In ancient days at the earliest beginning of the Empire, the Imperial Founder of our House proclaimed that he would administer affairs all over the (then known) world, have assumed sovereignty, abolished the feudal system, reformed the military and civil administration, and in view of the general condition of the world, determined the national principle of opening the country. During the twenty years' and more which have elapsed since then, every part. of the executive has been in accordance with the spirit of our ancestors, and for no other purpose than to promote the happiness of the copie, and to further the prosperity of the tate, 'We also established the Diet, affording opportunity for the utterance of the public voice, that thereby the execution of the country's chief and important works would be assisted. 'The operation of the Constitution' is now in its earliest stage.. Cireumspection' is necessary. in the beginning, so that: success' may' be ensured. is' the and to-day the outset should be right, that in future great results may be expected. The progressive force of various countries of the world becomes more rapid day by day. At this present period, if time is squandered in disputes, and ultimately the great objects in view are neglected. so that opportunities for extending the national welfare are lost, the desire we cherish in view of meeting' the spirits of our ancestors would be frustrated, and the way to reap the fair result of constitutional government would be lost. We entrust to our Ministers of State the daty of giving expression to our hopes in regard to the carrying out of these important matte and look with confidence to the chosen re: presentatives of the people to share our anxieties day and night.
ho items of expenditure referred to in the 67th art, of the Constitution are already gua: ranteed by the terms of the article and should not be a cause of dispute now. However, we specially order the Cabinet Ministers to take deliberate counsel, according to essential par-of the administration into good order, and so ticulars involved in bringing the various parts
avoid any mistakes; and to apply' for our judgment.
As to the matter of military defences of the State, a single day's neglect' may result in a hundred years' regret. We shall now economise in the expenditure of the Household and shall grant, during u period of six years, three hundred thousand yen annually, ud we also order the civil and military officers except those subject to special circumstances, to donate one-tenth of their salaries during the same period, and thus to meet the want of funds for building men-of-war.
We trust the Cabinet and the Diet as organs of constitutional government, and hope that each will be careful of the limits of its powers and follow a course of harmonious ce-operation to assist us in our important matters and to secure the beauty of successful ends.
(His Imperial Majesty' Sign Manual) (Privy Seal]
The 10th day of the 2d month of the 26th year of Meiji.
The full text was published in the Official Gazette on the 10th instant, and given all the signatures of the Ministers of State are appended, a somewhat novel feature seeing that the document in a sense is addressed indirectly to the Ministry as well as to the Diet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.