the injustice of these +barbarous and heathenish acts of the so-called civilized and Christian +nations; for I am not writing a political pamphlet. But impartially +let us note the great effects of these bombardments. + +I. These conflicts showed on a grand but sad scale the weakness of the +Daimios, even the most powerful of them, and, on the other hand, the +power of the foreigners and their rifled cannon and steamers. The +following Japanese memorandum expresses this point: "Satsuma's eyes +were opened since the fight of Kagoshima, and affairs appeared to him +in a new light; he changed in favor of foreigners, and thought now of +making his country powerful and completing his armaments."[8] + +The Emperor also wrote in a rather pathetic tone to the Shogun +touching the relative strength of the Japanese and the foreigners: "I +held a council the other day with my military nobility (Daimios and +nobles), but unfortunately inured to the habits of peace, which for +more than two hundred years has existed in our country, we are unable +to exclude and subdue our foreign enemies by the forcible means of +war.... + +"If we compare our Japanese ships of war and cannon to those of the +barbarians, we feel certain that they are not sufficient to inflict +terror upon the foreign barbarians, and are also insufficient to make +the splendor of Japan shine in foreign countries. I should think +that we only should make ourselves ridiculous in the eyes of the +barbarians."[9] + +From the time of the bombardment, Satsuma and Choshiu began to +introduce European machinery and inventions, to employ skilled +Europeans to teach them, and to send their young men to Europe and +America. + +II. These bombardments showed the necessity of national union. Whether +she would repel or receive the foreigner, Japan must present a united +front. To this end, great change in the internal constitution of the +empire was needed; the internal resources of the nation had to be +gathered into a common treasury; the police and the taxes had to be +recognized as national, not as belonging to petty local chieftains; +the power of the feudal lords had to be broken in order to +reconstitute Japan as a single strong state under a single head. These +are the ideas which led the way to the Restoration of 1868. Thus the +bombardments of Kagoshima and Shimonosheki may be said to have helped +indirectly in the Restoration of that year. But before we proceed to +the history of the Restoration, let us examine what were the great +Councils of Kuges and Daimios, which were sometimes convened during +the period from 1857 to 1868. + +The Council of Kuges was occasionally convened by the order of the +Emperor. It was composed of the princes of the blood, nobles, and +courtiers. The Council of Daimios was now and then summoned either by +the Emperor or by the Shogun. It was composed mostly of the Daimios. +These councils were like the Witenagemot of England, formed of the +wise and influential men of the kingdom. As the Daimios had far more +weight in the political scale of the realm than the Kuges, so the +council of the Daimios was of far more importance than that of the +Kuges. But it must not be understood that these councils were regular +meetings held in the modern parliamentary way; nor that they had +anything like the powers of the British Parliament or of the American +Congress. These councils of Japan were called into spasmodic life +simply by the necessity of the time. They were held either at the +court of Kioto or that of Yedo, or at other places appointed for the +purpose. The Kuges or Daimios assembled rather in an informal way, +measured by modern parliamentary procedure, but in accordance with the +court etiquette of the time, whose most minute regulations and rules +have often embarrassed and plagued the modern ministers accredited to +the court of the Emperor. Then these councils proceeded to discuss the +burning questions of the day, among which the most prominent was, of +course, the foreign policy. The earliest instance of the meeting of +the Council of Kuges was immediately after the news of Perry's arrival +had reached the court of Kioto. "Upon this," says the author of +Genje Yume Monogatari, "the Emperor was much disturbed, and called a +council, which was attended by a number of princes of the blood and +Kuges, and much violent language was uttered." + +From this time on we meet often with the record of these councils.[10] +A native chronicler records that on the 29th day of the 12th month +of 1857 "a meeting of all Daimios (present in Yedo) was held in the +Haku-sho-in, a large hall in the castle of Yedo. The deliberations +were not over till two o'clock on the morning of the 30th." + +Soon after this the Emperor ordered the Shogun to come to Kioto with +all the Daimios and ascertain the opinion of the country. But the +Shogun did not come, so the Emperor sent his envoy, Ohara Sammi, and +called the meeting of the Daimios at Yedo in 1862, in which the noted +Shimadzu Saburo was also present. + +In 1864 the council of Daimios was again held, and Minister Pruyn, +in his letter to Mr. Seward, bears witness of the proceeding: "It is +understood the great council of Daimios is again in session; that +the question of the foreign policy of the government is again under +consideration, and that the opposite parties are pretty evenly +balanced."[11] + +From this time the council of Daimios was held every year, sometimes +many times in the year, till the Revolution of 1868. These examples +will suffice to show the nature and purpose of these councils of Kuges +and Daimios. Let us next consider how these councils originated. + +The political development of Japan gives another illustration of one +of the truths which Mr. Herbert Spencer unfolds in his Principles +of Sociology. "Everywhere the wars between societies," says he, +"originate governmental structures, and are causes of all such +improvements in those structures as increase the efficiency of +corporate action against environing societies."[12] + +Experience has shown that representative government is the most +efficient in securing the corporate action of the various members of +the body politic against foreign enemies. When a country is threatened +with foreign invasion, when the corporate action of its citizens +against their enemy is needed, it becomes an imperative necessity to +consult public opinion. In such a time centralization is needed. Hence +the first move of Japan after the advent of foreigners was to bring +the scattered parts of the country together and unite them under one +head. + +Japan had hitherto no formidable foreign enemy on her shores. So +her governmental system--the regulating system of the social +organism--received no impetus for self-development. But as soon as a +formidable people, either as allies or foes, appeared on the scene in +1853, we immediately see the remarkable change in the state system of +regulation in Japan. It became necessary to consult public opinion. +Councils of Kuges and Daimios and meetings of Samurai sprung forth +spontaneously. + +I believe, with Guizot, that the germ of representative government was +not necessarily "in the woods of Germany," as Montesquieu asserts, +or in the Witenagemot of England; that the glory of having a free +government is not necessarily confined to the Aryan family or to its +more favored branch, the Anglo-Saxons. I believe that the seed of +representative government is implanted in the very nature of human +society and of the human mind. When the human mind and the social +organism reach a certain stage of development, when they are placed in +such an environment as to call forth a united and harmonious action +of the body politic, when education is diffused among the masses +and every member of the community attains a certain degree of his +individuality and importance, when the military form of society +transforms itself into the industrial, then the representative idea of +government springs forth naturally and irresistibly. And no tyrant, no +despot, can obstruct the triumphal march of liberty. + +Whatever may be said about the soundness of the above speculation, it +is certain that in the great councils of Kuges and Daimios and in the +discussions of the Samurai, which the advent of the foreigners called +into being, lay the germ of the future constitutional parliament of +Japan. + + +[Footnote 1: Genje Yume Monogatari. Translated by Mr. Ernest Satow, +and published in the columns of the _Japan Mail_.] + +[Footnote 2: The original gives names of some prominent officials thus +summoned.] + +[Footnote 3: This is also quoted in F.O. Adams's History of Japan, +Vol. I., p. 109. I have compared the passage with the original and +quote here with some modifications in the translation.] + +[Footnote 4: Jo-i means to expel the barbarians; Kai-Koku means to +open the country.] + +[Footnote 5: Given also in Kai-Koku Simatsu, p. 166; Ansei-Kiji, pp. +219, 220.] + +[Footnote 6: Life of Ii Nawosuke Tokyo, 1888.] + +[Footnote 7: Dickson's Japan, p. 454.] + +[Footnote 8: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Part 3, 1865-66, p. 233, 1st Sess. 39th Cong.] + +[Footnote 9: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Part 3, 1864-65, p. 502, 2d Sess. 38th Cong.] + +[Footnote 10: See Ansei-Kiji, pages 1, 3, 57, 59, 61, 174, 192, 352; +Bosin-Simatsu, Vol. II., pp. 4, 69; Vol. III., pp. 379, 414; Vol. IV., +pp. 121, 152.] + +[Footnote 11: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Part 3, 1864-65, p. 486, 3d Sess. 38th Cong.] + +[Footnote 12: Principles of Sociology, p. 540.