300 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



became effete. The business of what we may call the clan would thus 

 fall into the hands of any clever man or set of men of the lower ranks, 

 who, joining ability to daring and unscrupulousness, kept the princes 

 and the Jcaros out of sight, but surrounded with empty dignity, and, 

 commanding the opinion of the bulk of the samarai or military class, 

 wielded the real power themselves. They took care, however, to perform 

 every act in the name of the faineants, their lords, and thus we hear 

 of ... daimios, just as in the case of the Emperors, accomplishing 

 deeds ... of which they were perhaps wholly ignorant.&quot; 



This lapsing of political power into the hands of ministers 

 was, in the case of the central government, doubly illustrated. 

 Successors as they were of a god-descended conqueror whose 

 rule was real, the Japanese Emperors gradually became only 

 nominal rulers ; partly because of the sacredness which sepa 

 rated them from the nation, and partly because of the early 

 age at which the law of succession frequently enthroned 

 them. Their deputies consequently gained predominance. 

 The regency in the ninth century &quot; became hereditary in the 

 Eujiwara [sprung from the imperial house], and these regents 

 ultimately became all-powerful. They obtained the privilege 

 of opening all petitions addressed to the sovereign, and of pre 

 senting or rejecting them at their pleasure/ And then, in 

 course of time, this usurping agency had its own authority 

 usurped in like manner. Again succession by fixed rule was 

 rigorously adhered to; and again seclusion entailed loss of 

 hold on affairs. &quot; High descent was the only qualification for 

 office, and unfitness for functions was not regarded in the 

 choice of officials.&quot; Besides the Shogun s four confidential 

 officers, &quot; no one else could approach him. Whatever might 

 be the crimes committed at Kama Koura, it was impossible, 

 through the intrigues of these favourites, to complain of 

 them to the Seogoun.&quot; The result was that &quot; subsequently 

 this family . . . gave way to military commanders, who,&quot; 

 however, often became the instruments of other chiefs. 



Though less definitely, this process was exemplified during 

 early times in Europe. The Merovingian kings, to whom there 

 clung a tradition of supernatural origin, and whose order of 



