V. Period of Internal Development (1879-1889). CHRONOLOGY. 1879. Annexation of the Loo Choo Islands. Visit of General U. S. Grant. 1880. Promulgation of Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. Establishment of prefectural assemblies. 1881. Announcement of Constitutional Government. 1883. Missionary Conference, Osaka. 1884. New orders of nobility in European fashion. English introduced into school curricula. 1885. Japan Mail Steamship Company (Nippon Yūsen Kwaisha). Cabinet reconstruction, known as "The Great 1886. Dissatisfaction of Radicals. 1888. Establishment of Privy Council. Eruption of Mount Bandai. 1889. Promulgation of the Constitution (February 11). Establishment of local self-government. Prince Haru proclaimed Crown Prince. This period is not marked, perhaps, by so many unusual events as the preceding one; but it was a period of rapid, though somewhat quiet, internal development. We note in financial affairs the organization of the Bank of Japan, which has ever since been a most important agent in maintaining an economic equilibrium; in business circles the organization of the Japan Mail Steamship Company, which has been instrumental in expanding Japanese trade and commerce; in society the reorganization of the nobility; and in legal matters the promulgation of new codes. Several political events are noted in the chronology; but they were mostly preparatory to the next period. The promise to establish prefectural assemblies was fulfilled, and these became preparatory schools in political science; and another promise, that of a constitution, was made. The Cabinet was reconstructed, and political parties were organized. The Radicals, however, became dissatisfied with the slowness of political progress, and made such an agitation that, in 1887, many were expelled from Tōkyō by the so-called "Peace Preservation Act," and those who refused to obey were imprisoned. But finally, in 1889, as the climax of the internal development and political preparations, came the establishment of local self-government and the promulgation of the Constitution, which ushered in the next period. VI. Period of Constitutional Government (1889-1900). CHRONOLOGY. 1889. Anti-foreign reaction. 1890. First National Election. First Imperial Diet. Promulgation of Civil and Commercial Codes. 1891. Attack on the Czarowitz, now Emperor of Russia. Gifu earthquake. 1892. Dispute between the two Houses of Diet. 1893. Dispute between the Diet and the Government. 1894. War with China. 1895. War with China. Acquisition of Formosa. 1896. Alliance between the Government and Liberals. Tidal wave on northeastern coast of main island. 1897. Revised tariff. Gold standard. Freedom of press and public meeting. 1898. Revised Civil Code. First "Party Cabinet." 1899. New treaties on terms of equality-Japan wide open. Wedding of Crown Prince Haru. 1900. Extension of electoral franchise. War with China-Japan allied with Christendom. This period included wars and other calamities, but also some very fortunate events. It opened, strange to say, with the "anti-foreign reaction" at its height. This reaction was the natural result of the rapid Occidentalizing that had been going on, and was strengthened by the refusal of Western nations to revise the treaties which kept Japan in thraldom. But the period closed with "treaty revision" accomplished, and Japan admitted, on terms of equality, to alliance with Western nations.1 And in quelling the "Boxer" disturbances in China and particularly in raising the Siege of Peking, Japan played a most important part. This period was chiefly occupied with the experimental stage in constitutional government, when the relations between the two Houses of the Diet, between the Diet and the Cabinet, between the Cabinet and political parties, were being 1 See Appendix for New Treaty. defined. This was also the period during which new civil, commercial, and criminal codes were put into operation; the gold standard was adopted; the restrictions on the freedom of the press and of public meeting were almost entirely removed; the tariff was revised in the interests of Japan; and the electoral franchise in elections for members of the House of Representatives was largely extended. It has already been suggested that the very order of these periods indicates in general the progress of Japan during those hundred years. The century dawns, nay, even the second half of the century opens, with Japan in seclusion. But Commodore Perry breaks down that isolation; and Japan enters, first merely into amity, but afterwards into commercial intercourse, with foreign nations. The break up of the old foreign policy accelerates the break up of the old national policy of government, and civil commotions culminate in the restoration of the Emperor to his lawful authority. Japan is then reconstructed on new lines; and a tremendous internal development prepares the Japanese to be admitted by their generous Emperor into a share of his inherited prerogatives. And the century sets with Japan among the great nations of Christendom, and with the Japanese enjoying a constitutional government, representative institutions, local self-government, freedom of the press and of public meeting, and religious liberty. If this is the record of Nineteenth Century Japan, what of Twentieth Century Japan? It certainly has a good start, in formal alliance with Great Britain to maintain peace and justice in the Far East. BIBLIOGRAPHY. The same as the preceding chapter, with the addition of "The Intercourse between the United States and Japan " (Nitobe); "Matthew Calbraith Perry," "Townsend Harris," and "Verbeck of Japan" (all by Griffis); "Advance Japan" (Morris); and Perry's Expedition (official report). On the early history of New Japan there are many valuable works by Alcock, Black, Dickson, Dixon (W. G.), House, Lanman, Mounsey, Mossman, and others. See also Satow's translation of "Kinse Shiriaku." On the war with China (1894, 1895), see "Heroic Japan" (Eastlake and Yamada); and on the lessons and results of that war, see "The New Far East" (Diosy). |