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE RESTORATION. + + +In the last chapter we have noticed what a commotion had been caused +in Japan by the sudden advent of Commodore Perry, how the councils of +Kuges and Daimios were called into spontaneous life by the dread +of foreigners and by the sense of national weakness, and how the +bombardments of Kagoshima and Shimonosheki tested these fears and +taught the necessity of national union. I have remarked that free +government is not necessarily the sole heritage of the Aryan race, but +that the presence of foreigners, the change of the military form of +society into the industrial form, the increase in importance of +the individual in the community, are sure to breed a free and +representative system of government. + +In the following chapter we shall see the downfall of the Shogunate, +the restoration of the imperial power to its pristine vigor, and the +destruction of feudalism. + +"The study of constitutional history is essentially a tracing of +causes and consequences," says Bishop Stubbs, "not the collection of +a multitude of facts and views, but the piecing of links of a perfect +chain." + +I shall therefore not dwell upon the details of the events which +led to the downfall of the Shogunate, but immediately enter into an +inquiry concerning the causes. + +Three causes led to the final overthrow of the Shogunate: + +I. The Revival of Learning. The last half of the eighteenth and +the first half of the present century witnessed in Japan an unusual +intellectual activity. The long peace and prosperity of the country +under the rule of the Tokugawa dynasties had fostered in every way the +growth of literature and art. The Shoguns, from policy or from taste, +either to find a harmless vent for the restless spirit of the +Samura or from pure love of learning, have been constant patrons of +literature. The Daimios, too, as a means of spending their leisure +hours when they were not out hawking or revelling with their +mistresses, gave no inattentive ear to the readings and lectures of +learned men. Each Daimioate took pride in the number and fame of her +own learned sons. Thus throughout the country eminent scholars arose. +With them a new era of literature dawned upon the land. The new +literature changed its tone. Instead of the servility, faint +suggestiveness, and restrained politeness characteristic of the +literature from the Gen-hei period to the first half of the Tokugawa +period, that of the Revival Era began to wear a bolder and freer +aspect. History came to be recorded with more truthfulness and +boldness than ever before. + +But as the ancient histories were studied and the old constitution was +brought into light, the real nature of the Shogunate began to reveal +itself. To the eyes of the historians it became clear that the +Shogunate was nothing but a military usurpation, sustained by fraud +and corruption; that the Emperor, who was at that time, in plain +words, imprisoned at the court of Kioto, was the real source of power +and honor. "If this be the case, what ought we do?" was the natural +question of these loyal subjects of the Emperor. The natural +conclusion followed: the military usurper must be overthrown and +the rightful ruler recognized. This was the sum and substance of +the political programme of the Imperialists. The first sound of the +trumpet against the Shogunate rose from the learned hall of the +Prince of Mito, Komon. He, with the assistance of a host of scholars, +finished his great work, the Dai Nihon Shi, or History of Japan, in +1715. It was not printed till 1851, but was copied from hand to hand +by eager students, like the Bible by the medieval monks, or the works +of Plato and Aristotle by the Humanists. The Dai Nihon Shi soon became +a classic, and had such an influence in restoring the power of the +Emperor that Mr. Ernest Satow justly calls its composer "the real +author of the movement which culminated in the revolution of 1868." +The voice of the Prince of Mito was soon caught up by the more +celebrated scholar Rai Sanyo (1780-1833). A poet, an historian, and a +zealous patriot, Rai Sanyo was the Arndt of Japan. He outlined in +his Nihon Guai Shi the rise and fall of the Minister of State and the +Shoguns, and with satire, invective, and the enthusiasm of a patriot, +urged the unlawfulness of the usurpation of the imperial power by +these mayors of the palace. In his Sei-Ki, or political history of +Japan, he traced the history of the imperial family, and mourned with +characteristic pathos the decadence of the imperial power. The labors +of these historians and scholars bore in time abundant fruit. Some of +their disciples became men of will and action: Sakuma Shozan, Yoshida +Toraziro, Gesho, Yokoi Heishiro, and later Saigo, Okubo, Kido, and +hosts of others, who ultimately realized the dreams of their masters. +Out of the literary seed which scholars like Rai Sanyo spread +broadcast over the country thus grew hands of iron and hearts +of steel. This process shows how closely related are history and +politics, and affords another illustration of the significance of +the epigrammatic expression of Professor Freeman: "History is past +politics, and politics present history." + +II. Another tributary stream which helped to swell the tide flowing +toward the Emperor was the revival of Shintoism. The revival of +learning is sure to be followed by the revival of religion. This is +shown in the history of the Reformation in Europe, which was preceded +by the revival of learning. Since the expulsion of Christianity from +Japan in the sixteenth century, which was effected more from political +than religious motives, laissez-faire was the steadfast policy of the +Japanese rulers toward religious matters. The founder of the Tokugawa +dynasty had laid down in his "Legacy" the policy to be pursued by his +descendants. "Now any one of the people," says Iyeyasu, "can adhere to +which (religion) he pleases (except the Christian); and there must +be no wrangling among sects to the disturbance of the peace of the +Empire." Thus while the people in the West, who worshipped the +Prince of Peace, in his abused name were cutting each other's throat, +destroying each other's property, torturing and proselyting by rack +and flames, the islanders on the West Pacific coast were enjoying +complete religious toleration. Three religions--Shintoism, Buddhism, +and Confucianism--lived together in peace. In such a state of +unrestricted competition among various religions, the universal law of +the survival of the fittest acts freely. Buddhism was the fittest and +became the predominant religion. Shintoism was the weakest and sank +into helpless desuetude. But with the revival of learning, as Kojiki +and other ancient literature were studied with assiduity, Shintoism +began to revive. Its cause found worthy defenders in Motoori and +Hirata. They are among the greatest Shintoists Japan has ever seen. + +Now, according to Shintoism, Japan is a holy land. It was made by the +gods, whose lineal descendant is the Emperor. Hence he must be revered +and worshipped as a god. This is the substance of Shintoism. The +political bearing of such a doctrine upon the then existing status of +the country is apparent. The Emperor, who is a god, the fountain of +all virtue, honor, and authority, is now a prisoner at the court of +Kioto, under the iron hand of the Tokugawa Shoguns. This state +of impiety and irreverence can never be tolerated by the devout +Shintoists. The Shogun must be dethroned and the Emperor raised to +power. Here the line of arguments of the Shintoists meets with that +of the scholars we have noted above. Thus both scholars and Shintoists +have converted themselves into politicians who have at heart the +restoration of the Emperor. + +III. Another cause which led to the overthrow of the Shogunate was the +jealousy and cupidity of the Southern Daimios. Notably among them were +the Daimios of Satsuma, Choshiu, Tosa, and Hizen. Their ancestors "had +of old held equal rank and power with Iyeyasu, until the fortunes +of war turned against them. They had been overcome by force, or had +sullenly surrendered in face of overwhelming odds. Their adherence +to the Tokugawas was but nominal, and only the strong pressure of +superior power was able to wring from them a haughty semblance of +obedience. They chafed perpetually under the rule of one who was in +reality a vassal like themselves."