By the kindness of Sir Henry Parkes, K. C. B., her Britannic Majesty’s
representative, I am enabled also to inclose (No. 2) copy translation of
a document forwarded to him by the minister for foreign affairs, giving
the latest information we have as yet received from Kioto.
Excitement still prevails to some extent in this city, and the entire
country. The government seems to be in a lethargic state; robberies [Page 607] and murders among the Japanese
are occurring every day and night. Armed bands of discharged soldiers
enter merchants’ houses and rob the inmates, murdering them when
opposition is shown, and the government seems to be unable or unwilling
to prevent them.
I intend leaving Yokohama on the 21st instant, in the Shenandoah, for
Osaka and Hiogo, to be present at the opening of those places. All of my
colleagues now in Japan, viz, the representatives of France, Great
Britain, Holland, and Prussia, have informed me of their intention of
being present at the same time. I trust my action in this matter will
meet with approval.
[Translation.]
In consequence of the important decision, made by our Tycoon of
Japan, of surrendering to the Mikado the governmental power which
has descended from the ancestor of the Tycoon to this day for more
than two hundred and fifty years, we want to relate the real
circumstances to all the treaty powers, in order to prevent any
current story or rumor from spreading and agitating people in the
moment of this great change in the condition of the country.
When we want to describe thoroughly the situation of affairs at the
present time, it cannot he perfectly clear unless we briefly relate
the past events. Therefore we go back, and relate more than two
hundred years ago, in the dark period, the descendants of Tenshin,
the ancestor of the country, held the governmental power. We call
them by the title of Mikado. After years, the management of state
affairs failed in the hands of the Mikados, and then the
governmental power devolved upon the Foogiwara family, the ministers
at the court.
Though nobles at the court were charged with the civil and military
service, they were too vain and weak to wear armor and hold weapons
for overcoming rebellion; and when they met with any trouble in the
country they entirely relied on the family of the military class, as
though they were tusks and nails for them. Under these
circumstances, it could not be helped that the orders of the
government were issued by many. The principal ones among the family
of the military class were the Menamo and Taira families. All the
families of the military class in the eastern half part of Japan
belonged to Menamoto, and Taira ruled those who lived in the western
part.
The disturbance in the years of Hogan and Haygi was caused by the
imperial princes having struggled with each other in obtaining the
throne, each having engaged one of those two families to his cause.
After the ruin of Menamoto’s family, Taira was in a prosperous state
for twenty years, and about this time the power entirely fell into
the hands of the families of the military class.
On account of the tyranny of Taira, which was more severe than it had
been in the time of the Foogiwara family, the Mikado overthrew
Taira, having engaged as allies the descendants of Menamoto. The
Mikado intrusted the management of the military affairs of the whole
country to the families of the military class on account of
Menamoto’s having revenged him upon his forefathers’ enemy and
protected the court. This was about in the era of 1200 in Europe. He
is the first Shiogoon, (commander in chief,) and from whom the line
has descended to the Tokoogawa family, which should succeed the
office of the Tycoon forever.
Such was the state for about four hundred years; and during that
time, though peace and war took place by turns, persons who were
charged with the duty of Shiogoon always performed the service of
protecting the Mikado in overcoming rebels and preserving the people
only, owing to their having had the military power and loyal
hearts.
There was at times a little peace. Still the whole country was far
from the state of perfect tranquillity, as the orders of the
government were not issued by one body, and every person exercised a
kind of independence, and there was no time of laying down arms, and
the people cruelly suffered. For several hundred years no one knew
the existence of the supreme master, (Mikado.)
Toashiogoo, the ancestor of our Tycoon, having possessed the great
endowment of nobleness and ability, took the pain, of exposing
himself to battle-fields, and tranquillized the great commotion, and
brought perfect peace to the country, and gave easiness to the
Mikado, and erected his palace, and greatly added to his property.
It is owing [Page 608] to his great
service and exertion that the court have lived safe and comfortable
to this day. The Mikado admired his great service, and invested him
with the governmental power, and set the example to his successors,
which has been followed, of the Mikados not taking any share in
state affairs. Consequently the power of Toashiogoo daily became
more brilliant and splendid, and which no one had ever exhibited
among the preceding Shaogoons. He assembled all Daimios at Yedo, and
established the foundation of the government. None of the Daimios
who assembled on this occasion disregarded the established
regulations, and every one built house in Yedo, and all agreed to
stay there for certain days every or every other year. This has
become the everlasting regulation.
There had been no one to be compared to Toashiogoo in tranquillizing
the national disturbance, and he was so successful that an end was
put to the great commotion which had lasted for several hundred
years in our Japan, and the foundation of peaec and happiness for
more than two hundred and fifty years was laid, and since his time
none of the Daimios have planned any unlawful design. Then it is no
wonder that the governmental power has been attributed to him, and
has descended to his successors.
