CURRENT LITERATURE.

The Atlantic Monthly for July contains the first of Dr. John Fiske's promised historical papers. The subject treated in this issue is "The Elizabethan Sea Kings." Such picturesque historical characters as Raleigh, Drake, and others of their time become doubly attractive when described by so charming a writer as Mr. Fiske. Another Series which promises delightful reading describes "An Architect's Vaca tion." Mr. Robert S. Peabody, the well-known Boston architect, is the author, and the first paper treats of Rural England.

The Review of Reviews is still pursuing its laudable plan for making Australian politics more intelligible to the American public. In the July number Mr. J. Tighe Ryan has an interesting article on "The Political Leaders of New South Wales." Of these leaders, Sir. Henry Parkes, at the ripe age of eighty, is the most picturesque figure; then comes the new Premier, M. G. H. Reid, with his associates in the government, who are rapidly sketched in the order of political prominence. The sum of impressions furnished by a reading of Mr. Ryan's article is that in the matter of statesmanship New South Wales is not yet reduced to the poverty-stricken condition of the United States Senate.

The July American Magazine of Civics contains an excellent article by Mary J. Eastman entitled: "The Woman Question: Retrogressive Pathways." Other articles of interest are: "The Distress of Nations," by James M. Beck; "A Plea for the Gold Standard," by Wilmot H. Goodale; "The Progress of Municipal Reform, 1894-5," by Clinton R. Woodruff; "National Political Parties, Past, Present, and Future," by Walter H. Brown.

This is the time of the year when Public Opinion is most valuable. So many things occur to occupy the public mind that for a busy man to keep up with the times this sprightly journal is almost an absolute necessity.

Two refreshing articles for "summer reading" are Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences," by Mark Twain, and "Coin's Financial School and its Censors," by W. H. Harvey, contained in the July North American Review. Other interesting articles in that number are: "How Free Silaer Would Affect us," by the Hon. E. O. Leech; "The Disposal of a City's Waste," by Col. Geo. E. Waring, Jr., and "The Need of Better Roads," by Martin Dodge.

In the following article on the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, I have borrowed the divisions and methods of procedure followed in "The Commentaries on the Constitution of the Empire of Japan," written by Count Hirobumi Ito, President of the Privy Council at the time the Constitution was drawn, and at present Prime Minister of the Empire.

The Constitution was proclaimed by His Majesty the Emperor at Tokio on the 11th day of February, 1889, in the presence of the. Imperial Family, the nobility, the most important civil and military dignitaries, and representatives from each State of the Empire.

The new Constitution produced a most radical change in every department of the governmental system,-the exécutive, legislative and judicial. Japan was an absolute monarchy for over twenty-five centuries, but the beginning of a constitution can be dated as far back as the seventh century, when Prince Shotoku established a law containing articles with many of the characteristics of a constitution. It established definitely the mutual relations of the Imperial Family, the nobility, and the common people. This law held force over all Japan for several centuries, or until the Feudal government was established. Beyond this law the history of Japan shows nothing until the present era.

I will quote the Preamble of the Constitution and the speech delivered by His Majesty the Emperor at the promulgation.

PREAMBLE.*

"Having, by virtue of the glories of Our Ancestors, ascended the throne of a lineal succession unbroken for ages eternal; desiring

*Preamble and Imperial Speech were translated by Mr. M. Ito, private secretary of Prime Minister Ito.

to promote the welfare of, and to give development to the moral and intellectual faculties of Our beloved subjects, the very same that have been favoured with the benevolent care and affectionate vigilance of Our Ancestors; and hoping to maintain the prosperity of the State, in concert with Our people and with their support, We hereby promulgate, in pursuance of Our Imperial Rescript of the 12th day of the 10th month of the 14th year of Meji* a fundamental law of State, to exhibit the principle, by which we are to be guided in Our conduct, and to point out to what Our descendants and Our subjects and their descendants are forever to conform.

"The rights of sovereignty of the State, We have inherited from Our Ancestors, and We shall bequeath them to Our descendants. Neither we nor they shall in future fail to wield them, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution hereby granted.

"We now declare to respect and protect the security of the rights and of the property of Our people, and to secure to them the complete enjoyment of the same, within the extent of the provisions of the present Constitution and of the law.

The Imperial Diet shall first be convoked for the 23rd year of Meji, and the time of its opening shall be the date, when the present Constitution comes into force.