[1] They now saw in the rising tide +of public sentiment against the Tokugawa Shogunate a rare opportunity +of accomplishing their cherished aim. They lent their arms and money +for the support of the patriots in carrying out their plan. Satsuma +and Choshiu became the rendezvous of eminent scholars and zealous +patriots. And in the council-halls of Satsuma and Choshiu were hatched +the plots which were soon to overthrow the effete Shogunate. + +Thus everything was ready for the revolution of 1868 before Perry +came. We saw the Shogun, under the bombastic title of Tycoon, in spite +of the remonstrance of the Emperor and his court, conclude a treaty +with Perry at Kanagawa in 1854. Here at last was found a pretext for +the Imperialists to raise arms against the Shogun. The Shogun or his +ministers had no right to make treaties with foreigners. Such an act +was, in the eyes of the patriots, heinous treason. The cry of "Destroy +the Shogunate and raise the Emperor to his proper throne!" rang from +one end of the empire to the other. The constant disturbance of the +country, the difficulty of foreign intercourse, the sense of necessity +of a single and undoubted authority over the land, and the outcry +of the Samurai thus raised against the Shogun, finally led to his +resignation on November 19, 1867. His letter of resignation, in the +form of a manifesto to the Daimios, runs thus: + +"A retrospect of the various changes through which the empire has +passed shows us that after the decadence of the monarchical authority, +power passed into the hands of the Minister of State; that by the +wars of 1156 to 1159 the governmental power came into the hands of the +military class. My ancestor received greater marks of confidence than +any before him, and his descendants have succeeded him for more than +two hundred years. Though I perform the same duties, the objects of +government and the penal laws have not been attained, and it is +with feelings of greatest humiliation that I find myself obliged to +ackowledge my own want of virtue as the cause of the present state of +things. Moreover, our intercourse with foreign powers becomes daily +more extensive, and our foreign policy cannot be pursued unless +directed by the whole power of the country. + +"If, therefore, the old regime be changed and the governmental +authority be restored to the imperial court, if the councils of the +whole empire be collected and the wise decisions received, and if +we unite with all our heart and with all our strength to protect and +maintain the empire, it will be able to range itself with the nations +of the earth. This comprises our whole duty towards our country. + +"However, if you (the Daimios) have any particular ideas on the +subject, you may state them without reserve."[2] + +The resignation of the Shogun was accepted by the Emperor by the +following imperial order, issued on the 10th day of the 12th month: +"It has pleased the Emperor to dismiss the present Shogun, at his +request, from the office of Shogun." + +As to the full intent and motive of the Shogun in resigning his +power, let him further speak himself. In the interview of the British +minister, Sir Harry S. Parkes, and the French minister, M. Leon +Koches, with the Shogun, it is stated that he said: "I became +convinced last autumn that the country would no longer be successfully +governed while the power was divided between the Emperor and myself. +The country had two centres, from which orders of an opposite nature +proceeded. Thus, in the matter of the opening of Hiogo and Osako, +which I quote as an example of this conflict of authority, I was +myself convinced that the stipulations of the treaties must be +observed, but the assent of the Emperor to my representations on +this subject was given reluctantly. I therefore, for the good of my +country, informed the Emperor that I resigned the governing power, +with the understanding that an assembly of Daimios was convened for +the purpose of deciding in what manner, and by whom, the government in +future should be carried on. In acting thus, I sunk my own interests +and power handed down to me by my ancestors, in the more important +interests of the country.[3].... + +"My policy, from the commencement, has been to determine this question +of the future form of government in a peaceful manner, and it is in +pursuance of the same object that, instead of opposing force by force, +I have retired from the scene of dispute..... + +"As to who is the sovereign of Japan, it is a question on which no +one in Japan can entertain a doubt. The Emperor is the sovereign. My +object from the first has been to take the will of the nation as to +the future government. If the nation should decide that I ought to +resign my powers, I am prepared to resign them for the good of my +country..... + +"I have no other motive but the following: With an honest love for +my country and the people, I resigned the governing power which I +inherited from my ancestors, and with the mutual understanding that I +should assemble all the nobles of the empire to discuss the question +disinterestedly, and adopting the opinion of the majority, decide upon +the reformation of the national constitution, I left the matter in the +hands of the imperial court."[4] + +Thus was the Shogunate overthrown and the Restoration effected. The +civil war which soon followed need not detain us, for the war itself +had no great consequence as regards the constitutional development of +the country. + +Let us now consider the form of the new government. It is essentially +that which prevailed in Japan before the development of feudalism. It +is modelled on the form of government of the Osei era. + +The new government was composed of: + +1. Sosai ("Supreme Administrator"). He was assisted by Fuku, or +Vice-Sosai. The Sosai resembled the British Premier, was the head of +the chief council of the government. + +2. Gijio, or "Supreme Council," whose function was to discuss all +questions and suggest the method of their settlement to the Sosai. It +was composed of ten members, five of whom were selected from the list +of Kuges and five from the great Daimios. + +3. Sanyo, or "Associate Council." They were subordinate officers, and +were selected from the Daimios as well as from the retainers. +This council finally came to have great influence, and ultimately +transformed itself into the present cabinet. + +The government was divided into eight departments: + +1. The Sosai Department. This soon changed into Dai-jo-Kuan. + +2. Jingi-Jimu-Kioku, or Department of the Shinto Religion. This +department had charge of the Shinto temples, priests, and festivals. + +3. Naikoku-Jimu-Kioku, or Department of Home Affairs. This department +had charge of the capital and the five home provinces, of land and +water transport in all the provinces, of post-towns and post-roads, +of barriers and fairs, and of the governors of castles, towns, ports, +etc. + +4. Guaikoku-Jimu-Kioku, or Department of Foreign Affairs. This +department had charge of foreign relations, treaties, trade, recovery +of lands, and sustenance of the people. + +5. Gumbu-Jimu-Kioku, or War Department. This department had charge of +the naval and military forces, drilling, protection of the Emperor, +and military defences in general. + +6. Kuaikei-Jimu-Kioku, or Department of Finance. This department had +charge of the registers of houses and population, of tariff and taxes, +money, corn, accounts, tribute, building and repairs, salaries, public +storehouses, and internal trade. + +7. Keiho-Jimu-Kioku, or Judicial Department. This department had +charge of the censorate, of inquisitions, arrests, trials, and the +penal laws in general. + +8. Seido-Jimu-Kioku, or Legislative Department. This department +had charge of the superintendence of offices, enactments, sumptuary +regulations, appointments, and all other laws and regulations, + +"It is easy to destroy, but difficult to construct," is an old adage +of statesmen. The truth of this utterance was soon realized by the +leaders of the new government. + +The first thing which the new government had to settle was its +attitude toward foreign nations. The leaders of the government who had +once opposed with such vehemence, as we have seen, the foreign policy +of the Tokugawa Shogun, now that he had been overthrown, urged the +necessity of amicable relations with foreign powers in the following +memorable memorial[5] to the Dai-jo-Kuan (Government): + +"The undersigned, servants of the Crown, respectfully believe that +from ancient times decisions upon important questions concerning +the welfare of the empire were arrived at after consideration of the +actual political condition and its necessities, and that thus results +were obtained, not of mere temporary brilliancy, but which bore good +fruits in all time.... + +"Among other pressing duties of the present moment we venture to +believe it to be pre-eminently important to set the question of +foreign intercourse in a clear light. + +"His Majesty's object in creating the office of administrator of +foreign affairs, and selecting persons to fill it, and otherwise +exerting himself in that direction, has been to show the people of +his empire in what light to look on this matter, and we have felt the +greatest pleasure in thinking that the imperial glory would now be +made to shine forth before all nations. An ancient proverb says that +'Men's minds resemble each other as little as their faces,' nor have +the upper and lower classes been able, up to the present, to hold with +confidence a uniform opinion. It gives us some anxiety to feel that +perhaps we may be following the bad example of the Chinese, who, +fancying themselves alone great and worthy of respect, and despising +foreigners as little better than beasts, have come to suffer defeats +at their hands and to have it lorded over themselves by those +foreigners. + +"It appears to us, therefore, after mature reflection, that the +most important duty we have at present is for high and low to unite +harmoniously in understanding the condition of the age, in effecting +a national reformation and commencing a great work, and that for this +reason it is of the greatest necessity that we determine upon the +attitude to be observed towards this question. + +"Hitherto the empire has held itself aloof from other countries and is +ignorant of the affairs of the world; the only object sought has been +to give ourselves the least trouble, and by daily retrogression we are +in danger of falling under foreign rule. + +"By travelling to