I am fully persuaded that the immediate and pressing want of Japan is capital
and skilled labor, and that she cannot obtain these without a revision of
existing treaties. * * * * *
[Inclosure 1 in No.
56.—Translation.]
MEMORIAL TO THE SA IN.
To the honorable board of Sa
In:
Gentlemen: We have the honor to address to you
the accompanying memorial, and to beg that you take it into
consideration.
You will find its proposals some which we often made to you during the
time we were in the government service, for they are all matters which
we have always earnestly desired. As, however, embassadors were visiting
all the treaty-powers in Europe and America to obtain practical
knowledge, it was decided to delay the discussion until their return.
Now, though the embassadors have already returned several months, we
hear of nothing being done.
From the want of concord existing of late between the government and the
people, the present position of the government is that it is liable to
be brought to destruction. We extremely regret that this state of danger
should have been occasioned by nothing else than the prevention by the
government of free expression of opinion by the public.
| Soeshima Tane-omi. |
Shizoku Saga Ken. |
| Gato Shojiro. |
Shizoku Tokei Fu. |
| Itagaki Taisuke. |
Shizoku Kochi Ken. |
| Yeto Shimpei. |
Shizoku Saga Ken. |
| Yuri Kimimasu. |
Shizoku Tsuruga Ken. |
| Komuro Nobuo. |
Shizoku Miyoto Ken. |
| Okamoto Kensaburo. |
Shizoku Kochi Ken. |
| Furusawa Uro. |
Shizoku Kochi Ken. |
the memorial.
Your respectful memorialists, having considered with whom the power of
the government at present lies, (see that;) it is neither with the
Emperor nor with the people, but with the officials alone. Well!
Although the officials would not show disrespect for His Majesty, the
honor and magnificence of the imperial council-chamber gradually
disappears; and, although they do not wish to neglect the people, the
laws are too
[Page 666]
changeable, so
that the proclamations of the morning are changed in the evening, and
all things done according to the individual will of the officials.
Rewards and punishment are administered with partiality; the public are
forbidden to discuss government proceedings; and they are obliged to be
silent under the oppression.
It must be evident, even to children three feet high, that it is
impossible tranquilly to govern the empire under such conditions; and
the country will quickly be ruined unless there is an improvement in its
present mode of government.
Unable to divest our minds of the feelings of patriotism, we have
consulted on the best means of relieving the government from its
perilous position. The public opinion of the whole empire must be
aroused. Nothing else will do. And to this end it is important to
establish min-sen gi-in, (min public, sen choice, gi
deliberations, in house,) where the members shall
be chosen by the people, and shall discuss the laws. Then, the power of
the officials being limited, (under control,) all men, both public and
private, will find themselves happy and contented.
Now we beg to lay before you the following opinions respecting the
above:
As the people, as is their duty, pay the taxes to the government, they
should possess the right and power to examine government affairs. This
being a self-evident proposition, should be understood by all, without
requiring any explanation from us.
We beg, therefore, that the officials cease to oppose this right. They
may oppose our proposition to establish the parliament, by saying that,
as our people do not yet themselves promote the march of civilization
and are ignorant and unlearned, the time has not arrived for
establishing a parliament.
We reply, if it be so, so much the more necessary is it to establish the
parliament, in order that the people may advance in knowledge and
wisdom, and promote themselves to the state of civilization. Because, in
order that they may so progress, they should first be taught to watch
their rights and powers, and then they should be led to discuss public
affairs, so as to rouse up each one to prize his rights and privileges,
and to identify himself with the prosperity or adversity of the nation.
Then there would be none so indifferent as to be content to remain
ignorant. If the people be expected naturally to advance and progress of
themselves without any such spur, we may wait perhaps a century, just as
if the muddy water in a river were expected to clear itself naturally.
Again, the officials most unreasonably say to establish a parliament
now, at once, would be like nothing but the assembling together the
fools of the whole empire. Alas! why are they so self-conceited, and why
so look down upon the people? All officials ought, of course, to be the
most clever of the people; but as it may be uncertain whether or not
there are more learned and intelligent persons than they themselves,
they should not feel this contempt. If the people be so foolish as for
the officials to despise them, the officials must themselves be ignorant
and unintelligent, for they are but one class of people. But which is
the best way of governing? Is it by the absolute acts of a small party
of officials alone, or by the public opinion of a vast body—all the
inhabitants—of the empire?
