672 THE JAPANESE NATION. 



and soul of their order, yet on a single day it was finally and silently 

 laid aside, and the old order passed away forever. The best skill of 

 the artisan had been lavished on the manufacture and ornamentation 

 of this weapon, at once the terror and safeguard of society. It i.s said 

 that the politeness of the Japanese is largely due to the wearing of 

 this weapon, for the sword once drawn could not be sheathed without 

 the shedding of blood. When subsequently the law was repealed and 

 the wearing of swords permitted, the Samauri did not resume them, 

 for they had ceased to be a symbol of rank. 



GOVERNMENT. 



In 1889, the Emperor perceived that further changes in the Govern- 

 ment were required, and in fulfillment of a promise made several years 

 before gave a written constitution to his people, limiting his own pow- 

 ers and establishing a parliament, with a representative form of gov- 

 ernment. Parliament was inaugurated by a procession, in which the 

 Emperor and Empress appeared together for the first time in public 

 and as equals. Under the old regime, no subject saw the Mikado, 

 except his wives and chief minister, for the people had been taught 

 that no one could see the face of the Mikado and live, while the Queen 

 was treated as his inferior. 



The reorganization of the Government, the compensation to the Dai- 

 mios and Samauri, and other expenses in making these changes, cre- 

 ated a large debt, for which bonds were issued. Nearly all these were 

 taken and held in Japan. The total amount of debt January 1, 1894, 

 was $286,326,000, exclusive of war debt ; interest, 5 per cent. The debt 

 had been reduced $42,400,000 in eight years prior to 1894. The paper 

 money, formerly at a heavy discount, has been greatly reduced, and 

 is now redeemed at par in silver. The finances at the opening of the 

 war were on a better basis than in most of the countries of Europe. 

 Taxes, formerly unknown to the people, were imposed, and increased 

 from time to time, by the Government. This occasioned much dissat- 

 isfaction, but when the war broke out opposition to the Government 

 was changed to patriotic feeling, and all classes joined in support of 

 the Emperor. 



ROADS. 



Another cause which has contributed very greatly to the making of 

 Japan into a nation is its good roads, which have been for a long time 

 better than in most other countries. One of the main roads of tbe 

 Empire is called the Tokaido, or East Shore road, running from Kioto 

 to Tokyo, about 300 miles. Along this road are fifty-six stations, or 

 posthouses. All their large cities are connected by wide roads, with 

 sidewalks and trees on either side, kept in repair by the General Gov- 

 ernment, with tea houses at convenient distances. Provincial roads 

 connect the principal towns in each province, country roads the small 

 towns; these are maintained, respectively, by the provinces and towns. 