foreign countries and observing what good there +is in them, by comparing their daily progress, the universality of +enlightened government, of a sufficiency of military defences, and of +abundant food for the people among them, with our present condition, +the causes of prosperity and degeneracy may be plainly traced.... + +"Of late years the question of expelling the barbarians has been +constantly agitated, and one or two Daimios have tried to expel them, +but it is unnecessary to prove that this was more than the strength of +a single clan could accomplish.... + +"How ever, in order to restore the fallen fortunes of the empire and +to make the imperial dignity respected abroad, it is necessary to make +a firm resolution, and to get rid of the narrow-minded ideas which +have prevailed hitherto. We pray that the important personages of +the court will open their eyes and unite with those below them in +establishing relations of amity in a single-minded manner, and that +our deficiencies being supplied with what foreigners are superior +in, an enduring government be established for future ages. Assist +the Emperor in forming his decision wisely and in understanding the +condition of the empire; let the foolish argument which has hitherto +styled foreigners dogs and goats and barbarians be abandoned; let the +court ceremonies, hitherto imitated from the Chinese, be reformed, +and the foreign representatives be bidden to court in the manner +prescribed by the rules current amongst all nations; and let this be +publicly notified throughout the country, so that the countless people +may be taught what is the light in which they are to regard this +subject. This is our most earnest prayer, presented with all reverence +and humility. + + "ECHIZEN SAISHO, + TOSA SAKIO NO SHOSHO, + NAGATO SHOSHO, + SATSUMA SHOSHO, + AKI SHOSHO, + HOSO KAWA UKIO DAIBU." + +The advice of these notables was well received. A formal invitation to +an audience with the Emperor was extended to the foreign ambassadors. +They soon accepted the invitation. Their appearance in the old +anti-foreign city of Kioto, before the personage who was considered +by the masses as divine, was significant. It put an end to the +all-absorbing, all-perplexing theme of the day. The question of +foreign policy was settled. + +The next act of the statesmen of the Restoration was to sweep away +the abuses of the court, and to establish the basis of a firm internal +administration. The most effectual means of accomplishing this, it +seemed to the sagacious statesmen, was to move the court from the +place where those abuses had their roots. Ichizo Okubo,[6] a guiding +spirit of the Restoration, presented the following memorial to the +Emperor: + +"The most pressing of your Majesty's pressing duties at the present +moment is not to look at the empire alone and judge carelessly by +appearances, but to consider carefully the actual state of the whole +world; to reform the inveterate and slothful habits induced during +several hundred years, and to give union to the nation.... + +"Hitherto the person whom we designate the sovereign has lived behind +a screen, and, as if he were different from other human beings, has +not been seen by more than a very limited number of Kuge; and as +his heaven-conferred office of father to his people has been thereby +unfulfilled, it is necessary that his office should be ascertained +in accordance with this fundamental principle, and then the laws +governing internal affairs may be established.... + +"In the present period of reformation and restoration of the +government to its ancient monarchical form, the way to carry out +the resolution of imitating the example of Japanese sages, and of +surpassing the excellent governments of foreign nations, is to change +the site of the capital.... + +"Osako is the fittest place for the capital ... For the conduct of +foreign relations, for enriching the country and strengthening its +military power, for adopting successful means of offense and defense, +for establishing an army and navy, the place is peculiarly fitted by +its position ... I most humbly pray your Majesty to open your eyes and +make this reform.... + +"OKUBO ICHIZO."[7] + +The result of the memorial was the ultimate removal of the seat of +government from Kioto to Yedo, which afterwards changed its name to +Tokio, meaning eastern capital. + +But the most important event of the Restoration, from the +constitutional point of view, was the charter oath of five articles, +taken by the present Emperor on the 17th of April, 1869, before the +court and the assembly of Daimios. These articles were in substance as +follows: + +1. A deliberative assembly should be formed, and all measures be +decided by public opinion. + +2. The principles of social and political economics should be +diligently studied by both the superior and inferior classes of our +people. + +3. Every one in the community shall be assisted to persevere in +carrying out his will for all good purposes. + +4. All the old absurd usages of former times should be disregarded, +and the impartiality and justice displayed in the workings of nature +be adopted as a basis of action. + +5. Wisdom and ability should be sought after in all quarters of the +world for the purpose of firmly establishing the foundations of the +empire. + +The Emperor's promise henceforth became the watchword of the nation. + +And this resolution to form a deliberative assembly was soon put into +practice. In 1869 was convened the Kogisho or "Parliament," as Sir +Harry Parkes translates it in his despatch to the Earl of Clarendon. +But before we proceed to the description of the nature and working of +the Kogisho it is necessary to state that this plan had been already +suggested by the Shogunate. A proclamation of the Shogun Keiki, +issued on February 20, 1868, says: "As it is proper to determine the +principle of the constitution of Japan with due regard to the wishes +of the majority, I have resigned the supreme power to the Emperor's +court, and advised that the opinions of all the Daimios should be +taken.... On examination of my household affairs (the administration +of Shogun's territories), many irregularities may exist which may +dissatisfy the people, and which I therefore greatly deplore. Hence +I intend to establish a Kogijio and to accept the opinion of the +majority. Any one, therefore, who has an opinion to express may do so +at that place and be free of apprehension."[8] + +But this attempt of the Shogun to establish a sort of Parliament came +to an end with his fall. This idea, however, was transmitted through +the Shogunate officials to the government of the Restoration. In fact, +this idea of consulting public opinion was, as I have repeatedly said, +in the air. The leaders of the new government all felt, as one of them +said to Messrs. F.O. Adams and Ernest Satow, that "the only way to +allay the jealousies hitherto existing between several of the most +powerful clans, and to ensure a solid and lasting union of conflicting +interests, was to search for the nearest approach to an ideal +constitution among those of Western countries ... that the opinion of +the majority was the only criterion of a public measure."[9] + +Sir Harry Parkes was right when he told the Earl of Clarendon that +"the establishment of such an institution (the Kogisho) formed one of +the first objects of the promoters of the recent revolution."[10] + +The Kogisho was opened on the 18th of April, 1869,[11] and the +following message[12] from the throne was then delivered: + +"Being on the point of visiting our eastern capital, we have convened +the nobles of our court and the various princes in order to consult +them upon the means of establishing the foundations of peaceful +government. The laws and institutions are the basis of government. +The petitions of the people at large cannot be lightly decided. It has +been reported to us that brief rules and regulations have been fixed +upon for the Parliament, and it seems good to us that the House should +be opened at once. We exhort you to respect the laws of the House, +to lay aside all private and selfish considerations, to conduct your +debates with minuteness and firmness; above all things, to take the +laws of our ancestors as 'basis,' and adapt yourselves to the feelings +of men and to the spirit of the times. Distinguish clearly between +those matters which are of immediate importance and those which may +be delayed; between things which are less urgent and those which are +pressing. In your several capacities argue with careful attention. +When the results of your debate are communicated to us it shall be our +duty to confirm them." + +The Kogisho was composed mostly of the retainers of the Daimios, for +the latter, having no experience of the earnest business of life, +"were not eager to devote themselves to the labors of an onerous and +voluntary office." Akidzuki Ukio No Suke was appointed President of +the Kogisho. + +The object of the Kogisho was to enable the government to sound public +opinion on the various topics of the day, and to obtain the assistance +of the country in the work of legislation by ascertaining whether the +projects of the government were likely to be favorably received. + +The Kogisho, like the Councils of Kuges and Daimios, was nothing but +an experiment, a mere germ of a deliberative assembly, which only time +and experience could bring to maturity. Still Kogisho was an advance +over the council of Daimios. It had passed the stage resembling a +mere