We dare say that politicians or officials have greatly increased their
knowledge and capacity, as compared with what they had before the recent
great revolution of the Government—seven years ago; for the more
learning and knowledge are cultivated, the better they are able to be
advanced.
For this reason, we say again, the parliament must be established at
once, in order to enable the people to improve in education and
knowledge, and promote themselves to a state of civilization. It is the
duty of the government to encourage in the people an ambition which
shall cause them to step forward in such progress.
In a barbarous country, the people being only bold, disorderly, and
disobedient to the government, it is the first duty of government to
make progress by compelling the people to obey. Now, our people are not
barbarous, and they are very obedient to the government. Such being the
ease, it must be the ambition of government that the parliament be
established to-day, on purpose to stir up the people to know their own
minds, and to exercise the proper duty of each one’s taking part in the
national affairs. This having been accomplished, the public throughout
the whole empire shall, for the first time, be of one mind. Now, what
makes a firm and strong government? It is the strength of public
opinion. We need not go back to antiquity for example. We will prove it
by the change of government which happened in October last.
How unsatisfactory was the government at that time! That it was able to
stand was indeed wonderful. But who and how many of the people were glad
of the change? Not only were they indifferent upon the matter, but
nine-tenths of them knew nothing about it; and were only surprised by
the movement among the military. It is for this simple object: to open
unobstructedly the communication between the minds of the government and
the people, so as to unite them together as one body, that the
parliament should be established at first. Then the empire will increase
in strength and the government itself will become firm.
Having thus perfectly explained the rights of the people, examined the
present condition of the government, and called in proof the change of
government in October last, as above mentioned, we are the more
confident in our demand; and we
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therefore earnestly declare, the best and simplest way of upholding
and strengthening the empire is to establish a parliament and arouse
public discussion.
We do not here enter into details of the subject, as they could not he
all mentioned even in many papers. We privately hear that the opinion of
the present officials is to delay any efforts from day to day.
They say, “It is heedless progress; for how does it benefit the country?”
And again: “It is yet too early to enter upon the subject.” We proceed,
therefore, to examine the two phrases.
First, the phrase “It is heedless progress “we do not quite understand.
Do they mean that it is roughly done? The establishment of a parliament
should be most carefully effected. Again, do they say that it would
derange the regular order of beginning and end, the hastening and
delaying, according as circumstances change, because all departments are
not altogether in concord? This is because (the goverment having no
fixed regulations) all business is committed to the will of any of the
officials. It is evident, for these very reasons, that it is most
important to establish the parliament. As progress is necessary for the
nation, all things must be brought within that progress; they therefore
only oppose it on the ground of “heedlessness.” The heedlessness has
nothing to do with the parliament.
The second phrase, “It is too early,” we are not only unable to
comprehend, but our opinion is just the reverse. Because, if the
parliament be established so hastily as today, yet it will not be in
perfect working order for some time, perhaps months or years. And thus
we are very anxious that it shall not be delayed a single day. So, as we
said before, the phrase is just the contrary to our opinion. But,
further, we hear the officials say, “As the parliament in European
countries and America have not been established in a morning or an
evening, but gradually, according to the progress of the people, we
cannot hold them up as examples for imitation.”
We reply: Parliament is not the only thing constituted according to the
progress of the nations, but several sciences, public works, machines,
and many other like things. But the reason these things took so many
hundred years to perfect is, that everything had to be discovered by
their own individual experience, for they had no examples to imitate.
But we are able to select examples for imitation, and have not to
contrive and discover for ourselves alone. If we were able only to use
the steam-engine when we have ourselves discovered the natural law of
steam, or if we can only work the telegraph when we have ourselves
discovered the principles of electricity, how many years will be
required before we can avail of them?
The purpose we have now discussed is:
A representative parliament must be established at once; and the degree
of progress made by our people is just suitable for its establishment.
We do not consider it necessary to refute the opinions of those
officials who oppose it; but only to rouse the people to public
discussion, to acknowledge the full rights and power of the people, and
to excite them to activity, so that, the government and people being
agreed with each other, the emperor and his subjects shall love each
other, and our empire shall become happy, strong, and powerful. Thus we
earnestly pray that our memorial may be favorably considered.
