530 



JAPAN. 



JEWS. 



Loochoo. "When, eleven years ago, the feudal 

 system was swept away in Japan, and all the 

 domains of the l)aimios were absorbed in the 

 empire, the so-called King of the Loochoo Isl- 

 ands became simply an ordinary subject of the 

 Japanese Gavernment, like all the other local 

 princes who were then mediatized ; but he re- 

 ceived from the Mikado a title of consolation, 

 which placed him foremost among the nobility 

 of the land. The political sovereignty of Japan 

 was regularly applied to his country, though a 

 certain local autonomy was still left to it on 

 administrative questions. A proof of the ap- 

 plication of the sovereignty of Japan to the isl- 

 ands was given in 1874, when the Mikado sent 

 a force to Formosa to avenge the murder of 

 eome shipwrecked Loochooans, nearly involv- 

 ing Japan in a war with China, which claimed 

 to be the suzerain of Loochoo ; but China finally 

 recognized the right of the Mikado to protect 

 his Loochooan subjects, and paid an indemnity. 

 As China had never abandoned her claims to 

 the islands, the Chinese Ambassador in Tokio 

 has protested against the annexation. 



Early in the year the Mikado issued the fol- 

 lowing decree on the subject of economy : 



Order and economy in all things form the basis of 

 all good government. It is essential to avoid unneces- 

 sary expense, and, to ameliorate the conditions of ex- 

 istence of the people by all practicable means, every 

 one must conscientiously and strictly do his duty. I 

 desire that henceforth the greatest possible economy 

 be enforced in the construction of the ministries and 

 other public buildings. The prefects of the different 

 fus and kens of the empire will all of them, so far as 

 they are concerned, act in strict accordance with the 

 spirit which leads me to issue this decree. They will 

 seek to reduce expenses as much as possible, so as not 

 to exceed the credits allowed to them by the budget. 

 Above all things, they will constantly bear in mind 

 that they are not to impoverish the people. 



The following notification from the Minister 

 of the Imperial Household, published in the 

 Yokohama papers in March, shows how prac- 

 tically the Mikado is applying his decree to his 

 own house : 



Of his gracious will, his Majesty the Mikado has 

 notified the necessity of practicing the greatest econo- 

 my. It is therefore ordered by his Majesty that the 

 expenses of food and all other household matters must 

 be reduced. 



Considerable excitement was produced in 

 July in consequence of the British Minister's 

 interference with the Japanese quarantine reg- 

 ulations. As cholera prevailed in the southern 

 parts of the empire, a strict quarantine was 

 ordered for Yokohama. The United States 

 Minister issued immediate instructions for the 

 compliance of Americans with the quarantine 

 regulations. The British Minister denied the 

 right of the Japanese Government on account 

 of extra-territorial jurisdiction, and declared 

 that any English ship should break quarantine 

 and be protected in doing so by British men- 

 of-war. Owing to indignant remonstrances 

 from influential quarters, especially from Gov- 

 ernor Hennessy of Hong-Kong, who was at 

 that time visiting Japan, the British Minister 



modified his attitude and consented to cooper- 

 ate with the Japanese Government ; but he 

 still asserted his right to break quarantine at 

 that place. The German Minister supported 

 the British Minister. All the other diplomatic 

 representatives were indifferent, except the 

 Kussian Minister, who sided with the United 

 States Minister. 



General Grant arrived at Nagasaki June 21st. 

 By imperial decree his reception was to be in 

 all respects identical with what would be ac- 

 corded the reigning monarch of any European 

 country. On his arrival at Nagasaki he re- 

 ceived an address of welcome by a committee 

 of thirteen, chosen to represent all alien nation- 

 alities there. 



JEWS. The sixth Council of the Union of 

 American Hebrew Congregations was held in 

 New York, beginning July 8th. More than 

 two hundred delegates were present, repre- 

 senting twenty-five States. Mr. William B. 

 Hackenburgh of Philadelphia was chosen Pres- 

 ident. The report of the Executive Board 

 represented that the feeling in favor of a 

 union of the Hebrew people had grown, and 

 recommended for the consideration of the 

 Council the topics of a stricter observance of 

 the Sabbath, the establishment of a young la- 

 dies' seminary, the encouragement of agricul- 

 tural pursuits, and further legislation respect- 

 ing civil and religious rights. The Board, to 

 whom the subject had been referred at the 

 previous meeting of the Council, had decided 

 that it was inexpedient for the present to in- 

 troduce the system of circuit preaching; but, 

 as the decision had been unfavorably com- 

 mented upon by the small communities which 

 felt the want of Sabbath-schools and able ser- 

 mons, the subject was again recommended to 

 consideration. A report was adopted favoring 

 the erection of a new building for the Hebrew 

 College in Cincinnati. A clause opposing the 

 opening of a branch of the college in New 

 York was objected to, and was referred back 

 for modification. A report on the observance 

 of the Sabbath was adopted, to the effect that 

 " the religious welfare of the Jewish commu- 

 nity depends greatly on the preservation of the 

 Sabbath. It is necessary for us, as for all re- 

 ligious bodies, to have certain ideas in com- 

 mon, and to have certain outward symbols to 

 express them. The means for obtaining a bet- 

 ter observance of the Sabbath are, however, 

 not within the reach of the Council. Persua- 

 sion, example, and education alone can pro- 

 duce a proper sentiment on the subject; no 

 legislation by us can influence the matter." 

 Some of the speakers on this report desired to 

 have a specific mention made of the seventh 

 day as the Sabbath that was intended; but 

 their views did not prevail, a general agree- 

 ment being manifest that no other day could 

 he regarded as the Jewish Sabbath. A report 

 on circuit preaching recommended the prac- 

 tice, and gave the names of a number of min- 

 isters who had volunteered to engage in that 