deliberative meeting or quiet Quaker conference, where, for hours +perhaps, nobody opens his mouth. It now bore an aspect of a political +club meeting. But it was a quiet, peaceful, obedient debating society. +It has left the record of its abortive undertakings in the "Kogisho +Nishi" or journal of "Parliament." The Kogisho was dissolved in +the year of its birth. And the indifference of the public about its +dissolution proves how small an influence it really had. + +But a greater event than the dissolution of the Kogisho was pending +before the public gaze. This was the abolition of feudalism, which we +shall consider in the next chapter. + + +[Footnote 1: The Mikado's Empire. Griffis, p. 301.] + +[Footnote 2: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +1867, Part II., p. 78, 2d Sess. 40th Cong. See also Bosin-Simatsu, +Vol. I., p. 2.] + +[Footnote 3: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Vol. I., 1868-69, p. 620, 3d Sess. 40th Cong.] + +[Footnote 4: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Vol. I., 1868-69, 3d Sess. 40th Cong.] + +[Footnote 5: Translation from the Kioto Government Gazette of March, +1868. It is given in Diplomatic Correspondence of the U.S.A., 3d Sess. +40th Cong., Vol. I, 1868-69, p. 725.] + +[Footnote 6: He afterwards changed his name into Toshimitsu Okubo.] + +[Footnote 7: Translation is given in American Executive Document, +Diplomatic Correspondence, Vol. I, 1868-69, p. 728, 3d Sess. 40th +Cong.] + +[Footnote 8: American Executive Document, Diplomatic Correspondence, +Vol. I., 1868-69, p. 687, 3d Sess. 40th Cong.] + +[Footnote 9: F.O. Adams' History of Japan, Vol. II., p. 128.] + +[Footnote 10: English State Papers, Vol. LXX., 1870, p. 9.] + +[Footnote 11: 29th of the 2d month in the second year of Meiji, +according to the old calendar.] + +[Footnote 12: Translation is given in English State Papers, Vol. LXX., +1871, p. 12.] + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE ABOLITION OF FEUDALISM. + + +The measure to abolish feudalism was much discussed in the Kogisho +before its dissolution. Prince Akidzuki, President of the Kogisho, had +sent in the following memorial: + +"After the government had been returned by the Tokugawa family +into the hands of the Emperor, the calamity of war ensued, and the +excellence of the newly established administration has not yet been +able to perfect itself; if this continues, I am grieved to think how +the people will give up their allegiance. Happily, the eastern and +northern provinces have already been pacified and the country at large +has at last recovered from its troubles. The government of the Emperor +is taking new steps every day; this is truly a noble thing for the +country. And yet when I reflect, I see that although there are many +who profess loyalty, none have yet shown proof of it. The various +princes have used their lands and their people for their own purposes; +different laws have obtained in different places; the civil and +criminal codes have been various in the various provinces. The clans +have been called the screen of the country, but in truth they have +caused its division. The internal relations having been confused, the +strength of the country has been disunited and severed. How can our +small country of Japan enter into fellowship with the countries beyond +the sea? How can she hold up an example of a flourishing country? Let +those who wish to show their faith and loyalty act in the following +manner, that they may firmly establish the foundations of the Imperial +Government: + +"1. Let them restore the territories which they have received from the +Emperor and return to a constitutional and undivided nation. + +"2. Let them abandon their titles, and under the name of Kuazoku +(persons of honor) receive such small properties as may suffice for +their wants. + +"3. Let the officers of the clans abandoning that title call themselves +officers of the Emperor, receiving property equal to that which they +have hitherto held. + +"Let these three important measures be adopted forthwith, that the +empire may be raised on a basis imperishable for ages ... 2nd year of +Meiji (1869). + + (Signed) "AKIDZUKI UKIO NO SUKE."[1] + +But politics is not an easy game--a game which a pedant or a +sentimental scholar or an orator can leisurely play. It has to deal +with passions, ambitions, and selfish interests of men, as well as +with the moral and intellectual consciousness of the people. Tongue +and pen wield, undoubtedly, a great influence in shaping the thought +of the nation and impressing them with the importance of any political +measure. But the tongue is as sounding brass and the pen as useless +steel unless they are backed by force and money. Even in such a +country as England, where tongue and pen seem to reign supreme, a +prime minister before he forms his cabinet has to be closeted for +hours with Mr. Rothschild. Fortunately this important measure of +abolishing feudalism, which a few patriots had secretly plotted and +which the scholars had noised abroad, was taken up first by the most +powerful and wealthy Daimios of the country. + +In the following noted memorial, after reviewing the political history +of Japan during the past few hundred years, these Daimios said: "Now +the great Government has been newly restored and the Emperor himself +undertakes the direction of affairs. This is, indeed, a rare and +mighty event. We have the name (of an Imperial Government), we must +also have the fact. Our first duty is to illustrate our faithfulness +and to prove our loyalty. When the line of Tokugawa arose it divided +the country amongst its kinsfolk, and there were many who founded the +fortunes of their families upon it. They waited not to ask whether +the lands and men that they received were the gift of the Emperor; for +ages they continued to inherit these lands until this day. Others said +that their possessions were the prize of their spears and bows, as if +they had entered storehouses and stolen the treasure therein, boasting +to the soldiers by whom they were surrounded that they had done this +regardless of their lives. Those who enter storehouses are known by +all men to be thieves, but those who rob lands and steal men are not +looked upon with suspicion. How are loyalty and faith confused and +destroyed! + +"The place where we live is the Emperor's land and the food which we +eat is grown by the Emperor's men. How can we make it our own? We +now reverently offer up the list of our possessions and men, with the +prayer that the Emperor will take good measures for rewarding those +to whom reward is due and for taking from those to whom punishment is +due. Let the imperial orders be issued for altering and remodelling +the territories of the various clans. Let the civil and penal codes, +the military laws down to the rules for uniform and the construction +of engines of war, all proceed from the Emperor; let all the affairs +of the empire, great and small, be referred to him." + +This memorial was signed by the Daimios of Kago, Hizen, Satsuma, +Choshiu, Tosa, and some other Daimios of the west. But the real +author of the memorial is believed to have been Kido, the brain of the +Restoration. + +Thus were the fiefs of the most powerful and most wealthy Daimios +voluntarily offered to the Emperor. The other Daimios soon followed +the example of their colleagues. And the feudalism which had existed +in Japan for over eight centuries was abolished by the following +laconic imperial decree of August, 1871: + +"The clans are abolished, and prefectures are established in their +places." + +This rather off-hand way of destroying an institution, whose overthrow +in Europe required the combined efforts of ambitious kings and +emperors, of free cities, of zealous religious sects, and cost +centuries of bloodshed, has been made a matter of much comment in the +West. One writer exclaims, "History does not record another instance +where changes of such magnitude ever occurred within so short a time, +and it is astonishing that it only required eleven words to destroy +the ambition and power of a proud nobility that had with imperious +will directed the destiny of Japan for more than five hundred +years."[2] + +But when we examine closely the circumstances which led to the +overthrow of feudalism and the influences which acted upon it, we +cannot but regard it as the natural terminus of the political flood +which was sweeping over the country. When such a revolution of thought +as that expressed in the proclamation of 1868 had taken place in the +minds of the leaders of society, when contact with foreigners had +fostered the necessity of national union, when the spirit of loyalty +of the Samurai had changed to loyalty to his Emperor, when his +patriotic devotion to his province had changed to patriotic devotion +to his country, then it became apparent that the petty social +organization, which was antagonistic to these national principles, +would soon be crushed. + +If there is any form of society which is diametrically opposed to the +spirit of national union, of liberal thought, of free intercourse, it +is feudal society. A monarchical or a democratic society encourages +the spirit of union, but feudal society must, from its very nature, +smother it. Seclusion is the parent of feudalism. In our enlightened +and progressive century seclusion is no longer possible. Steam and +electricity alone would have been sufficient to destroy our Japanese +feudalism. But long before its fall our Japanese feudalism "was an +empty shell." Its leaders, the Daimios of provinces, were, with a few +exceptions, men of no commanding importance. "The real power in each +clan lay in the hands of able men of inferior rank, who ruled their +masters." From these men came the present advisers of the Emperor. +Their chief object at that time was the thorough unification of Japan. +Why, then, should they longer trouble themselves to uphold feudalism, +this mother of sectionalism, this colossal sham? + + +[Footnote 1: Translation given in the English State Papers.] + +[Footnote 2: Consular Report of the U.S.A., No. 75, p. 626.