JAPAN. 



365 



Leipsic. He had published a " Study upon the 

 Paulus of Mendelssohn," at Kiel, in 1842 ; a crit- 

 ical edition of Beethoven's Fidelia at Leipsic, 

 in 1851 ; and a remarkable biographical and 

 critical memoir of Mozart, in two volumes, at 

 Leipsic, in 1856. He was an active member of 

 the Academy of Sciences of Leipsic, and a fre- 

 quent contributor to its Transactions. The 

 popular work on " Biblical Archaeology," 

 which has been attributed to him, was written 

 by Johann Jahn, a Catholic archaeologist and 

 professor at Vienna, before the birth of Otho 

 Jahn. The Viennese professor died in 1816. 



JAPAN, an empire in Eastern Asia. The 

 area is estimated at 150,000 square miles; the 

 population variously at from 18,000,000 to 

 35,000,000. The conflict between the Mikado 

 and Tycoon, in 1867 and 1868, resulted in the 

 resumption of the administration of the empire 

 by the Mikado, and in the total abolition of 

 the Tycoonate. The following foreign powers 

 were, at the close of 1869, represented in Japan 

 by diplomatic agents : United States of America 

 (Robert B. Van Valkenburgh, minister), Belgi- 

 um, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Italy, 

 Netherlands, North-German Confederation, 

 Austria, Portugal, Eussia, and Switzerland. 



The movement of commerce and of shipping, 

 at the principal ports open to foreign nations, 

 was, in 1868, as follows : 



In February, 1860, the Japanese admiral, 

 Ennemato, a supporter of the Tycoon, took 

 possession of the entire island of Yesso. He 

 celebrated the event by firing a salute of a 

 hundred and one guns from the fleet and bat- 

 teries ashore. He notified all the consuls of 

 the formation of a provisional government, 

 and of the appointment of the necessary per- 

 manent officers in the principal departments. 

 His forces were rapidly increasing. He strong- 

 ly fortified his position near Volcano Bay, with 

 the intention of fighting, unless the Mikado 

 complied with the demands of the exiled clans, 

 which were, to allow them to retain the island 

 of Yesso, and to be ruled over by the Ty- 

 coon. In March the northern daimios took 

 the important island of Sado, on the western 

 coast of Niphon. Three of Ennemato's ves- 

 sels attempted to capture the Government's 

 steamer, Stonewall, but without success, one 

 of his vessels being beached and burned. But 

 the Mikado gained ground, and several of the 

 leading daimios, in April, surrendered to him 

 their territories and sovereign rights and privi- 

 leges, with a view to centralizing and strength- 

 ening the Government for the general good. 

 The Mikado left Kioto for Yeddo, where a great 

 congress of the daimios of the empire was to 

 assemble by his command. He arrived there 



on May 8th. On the 18th a Parliament was 

 convoked by the following proclamation: 



Since the establishment of the Mikado's authority, 

 old prejudices and customs have been done away with 

 (literally, washed away), and a channel of communica- 

 tion has been opened up through all classes in the 

 empire, from the highest to the lowest. No impedi- 

 ment whatsoever exists. Several persons, who have 

 diligently served their country and without the least 

 hesitation (literally, dread) have assisted the Gov- 

 ernment with their advice, have been gradually se- 

 lected for the discharge of official duties. Neverthe- 

 less, the Government have not "been able to put all 

 their plans into execution. It is thought that a suf- 

 ficiently wide circulation has not been given to the 

 imperial wishes, and that there are still men of sound 

 judgment who should be selected. This has caused 

 the imperial mind much concern, and therefore it is 

 intended to open a People's House of Kepresentatives 

 in Yeddo Castle, in which men of sound judgment, 

 no matter how low their rank may be, can at once 

 offer what advice they think best. His Majesty will 

 afterward communicate through their chief (or presi- 

 dent) the imperial will concerning the views of each. 



The number of deputies was 227. When 

 they had assembled, the president rose and 

 read the following message from the Emperor, 

 all in the House prostrating themselves during 

 its reading : 



Whereas, we propose shortly to proceed to our east- 

 ern capital, there to assemble around us our Kuges, 

 Daimios, and the members of the various adminis- 

 trative departments, in order to consult them upon 

 the foundation of the new constitution of this country : 

 this shall be framed so as to insure safety and peace. 

 Let every one at the present moment remember that 

 the constitution and laws must be the foundation of 

 government, and, as millions of people are ruled by 

 them, let them not be framed inconsiderately or with- 

 out mature deliberation. Our officers having reported 

 to us the completion of the rules for the establish- 

 ment of a public council, we desire that it shall be 

 opened without delay. 



Then may we hope that the deliberations will be 

 productive of useful and clear decisions. Let the 

 fundamental laws of our ancestors serve as a guide, 



and apply them to the character of men and the spirit 

 of the times. Let the different subjects be succes- 

 sively treated according to their importance, and, 

 finally, let the results of your debates be reported to 

 us, when we will determine upon those that merit 

 our approval. 



After the reading of the message, the House 

 proceeded to business. 



The following scheme for the rules and regu- 

 lations of the Parliament present an extraor- 

 dinary example of reform in government : 



The settlement of the laws of the Assembly is the 

 most important duty. Any point not included in 

 these laws must be left to the decision of the Presi- 

 dent ; the Assembly cannot charge itself with (pro- 

 viding against) unforeseen and extraordinary cases. 



1. The period for which the members of Parlia- 

 ment will serve is limited to four years. Half the 

 members will be reelected every two years. Eetiring 

 members may be immediately reelected. New mem- 

 bers will enjoy the same privileges and rank with 

 old members. When the time arrives for the first 

 reelection, half the members will retire by lot. 



2. Members of Parliament must have completed 

 their twenty-fifth year. 



3. Members of Parliament may not hold any other 

 office. 



