Ose of the most remarkable devolopements of the new civilisation in Japan, has been the rapidity with which newspapers have sprang up through the country; and, considering the utter novelty of the profession, these seem tobe conducted with very fair judgment and decorum, They are a vehicle for very outspoken expressions of opinion, which indicate thoughtful and active interest in the political changes that are going on, and they record news of every kind, from the sublime to the ridiculous, with mudable zeal. If the comments on Government measures are sometimes misconceived and bitter, and the news partakes of the fabulous, it is not surprising. Japan is not yet so enlightened that fabulous tales are altogether discredited; nor is the new political system so perfectly understood, nor has a standard of etiquette been yet established by custom that it would be difficult for public writers to transgress. In England, for instance, the Press has developed gradually to its present stage of influence and oxcellency; and laws for its guidance, written and unwritten, have grown up with its growth. The Japanese Press has sprung suddenly into existence without either law or custom to restrain it, and it would be marvellous if it did not sometimes err.
Ib is not surprising, therefore, that the Government has found it necessary to establish certain Press laws; and we may congratulate it on having compiled a reasonable code—if it is. liberally administered. Press laws are essentially of those things whose bearing lies in their application. There exist, even in England, laws which might be pat in action to hamper very materially the freedom of public writers, if public opinion would tolerate that exercise of power; but it would not do so, and it has instead created a certain standard of good taste which it enforces. with remarkable strength. Occasionally, a maw like Dr. Kenealy outrages public decency and public feeling by an outbreak of scurrility; but he is condemned with such vigour, by public opinion, that punishment is confidently left to that agent. Confidence is felt that such false criticism will disgust far more than it will mislead, and that a degree of blame and contempt will fall upon the writer which will in themselves constitute a severe punishment, without the sentimental ingredient of martyrdom that sometimes goes to mitigate a penalty inflicted by Law. In Japan, however, the Press will be for some time without
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.