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +INFLUENCES THAT SHAPED THE GROWTH OF THE REPRESENTATIVE IDEA OF +GOVERNMENT. + + +We have seen in the last two chapters how the Shogunate and feudalism +fell, and how the Meiji government was inaugurated. We have also +observed in the memorials of leading statesmen abundant proof of +their willingness and zeal to introduce a representative system of +government. We have also seen the Kogisho convened and dissolved. + +John Stuart Mill has pointed out, in his Representative Government, +several social conditions when representative government is +inapplicable or unsuitable: + +1. When the people are not willing to receive it. + +2. When the people are not willing and able to do what is necessary +for its preservation. + +"Representative institutions necessarily depend for permanence upon +the readiness of the people to fight for them in case of their being +endangered." + +3. When the people are not willing and able to fulfil the duties and +discharge the functions which it imposes on them. + +4. When the people have not learned the first lesson of obedience. + +5. When the people are too passive; when they are ready to submit to +tyranny. + +Now when we look at the Japan of 1871, even her greatest admirers must +admit that she was far from being able to fulfil the social conditions +necessary for the success of representative government. Japan was +obedient, but too submissive. She had not yet learned the first +lesson of freedom, that is, when and how to resist, in the faith that +resistance to tyrants is obedience to truth; that the irrepressible +kicker against tyranny, as Dr. Wilson observes, is the only true +freeman. In her conservative, almost abject submission, Japan was +yet unfit for free government. The Japanese people were willing to +do almost anything suggested by their Emperor, but they had first to +learn what was meant by representative government, "to understand +its processes and requirements." The Japanese had to discard many old +habits and prejudices, reform many defects of national character, and +undergo many stages of moral and mental discipline before they could +acclimatize themselves to the free atmosphere of representative +institutions. This preparation required a period of little over two +decades, and was effected not only through political discipline, but +by corresponding development in the moral, intellectual, social, and +industrial life of the nation. + +I remarked in the beginning that the political activity of a nation is +not isolated from other spheres of its activities, but that there is a +mutual interchange of action and reaction among the different factors +of social life, so that to trace the political life of a nation it is +not only necessary to describe the organ through which it acts, the +governmental machinery, and the methods by which it is worked, but +to know "the forces which move it and direct its course." Now these +forces are political as well as non-political. This truth is now +generally acknowledged by constitutional writers. Thus, the English +author of "The American Commonwealth" devotes over one-third of his +second volume to the account of non-political institutions, and says +"there are certain non-political institutions, certain aspects of +society, certain intellectual or spiritual forces which count for +so much in the total life of the country, in the total impression it +makes and the hopes for the future which it raises, that they cannot +be left unnoticed."[1] + +If this be the case in the study of the American commonwealth, it is +more so in that of Japanese politics. For nowhere else in the history +of nations do we see "non-political institutions" exerting such a +powerful influence upon the body politic as in New Japan. In this +chapter we shall therefore note briefly the growth of so-called +"non-political institutions" during a period of about a decade and +a half, between 1868 and 1881, and mark their influence upon the +development of representative ideas. + + +I.--MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. + +1. Telegraph. At the time of the Restoration there was no telegraph +in operation, and "for expresses the only available means were men and +horses." In 1868 the government began to construct telegraphs, and +the report of the Bureau of Statistics in 1881 shows the following +increase in each successive year: + + Telegraph Number + Year. Offices. Miles. of Telegrams. + Ri Cho. + 1869-1871 8 26.04 19,448 + 1872 29 33.11 80,639 + 1873 40 1,099.00 186,448 + 1874 57 1,333.20 356,539 + 1875 94 1,904.32 611,866 + 1876 100 2,214.07 680,939 + 1877 122 2,827.08 1,045,442 + 1878 147 3,380.05 1,272,756 + 1879 195 3,842.31 1,935,320 + 1880 195 4,484.30 2,168,201 + +All the more important towns in the country were thus made able to +communicate with one another as early as 1880. + +In 1879 Japan joined the International Telegraph Convention, and since +then she can communicate easily with the great powers of the world +through the great submarine cable system. "Compared with the state of +ten years ago, when the ignorant people cut down the telegraph poles +and severed the wires," exclaims Count Okuma, "we seem rather to have +made a century's advance." + +2. Postal System. "Previous to the Restoration," to quote further +from Count Okuma, "with the exception of the posts sent by the Daimios +from their residences at the capital to their territories, there +was no regularly established post for the general public and private +convenience. Letters had to be sent by any opportunity that occurred, +and a single letter cost over 25 sen for a distance of 150 ri. But +since the Restoration the government for the first time established +a general postal service, and in 1879 the length of postal lines was +15,700 ri (nearly 40,000 English miles), and a letter can at any time +be sent for two sen to any part of the country. In 1874 we entered +the International Postal Convention, and have thus obtained great +facilities for communicating with foreign countries."[2] + +3. Railroad. The first railway Japan ever saw was the model railway +constructed by Commodore Perry to excite the curiosity of the people. +But it was not until 1870 that the railroad was really introduced into +Japan. The first rail was laid on the road between Tokio and Yokohama. +This road was opened in 1872. It is 18 miles long. The second line was +constructed in 1876, and runs between Hiogo and Kioto via Osako. And +the year 1880 saw the opening of the railroad between Kioto and Otsu. +This line between Hiogo and Otsu is 58 miles long. So at the end of +the period which we are surveying Japan had a railway system of 31 ri +and 5 cho (about 78 English miles). + +This was nothing but a child-play compared with the railroad activity +which the later years brought forth, for now we have a railway system +extending over one thousand two hundred miles. But this concerns the +later period, so we shall not dwell upon it at present. + +4. Steamers and the coasting trade. In 1871 the number of ships +of foreign build was only 74, but by 1878 they had reached 377. The +number of vessels of native build in 1876 was 450,000, and in 1878 had +reached 460,000.[3] + +"Since the Restoration the use of steamers has daily increased, +and the inland sea, the lakes and large rivers are now constantly +navigated by small steamers employed in the carrying trade." + +With the increased facility of communication, commerce and trade +were stimulated. In 1869 the total amount of imports and exports was +33,680,000 yen, and in 1879 64,120,000 yen. Imports had grown from +20,780,000 yen to 36,290,000 yen, and exports from 12,909,000 yen to +27,830,000 yen; in the one case showing an advance from 2 to 3-1/2, in +the other from 2 to 5.[4] + + +II.--EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. + +Previous to the Restoration, the schools supported by Daimios and +the private schools were few in number; but since that epoch the +educational system has been vastly improved, with a resulting increase +in the number of schools and pupils. In 1878, of high, middle, and +primary schools there were altogether 27,600, with 68,000 teachers and +2,319,000 pupils.[5] The following table shows the comparative history +of educational institutions within three years, 1878-1880 (inclusive): + + Teachers. Pupils. + Year. Institutions. Male. Female. Male. Female. + 1878 27,672 66,309 2,374 1,715,425 610,214 + 1879 29,362 71,757 2,803 1,771,641 608,205 + 1880 30,799 74,747 2,923 1,844,564 605,781 + +Furthermore, hundreds of students went abroad yearly, and returning, +powerfully influenced the destiny of their country. + + +III.