We have always endeavoured to show that the rapidity of
-the reforms in Japan was due to the extreme sanctity attached to. decrees issued by the Mikado, who, as descendant of the gods, can do no wrong. Baron Hiibner, long the Austrian Minister in Rome,. who has recently travelled in the Far East, entirely supports this. theory, which, however, an Edinburgh Reviewer in this quar- ter's journal repudiates. He holds the Mikado a mere puppet. in the hands of four great Daimios, who to strengthen themselves have disarmed the Empire, and under the name of the Mikado's Council have secured a monopoly of power. It is odd that four old nobles should be so thoroughly original and iconoclastic
as the ruling power in Japan now is, but a statement in the Times seems to support the Reviewer's theory. It is asserted that. thepeasantry of Nagasaki have broken out in revolt, burnt- official buildings, thrown down the telegraph poles, and otherwise done damage. The revolt was suppressed by the mediation of an old Daimio, and not by decree, and the facts are so far against us. Still the rebellion may not have been against the Mikado, but some local tyranny.
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