'When in the future it may become necessary to amend any of the provisions of the present Constitution, We or Our successors shall assume the initiative rights, and submit a project for the same to the Imperial Diet. The Imperial Diet shall pass its vote upon it, according to the conditions imposed by the present Constitution, and in no otherwise shall Our Descendants or Our subjects be permitted to attempt any alteration thereof.

"Our Ministers of State, on Our behalf, shall be held responsible for the carrying out of the present Constitution, and Our present and future subjects shall forever assume the duty of allegiance to the present Constitution."

THE IMPERIAL SPEECH.

Whereas we make it the joy and glory of Our heart to behold the prosperity of Our country, and the welfare of Our subjects, We do hereby, in virtue of the supreme power, We inherit from Our Imperial Ancestors, promulgate the present immutable fundamental law, for the sake of Our presents and their descendants.

"The Imperial Founder of Our house and Our other Imperial *The 23d year of Meji corresponds to the Christian year 1890.

Ancestors, by the help and support of the forefathers of Our subjects, laid the foundation of Our Empire upon a basis which is to last forever. That this brilliant achievement embellishes the annals of Our country, is due to the glorious virtues of Our Sacred Imperial Ancestors, and to the loyalty and bravery of Our subjects, their love of their country and their public spirit. Considering that Our subjects are the descendants of the loyal and good subjects of Our Imperial Ancestors, We doubt not but that Our subjects will be guided by Our views, and will sympathize with all Our endeavors, and that, harmoniously cooperating together, they will share with Us Our hope of making manifest the glory of Our country, both at home and abroad, aud of securing forever the stability of the work bequeathed to Us by Our Imperial Ancestors.'

Although these are ceremonial descriptions, they are enough to explain how the Constitution was formed and also its character. If we look at the history of the great western nations, we find that they have attained the blessings of constitutional governments only through bloody wars or fierce revolutions; often followed by a despotism more severe than that which formerly existed, which in its turn has been overthrown in another spasm of popular fury and indignation. Japan has been more fortunate than her western sisters; her constitution was the simple and peaceful fruit of twenty years unparallelled advance in sociological, economical, educational and political conditions; it was confidently demanded by the people, cheerfully granted by His Majesty the Emperor, and both have felt increased love and respect for the other since its well omened establishment.

I will give a short historical sketch describing the sovereign rights of the Emperor and the relations between him and his subjects. It is a very important subject because the relations existing for nearly thirty centuries were entirely changed by the new Constitution.

Japan has been an absolute monarchy ever since the first Imperial Ancestor Jimmu succeeded to the throne 2555 years ago, and the Emperors have since had absolute power over the land and the people. In the Middle Ages, however, the sovereign power was transferred to the family of Fujiwara-closely related to the Imperial Family-and afterward to the great generals, when the feudal government was established. During this time, although the supreme power was practically in the hands of the Fujiwara family or the great generals everything was done in the name of the Em

peror. As a result of this strange system there were two central governments-one was Imperial, the other Feudal-until twenty-eight years ago, when the great general Togugawa lost his supreme power, and the Emperor again became all powerful. At that time the people were wretched. They had no right to criticise the governmental policy, the system of taxation or even the cruel methods of punishments. The common people were obedient to the nobility and the wealthy and influential families who constituted the military class. They were obliged to pay excessive taxes, and to obey the severest commands without complaint. Especially, while the Togugawa government was supreme, the lives and property of the common people were entirely in the power of the military class. However, these wretched conditions were not conducive to the advance of civilization, and in 1868 the Feudal government was overthrown and the Imperial power has since grown strong and vigorous. At the same time, the Emperor has been forced to issue decrees proclaiming as his policy the desire of a constitutional form of governThe Emperor declared his hope that the Constitution would state precisely the rights and duties of his subjects, and gradually promote their welfare by securing unity of the sovereign powers in the head of the State, and by opening a wider field for business activity.

ment.

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan consists of seven chapters and seventy-six articles.

The chapters are classified as follows:

I. The Emperor.

II. Rights and Duties of Subjects.

III. The Imperial Diet.

IV. The Ministers of State and Privy Council.

The first chapter is the most important one. It refers to the Imperial power to reign over and govern the State, and reference also is made to the original national policy.

Article I. provides that: "The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal." This article clearly states the relation existing between the Emperor and his subjects. With reference to this article, Count