--NEWSPAPERS. + +It was in 1869 that the Emperor sanctioned the publication of +newspapers. Magazines, journals, periodicals and newspapers sprung up +in a night. The number of newspapers published in 1882 was about 113, +and of miscellaneous publications about 133. It is to be noted that +the newspapers defied the old censorship of prohibition under very +sanguinary pains and penalties. Their circulation increased every +year. The total newspaper circulation in 1874 was but 8,470,269, +while in 1877 it was 33,449,529. In his consular report of 1882, +Consul-General Van Buren makes an approximate estimate of the annual +aggregate circulation of a dozen noted papers of Tokio to be not less +than 29,000,000 copies.[6] + +The publication of books and translations kept pace with the growth +of newspapers. Observing the effects of these literary activities, Mr. +Griffis well says: "It is the writer's firm belief, after nearly four +years of life in Japan, mingling among the progressive men of the +empire, that the reading and study of books printed in the Japanese +language have done more to transform the Japanese mind and to develop +an impulse in the direction of modern civilization than any other +cause or series of causes." + +Meanwhile, great changes were affecting law and religion. Here it +is sufficient to observe that the old law which had been hitherto +altogether arbitrary--either the will of the Emperor or of the +Shogun--was revised on the model of the Napoleonic code and soon +published throughout the land. The use of torture to obtain testimony +was wholly and forever abolished. + +With the incoming of Western science and Christianity, old faiths +began to lose their hold upon the people. The new religion spread +yearly. Missionary schools were instituted in several parts of the +country. Christian churches were built in almost all of the large +cities and towns, and their number increased constantly. Missionaries +and Christian schools had no inconsiderable influence in changing the +ideas of the people. + +Such, in brief, have been the changes in the industrial, social and +religious condition of Japan from 1868 to 1881. After this study we +shall not much wonder at the remarkable political change of Japan +during the same period, which I shall endeavor to describe in the next +chapter. + + +[Footnote 1: The American Commonwealth, Bryce, Vol. I., p. 7.] + +[Footnote 2: A Survey of Financial Policy during Thirteen Years +(1868-1880), by Count Okuma.] + +[Footnotes 3, 4, 5: Count Okuma's pamphlet.] + +[Footnote 6: Consular Report of the U.S., No. 25, p. 182.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PROGRESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL MOVEMENT FROM THE ABOLITION OF +FEUDALISM TO THE PROCLAMATION OF OCTOBER 12, 1881. + + +The leaders of the Restoration were of an entirely different type from +the court nobles of former days. They were, with a few exceptions, +men of humble origin. They had raised themselves from obscurity to the +highest places of the state by sheer force of native ability. They had +studied much and travelled far. Their experiences were diverse; they +had seen almost every phase of society. If they were now drinking the +cup of glory, most of them had also tasted the bitterness of exile, +imprisonment, and fear of death. Patriotic, sagacious, and daring, +they combined the rare qualities of magnanimity and urbanity. If +they looked with indifference upon private morality, they were keenly +sensitive to the feeling of honor and to public morals. If they made +mistakes and did not escape the charge of inconsistency in their +policy, these venial faults were, for the most part, due to the +rapidly changing conditions of the country. No other set of statesmen +of Japan or of any other country, ancient or modern, have witnessed +within their lifetime so many social and political transformations. +They saw the days when feudalism flourished--the grandeur of its +rulers, its antique chivalry, its stately etiquette, its ceremonial +costumes, its codes of honor, its rigid social order, formal +politeness, and measured courtesies. They also saw the days when +all these were swept away and replaced by the simplicity and stir of +modern life. They accordingly "have had to cast away every tradition, +every habit, and every principle and mode of action with which even +the youngest of them had to begin official life." + +The ranks of this noble body of statesmen and reformers are now +gradually diminishing. Saigo and Gesho are no more. Kido and Iwakura +have been borne to their graves. Okubo and Mori have fallen under the +sword of fanatics. But, thanks be to God, many of them yet remain and +bear the burdens of the day. + +I have mentioned in Chapter III. the overthrow of feudalism and +its causes. Its immediate effect on the nation, in unifying their +thoughts, customs, and habits, was most remarkable. From this time +we see the marked growth of common sentiment, common manners, common +interest among the people, together with a love of peace and order. + +While the government at home was thus tearing down the old framework +of state, the Iwakura Embassy in foreign lands was gathering materials +for the new. This was significant, inasmuch as five of the best +statesmen of the time, with their staff of forty-four able men, came +into association for over a year with western peoples, and beheld in +operation their social, political and religious institutions. These +men became fully convinced that "the wealth, the power, and the +happiness of a people," as President Grant told them, "are advanced +by the encouragement of trade and commercial intercourse with other +powers, by the elevation and dignity of labor, by the practical +adaptation of science to the manufactures and the arts, by increased +facilities of frequent and rapid communication between different parts +of the country, by the encouragement of immigration, which brings with +it the varied habits and diverse genius and industry of other lands, +by a free press, by freedom of thought and of conscience, and a +liberal toleration in matters of religion."[1] + +The impressions and opinions of these men on the importance of a free +and liberal policy can be gleaned from the speeches they made during +the western tour, and some of their writings and utterances on other +occasions. + +The chief ambassador, Iwakura, in reply to a toast made to him in +England, said: "Having now become more intimately acquainted with her +(England's) many institutions, we have discovered that their success +is due to the _liberal_ and energetic spirit by which they are +animated."[2] + +Count Ito, the present President of the Privy Council, in his speech +at San Francisco, said: "While held in absolute obedience by despotic +sovereigns through many thousand years, our people knew no freedom +or liberty of thought. With our material improvement they learned to +understand their rightful privileges, which for ages have been denied +them."[3] + +Count Inouye, the ex-Minister of State for Agriculture and Commerce, +in his memorial to the government in 1873, said: "The people of +European and American countries are for the most part rich in +intelligence and knowledge, and they preserve the spirit of +independence. And owing to the nature of their polity they share in +the counsels of their government. Government and people thus mutually +aid and support each other, as hand and foot protect the head and eye. +The merits of each question that arises are distinctly comprehended +by the nation at home, and the government is merely its outward +representative. But our people are different. Accustomed for ages to +despotic rule, they have remained content with their prejudices and +ignorance. Their knowledge and intelligence are undeveloped and their +spirit is feeble. In every movement of their being they submit to the +will of the government, and have not the shadow of an idea of what 'a +right' is. If the government makes an order, the whole country obeys +it as one man. If the government takes a certain view, the whole +nation adopts it unanimously.... The people must be recalled to life, +and the Empire be made to comprehend with clearness that the objects +which the government has in view are widely different from those of +former times."[4] + +If the passages quoted illustrate statesmen's zeal to introduce +western civilization, and to educate the people gradually to political +freedom and privileges, their actions speak more eloquently than their +words. In order to crush that social evil, the class system, which +for ages had been a curse, the government declared all classes of men +equal before the law, delivered the _eta_--the class of outcasts--from +its position of contempt, abolished the marriage limitations existing +between different classes of society, prohibited the wearing of +swords, which was the peculiar privilege of the nobles and the +Samurai; while to facilitate means of communication and to open the +eyes of the people to the wonders of mechanical art, they incessantly +applied themselves to the construction of railroads, docks, +lighthouses, mining, iron, and copper factories, and to the +establishment of telegraphic and postal systems. They also codified +the laws, abolished the use of torture in obtaining testimony, +revoked the edict against Christianity, sanctioned the publication of +newspapers, established by the decree of 1875 the "Genro-in (a kind +of Senate) to enact laws for the Empire, and the Daishin-in to +consolidate the judicial authority of the courts,"[5] and called an +assembly of the prefects, which, however, held but one session in +Tokio. + +While the current of thought among the official circles was thus +flowing, there was also a stream, in the lower region of the social +life, soon