After years, the state of the world was gradually changed, and the
American vessels suddenly entered in the Bay of Yedo. It then became
necessary to throw off the rules of closing the country and change
the long-accustomed usage. We resolved to conclude the treaty, as we
not only knew that it was an unwise act to cause war without any
reasonable pretension against the Europeans, whose arms and arts of
war, in this time, were far superior to those of our people, who had
been accustomed to peace for more than two hundred years, but we
understood that there was no possibility of an island on the Eastern
Ocean to exist, if she made all countries her enemies in a time when
the state of the world had been so much changed that the most
distant countries became as neighbors, and that there was no right
to refuse to open intercourse with the nations of the world.
As this was the commencement of new affairs, which might become of
very important consequences to the country in future time, and of
which the people were little aware, the government should have
thoroughly discussed the matter until a final decision had been
arrived at, and had caused the people fully to understand the
matter, so as the doubts could not have existed; but having
refrained to do so now gives us a great regret.
At the time when the treaty was first made, we were incautious enough
to have thought that if we kept our people from close relations with
the foreigners, no misunderstanding would occur in their
intercourse, and there might be a time when the obstinate argument
for closing the country would be gradually effaced, and the people
would naturally become accustomed to the new order of things. But
our mistake has turned to our disadvantage, and has been made use of
by wicked people, and has become the cause of the unfriendly
feelings which have risen on both sides. The largest Daimios took
advantage of this circumstance to carry out the plan of depriving
the Tycoon of power by betraying every movement of the Yedo
government to the court of Mikado, and deceiving it with crafty and
artful words.
We cannot bear to point out the several causes by which the
governmental power of our late master was weakened and confused, we
being, his servants; and it is useless to do so; we would not
describe them here. Though it cannot be said that our government has
acted with propriety, yet its design was to put down gradually those
who hate and dislike foreigners and were in favor of the continued
closing of the country, and also to fulfill the treaties which had
been made with the foreign powers. It, however, cannot be assured
whether the treaty would have been kept had it not been for the
inauguration of the present Tycoon, who possessed the endowment of
great intelligence and ability, and for whom it would not have been
difficult to restore the work of Toashiogoo. The present Tycoon from
early times had believed that it was necessary, in the good
management of state affairs, that all orders of the government
should be issued at one place. From the beginning of his succession
he remained at Meyako for a long time; and having found so many
defects in the management of the state affairs, declined for some
time to accept the office.
But when the circumstances became difficult in the extreme, it became
necessary for him to accept it, as he thought, the maintenance of
the reputation of Japan, and to carry out everything according to
the treaties, as many things had not then been done as the treaties
stipulated.
He received the ministers of all the treaty powers at the castle in
Osaka, and there showed his cordiality, friendly feeling, and
hospitality, and has faithfully kept the covenant to carry out the
treaties and fulfilled all promises. This naturally the duty of the
Tycoon, but is also proof of his having not lost sight of right and
justice even to the thickness of a hair, although surrounded by a
hundred difficulties.
After having carried out the treaties and kept to truth, so that he
had nothing to be ashamed of in matters abroad, he at once called
back his attention to the interior affairs for the purpose of
ascertaining whether they were properly progressing.
Hitherto the inclination of the public has been left to produce
natural change as [Page 609] time
passed on; but now so much change has taken place in the condition
of the country, the constitution which was considered excellent for
more than a hundred years now has become unserviceable for the
present time. In a time when the state of the world is rapidly
changing, for us to do nothing but remain in our old custom is
little else than to ruin our country. We often talked of
establishing this new mode, but the final conclusion for such a
great change was to be made only by the decision of the present
Tycoon. His opinion is, as we conjecture, that to strengthen the
power of the government it is necessary to cause all the orders to
be issued at only one place, and that the place to which the public
feeling inclines. This is the case with the government of all
countries, but such has never been found in our country. Therefore,
if we do not now establish that constitution we will be unable to
find complete tranquillity.
Every one in public council should listen to what is necessary first
to be done in our present condition, and should understand the cause
which gives rise to the calamity of the country, and should meet the
movement with patriotic and devoted heart. Surrendering to Shinkoo
(probably means the palace of the Mikado) the power which descended
from his ancestors, with a request to the Mikado to assemble the
large families in the country in order to discuss its present
condition, and the means of establishing the constitution of the
government, and the growing happiness and independent power of the
country. Such is his zeal for his country.
The foregoing is the accurate account of the present condition.
We hope that you will not trouble your mind as to the relations
between Japan and the foreign powers. They shall be safely kept as
before, without the slightest difficulty. Since, notwithstanding the
many difficulties to preserve friendship with the foreign countries,
we shall practice what is right, and it is therefore evident that
our future work will be successful.
The Tycoon has the reputation of having performed all that is
stipulated in the treaties and fulfilled all the promise; therefore,
when the state of foreign countries shall be explained in the
council held by Daimios and Shiomios, who will assemble according to
the summons, no one will disagree to his first judgment.
We heartily wish that the foreign governments, regarding the
friendship which has always existed, will give us their sympathy in
the cause for which we unite our hearts and strength.
The reason why thus we ask the assistance of the foreign countries is
that we want to see soon the effect of the effort of your country,
by which ours may be brought up to a prosperous state, as to see the
shadow of an object by which it is cast and to hear the echo of
voice.
These we relate to you concerning the circumstances of the events
which have hitherto taken place, and we will inform you further as
soon as we hear from Miyako, as we already stated to you in the
letter.
