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EAST ASIA.
Simono-seki, and exacted a war indemnity, followed soon after by an extension of
their privileges. But although all their demands had to be granted, the Shogun,
looked upon as responsible for these humiliations, was compelled to abdicate. After
a vain attempt at resistance, he was deprived of all his functions, and the Mikado
re-entered into the full possession of the supreme power. The daimios themselves
petitioned for the abolition of their privileges, and one of them intrigued for the
honour of razing his castle and converting the site into arable land. The feudal
system was abolished, together with all class distinctions ; the right of receiving
instruction was granted to every citizen; marriages were permitted between all
social ranks, and plebeians were even admitted to the administration.
(hei-mui)
The
despised Etas were placed on a footing of equality with all other subjects, and the
Samurai were obliged to lay aside the two swords by which they had hitherto been
distinguished from the populace. Nevertheless the official census still recognises
the aristocratic or plebeian origin of the people.* In order to indicate that the
accomplished changes were irrevocable, and that the new era of the Meidzi, or
" Enlightened Law," was definitely established, the Mikado removed his residence
from the sacred city of Kioto to the much larger city of Yedo, in the very heart of
the radical circles of New Japan. The last insurrection he had to put down was
that of the crews of the imperial navy, who had seized Hakodate and set up an
independent republic in that place,
America.
on the model of the United States of North
In 1869, just one year after the revolution had swept away all the rival powers
of the imperial authority, the Mikado himself paid homage to the hitherto unheard-
of power of public opinion. In language that had never yet been uttered in Japan,
he solemnly promised in presence of his ministers that a deliberative assembly
should be summoned to discuss the organic laws, that justice for all alike would
henceforth be his guiding principle, and that he would on all occasions have recourse
to men of sterling worth and intelligence. These promises, sworn " in the name of
the ancestral shades," have not yet been entirely fulfilled, and Japan still awaits the
convocation of its constituent assembly. The envoys sent to Europe, in order to
study the popular forms of government, reported in favour of the system calculated
to insure for themselves the greatest amount of personal influence, and the State
has consequently reserved its absolute forms. The press, not even excepting that
conducted by foreigners, is regulated by extremely severe laws, which have been
aggravated since 1878, and which permit the approval but not the free discussion
of imperial measures. Public meetings are not authorised, and the continual watch-
fulness of the " head of the village," combined with an organised system of
espionage, still remains the chief instrument of government.
*
Japanese nobles in 1875 :
The Mikado's Family .... 31 persons.
Kughe and Daimios 2,829
Samurai 1,584,568
Sotsu Samurai 343,881
Jisi Samurai 3,330