to swell into a mighty river. Social inequality, that +barrier which prevents the flow of popular feeling, being already +levelled, merchants, agriculturists, tradesmen, artisans and laborers +were now set at liberty to assert their rights and to use their +talents. They were no longer debarred from places of high honor. + +The great colleges and schools, both public and private, which were +hitherto established and carried on exclusively for the benefit of the +nobles and the Samurai, were now open to all. And in this democracy +of letters, where there is no rank or honor but that of talent and +industry, a sentiment was fast growing that the son of a Daimio is not +necessarily wiser than the son of a peasant. + +Teachers of these institutions were not slow to infuse the spirit of +independence and liberty into their pupils and to instruct the people +in their natural and political rights. Mr. Fukuzawa, a schoolmaster, +an author, and a lecturer, the man who exercised an immense influence +in shaping the mind of young Japan, gave a deathblow to the old ideas +of despotic government, and of the blind obedience of the people, when +he declared that _government exists for the people and not the people +for the government_, that the government officials are the servants of +the people, and the people their employer. He also struck a heavy blow +at the arrogance and extreme love of military glory of the Samurai +class, with whom to die for the cause of his sovereign, whatever that +cause might be, was the highest act of patriotism, by advocating that +"Death is a democrat, and that the Samurai who died fighting for his +country, and the servant who was slain while caught stealing from his +master, were alike dead and useless." + +In a letter to one of his disciples, Mr. Fukuzawa said: "The liberty +of which I have spoken is of such great importance that everything +should be done to secure its blessings in the family and in the +nation, without any respect to persons. When every individual, every +family and every province shall obtain this liberty, then, and not +till then, can we expect to witness the true independence of the +nation; then the military, the farming, the mechanical, and mercantile +classes will not live in hostility to each other; then peace will +reign throughout the land, and all men will be respected according to +their conduct and real character."[6] + +The extent of the influence exercised with pen and tongue by these +teachers upon the nation showed that the reign of sword and brutal +force was over and the day of peace and reason had dawned. The +press has at last become a power. The increase during that period of +publications, both original and translations, and of newspapers, +both in their number and circulation, is marvellous. To give an +illustration, the number of newspapers transmitted in the mails +increased from 514,610 in the year 1873 to 2,629,648 in the year +1874--an increase of 411 per cent in one year--"a fact which speaks +volumes for the progress of civilization."[7] + +These newspapers were soon to become the organs of political parties +which were in the process of formation. The most prominent among these +political societies was the _Ri-shi-sha_, which finally developed +into the present Liberal party. At the head of this party was Count +Itagaki, a man of noble character and of marked ability, who had +rendered many useful services to the country in the time of the +Restoration and had for some years been a member of the cabinet, but +who in 1875 resigned his office and became "the man of the people." He +and his party contributed greatly to the development of constitutional +ideas. Whatever may be said as to the extreme radicalism and childish +freaks of the rude elements of this party, the presence of its sober +members, who sincerely longed to see the adoption of a constitutional +form of government and used only proper and peaceful means for the +furtherance of their aim, and boldly and frankly told what they deemed +the defects of the government; the presence of such a party in the +country, whose masses knew nothing but slavish obedience to every +act of the government, was certainly a source of great benefit to the +nation at large. + +In 1873, Count Itagaki with his friends had sent in a memorial to the +government praying for the establishment of a representative assembly, +but they had not been heeded by the government. In July, 1877, Count +Itagaki with his Ri-shi-sha again addressed a memorial to the Emperor, +"praying for a change in the form of government, and setting forth the +reasons which, in the opinion of the members of the society, rendered +such a change necessary." + +These reasons were nine in number and were developed at great length. +Eight of them formed a direct impeachment of the present government, +and the ninth was a reminder that the solemn promise of 1868 had never +been fulfilled. "Nothing," they conclude, "could more tend to the +well-being of the country than for your Majesty to put an end to all +despotic and oppressive measures, and to consult public opinion in +the conduct of the government. To this end a representative +assembly should be established, so that the government may become +constitutional in form. The people would then become more interested +and zealous in looking after the affairs of the country; public +opinion would find expression, and despotism and confusion cease. The +nation would advance in civilization; wealth would accumulate in the +country; troubles from within and contempt from without would cease, +and the happiness of your Imperial Majesty and of your Majesty's +subjects would be secured." + +But again the government heeded not, its attention at the time being +fully occupied with the suppression of the Satsuma Rebellion. The +civil war being ended, in 1878, the year which marked a decade from +the establishment of the new regime, the government, persuaded that +the time for popular institutions was fast approaching, not alone +through representations of the Tosa memorialists, but through many +other signs of the times, decided to take a step in the direction of +establishing a national assembly. But the government acted cautiously. +Thinking that to bring together hundreds of members unaccustomed to +parliamentary debate and its excitement, and to allow them a hand in +the administration of affairs of the state, might be attended with +serious dangers, as a preparation for the national assembly the +government established first local assemblies. Certainly this was a +wise course. + +These local assemblies have not only been good training schools for +popular government, but also proved reasonably successful. They hold +their sessions every year, in the month of March, in their respective +electoral districts, and there discuss all questions of local +taxation. They may also petition the central government on other +matters of local interest. The members must be males of the full age +of twenty-five years, who have been resident for three years in the +district and pay the sum of $10 as a land tax within their district. +The qualifications for electors (males only) are: an age of twenty +years, registration, and payment of a land tax of $5. Voting is by +ballot, but the names of the voters are to be written by themselves on +the voting papers. There are now 2172 members who sit in these local +assemblies, and it was from the more experienced members of +these assemblies that the majority of the members of the House of +Representatives of the Imperial Diet, convened for the first time last +year, were chosen. + +The gulf between absolute government and popular government was thus +widened more and more by the institution of local government. The +popular tide raised by these local assemblies was swelling in volume +year by year. New waves were set in motion by the younger generation +of thinkers. Toward the close of the year 1881 the flood rose so high +that the government thought it wise not to resist longer. His Imperial +Majesty hearing the petitions of the people, graciously confirmed and +expanded his promise of 1868 by the famous proclamation of October 12, +1881: + +"We have long had it in view to gradually establish a constitutional +form of government.... It was with this object in view that in the +eighth year of Meiji (1875) we established the Senate, and in the +eleventh year of Meiji (1878) authorized the formation of local +assemblies.... We therefore hereby declare that we shall, in the +twenty-third year of Meiji (1890) establish a parliament, in order +to carry into full effect the determination we have announced; and we +charge our faithful subjects bearing our commissions to make, in the +meantime, all necessary preparations to that end." + + +[Footnote 1: C. Lanman, The Japanese in America, p. 38.] + +[Footnote 2: Mossman's New Japan, p. 442.] + +[Footnote 3: C. Lanman, The Japanese in America, p. 14.] + +[Footnote 4: The translation of the whole memorial is given in C. +Lanman's Leading Men of Japan, p. 87.] + +[Footnote 5: The Imperial decree of 1875.] + +[Footnote 6: The translation given in C. Lanman, Leading Men of Japan. +p. 47.] + +[Footnote 7: See the Appendix of Griffis' The Mikado's Empire.] + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF +JAPAN 1863-1881*** + + +******* This file should be named 12355.txt or 12355.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/3/5/12355 + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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