JAPAN.
Constitution and Government.
The system of government of the Japanese empire is that of an absolute monarchy. It was adopted in the year 1869, when the now ruling sovereign' overthrew, after a short war, the power of the formerly independent Daimios, or feudal nobles, reducing them to the position of simple tenants of the vast estates in their hereditary posses- sions. The sovereign bears the name of Supreme Lord, or Emperor; but the appella- tion by which he is generally known in foreign countries is the ancient title of Mikado, or "The Venerable.'
Mikado of Japan. Mutsuhito, born at Yedo, September 22nd, 1852; succeeded his father, Komei Tenno, 1867; married December 28th, 1868, to Princess Haru-ko, born April 17th, 1850, daughter of Prince Itchidgo.
The power of the Mikado is absolute and unlimited, in temporal as well as spiritual affairs. He acts through an executive ministry, divided, in imitation of that of France under Napoleon III., into eight departments, of the Imperial House, of Foreign Affairs, War, Navy, Finances and the Interior, Justice, Public Instruction, and Ecclesiastical Affairs. At the side of the Ministry stands the "Sain," or Senate, composed of thirty members, and the "Shoin," or Council of State, of an unlimited number of members, both nominated by the Mikado, and consulted by him at his pleasure.
There exists no regular law of succession to the throne, but in case of the death or abdication of the Mikado, the crown devolves generally, not on his son, but on either the eldest or the most distinguished member of his house. It is not uncommon that palace intrigues settle the choice, the only condition of legality of which is that the elect should be member of the Shi Shinno, the "Four Imperial Relatives," or Royal Families of Japan. The throne can be, and has frequently been, occupied by a female, who, however, is not allowed to remain single, but must seek a consort within the limits of the Shi Shinno.
The government is at present organised on a basis which is partly European. The Mikado is, theoretically, an absolute Sovereign, who reigns and governs; but the work of government is carried on by the Great Council, which is divided into three sections denominated Centre, Right, and Left. The Centre is composed of the Prime Minister, Vice-Prime Minister, and five advisers. The Left is made up exclusively of the Council of State, the functions of which are analogous to those of the French Conseil d'Etat, so far as the preparation and discussion of laws is concerned. The Right includes all the Ministers and Vice-Ministers of the eight departments into which the administration is divided. The Ministers, either individually or united in a Cabinet, decide all ordinary questions; but points of real importance are reserved for the Great Council, presided over by the Mikado. Parliament was formed in 1869, with deputies selected by the provincial Governments, but it was soon dissolved, its deliberations taking no effect. The local administration in the provinces is in the hands of prefects, one of them residing in each of the 75 districts into which Japan is divided. The powers and the attributes of these prefects are far more extensive than those of any similar functionaries in Europe. There is, however, a limit to their judicial action, for they cannot carry into execution sentences involving banishment or death until they have been confirmed by the Minister of Justice.
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Previous to the last change of government, which placed all power in the hands of the Mi ado, a large share of administrative authoritity rested with the Daimios, the feudal proprietors of the soil, an official list of whose names was published periodically at Yedo, the capital. The list gave the family name and genealogy of each, as well as the fullest particulars of his family, the number of his residences, the extent and value of his territorial and other property, the uniform of his retainers, the design of his coat of arms, and the flag carried on his ships. A list of Daimios, published at Yedo in 1862, stated their number at 266, with incomes varying from 10,000 to 610,500 koban, or from about £15,000 to £915,500. The territory of each Daimio formed a sovereignty within itself, governed, in the case of the more powerful magnates, by a Secretary of State, called Karô, and a number of assistant ministers,
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