The very words in the receipt, "in opposition to the Japanese law," showed that Japan felt that it was abandoning its old policy of seclusion, and that the downfall of the system which had so long prevailed was at hand. This was shown at the new treaty ports, in which the rigid rules which had been drawn around the Dutch at Nagasaki were removed, American citizens being free to go where they pleased within the town and for several miles around it. In fact Japaneven if not yet quite aware of it herself-had thrown down the high fence which she had so long dwelt behind, and at last swung out into the circle of modern nations-a change of conditions destined to be of far more service to herself than to any other country with which, she might have inter

course.

The other maritime nations were not long in seeking to avail themselves of the opening made by the United States. Before the year was out a British fleet visited Nagasaki, and demanded and received important commercial concessions. It is of interest in this connection to know that the first foreign flag raised officially in Japan was the Stars and Stripes, hoisted off Shimoda in 1856, and that Townsend Harris, U. S. Consul, who raised it, negotiated the first treaty of commerce with Japan, and had the honor of the first audience of a foreign representative with the Shogun-then supposed to be the emperor.

In 1858 the treaties were extended, the port of Yokohama -where the letter of the Shogun had been received-replacing that of Shimoda, and the treaty ports being opened to British, Dutch, and French traders, as well as to American. It seems evident that by this time the more progressive among the statesmen of Japan had awakened to the great superiority of the new policy over the old, and were beginning to see how seriously Japan had stood in her own light by persisting in her antiquated method. This was shown in the freedom

with which she granted to the other commercial nations the privileges given America, and the fact that the country, so long a sealed book, was made free to travelers. In short, the long-continued isolation of Japan was completely broken down. A brief experience of the benefits to be derived from commerce and foreign intercourse had convinced the quickwitted islanders of the folly of their old system, and their country was thrown freely open to all the world had to offer it and to the ideas and inventions of all mankind.

CHAPTER XIII.

The Great Revolution from Shogun to Mikado

The Mikado a Figure-head-The "Foreign Devils"-The Regent Seizes PowerThe Revolution Begins-The Daimios Set Free-They Seek the Mikado's Court-The Clan of Choshiu-Civil War Begins-Kioto Burned DownThe Choshiu Victorious—The Shogun Dies and a Weak Man Succeeds—He Resigns His Office-A New Mikado-The Shogunate is Abolished-Keiki, the Shogun, Fights for Power-He is Defeated and Flees-The Mikado's Army Capture Yedo and End the War-Feudalism Falls With the Shogunate -The Daimios Retire to Private Life-Foreigners at Last Welcomed.

HE visit of Commodore Perry to Japan in 1853, the opening of the old land to civilization, and the signing of a treaty of commerce with the United States formed a mighty turning point in the history of that ancient empire. Through its influence the old system was revolutionized and the Mikado restored to the throne, after being for seven centuries the practical subordinate of the Shogun. He had vanished from sight for so long a period that the people looked upon him as a mysterious spiritual dignitary, almost forgetting that he had once been the supreme lord of the land. Yet during these ages the imperial court had been kept up, with all its machinery of prime minister, officials and nobles-with everything, indeed, except author. ity. The dignitaries of the Mikado's court ranked, in their own conceit and their ancient titles, far above the Shogun and daimios, the military leaders, but they were like so many actors on the stage, playing at power. Indeed, the Shogun, had he chosen to use the power at his command, might easily have made himself the supreme dignitary, completely

supplanting the Mikado, but it seemed easier to let the sleepy court at Kioto alone, leaving to the Mikado the shadow of that power of which the substance was in the Shogun's hands.

Yet in this there was a risk. The emperor might at any time claim his ancestral authority, call the people and the army to his aid, and break through the web that the great spider of military rule had woven about his court. It was possible that some great event might stir Japan to its depths and bring about a sudden and vital change in the state of affairs. Such an event came in the visit of the American fleet and the signing of a treaty of commerce and intercourse by the Tai Kun, or great sovereign of Japan, as the Shogun claimed the right to style himself.

Japan had been at peace for more than two centuries and for as long a time foreigners had been forbidden to set foot on its soil. They were looked upon as barbarians,"foreign devils" the islanders called them,-the disturbances they had brought about long before were still borne in mind, and throughout the island empire the very name of Christian or foreigner was hated and contemned.

The coming of Perry and his fleet, therefore, could not fail to send a deep stir of feeling throughout the land. During the excitement to which it gave rise the Shogun died, and the vacated power was seized by Ii, the regent, a man of daring and able character, who shrewdly chose as Shogun a boy twelve years old; imprisoned, exiled, or beheaded all who opposed him; and was suspected of an intention to depose the Mikado and set up a boy emperor as he had set up a boy Shogun.

The acts of the regent added greatly to the excitement in Japan. But if it had ended with those named, the resentment would scarcely have grown to revolution. It was the treaty which Ii signed with the foreigners, that brought on revolt The right he had exercised belonged only to the

Mikado, and he sought to gain palliation for his act by sending word to Kioto that the exigency of the occasion had forced him to take this radical step.

The result was an intense excitement that pervaded all Japan, whose people became divided into two parties, that of the Mikado, which opposed the foreigners, and that of the Shogun, which favored them. "Honor the Mikado and expel the barbarians," became the watchword of the conservatives, and in all directions excited partisans roamed the land, vowing that they would kill the regent and his new friends, the hated foreigners, and that they were ready to die for the true emperor, who had been robbed of his rights. The result of the excitement was a sanguinary one. Ii was assassinated. At the moment when a strong hand was most needed, that of the man who had the daring to act in an emergency was removed. The feeling of bitterness against the foreigners grew, and with it the sentiment of allegiance to the Shogun declined. The boy Shogun whom Ii had chosen was obliged by public opinion to visit Kioto and do homage to the Mikado, an ancient ceremony being thus restored after a lapse of two hundred and thirty years, during which the fact that it once existed had almost been forgotten.

A still more vital act followed. The Mikado, restored to an active realization of his lost authority, bade the Shogun to appoint the Prince of Echizen premier of the empire. This was done and was followed by a remarkable step on the part of the new premier. For over two centuries the daimios had been obliged to reside in Yedo, a preventive measure to hold them under control. With a word the premier abolished this custom, and the feudal lords lost no time in seeking their estates. The decree which had held them so long was broken, and they made their way in all haste to their distant castles.. It was a step that proved fatal to the glory of Yedo and the power of its sovereign lord. In the words of a native chron