Brimisa subjects in Shanghai united yesterday with their fellow nationals in all parts of the globe in honouring the anniversary of the birth of the illustrious sovereign of the country to which we ure bound by the close tie of a defensive alliance. On auspicious occasions such as this, it is a usual courtesy to take the opportunity of expressing cordial and complimentary sentiments; but in regard to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan, there is no necessity to draw upon the small change of courtly phrase. The anniversary of the birth of the Emperor under whose benign and enlightened rale Japan has emerged from semibarbarous obscurity to a place in the front rank of world-Powers, may fittingly be observed by his subjects with profound pride and gratitude, and by the subjects of the King with sentiments of the liveliest sympathy. Japan's success in the war with China, which Island Empire, was largely due to the direction of the sovereign, and this was respectfully acknowledged by the Diet by a unanimous vote of two million sterling out of the indemnity to the Privy Purse. In the realm of domestic matters: the reign has seen the abolition of military feudalism and of extraterritorial rights in the Empire, the inauguration of a constitution and an elected Parliament, the grant of religious freedom, a reorganization of education, finance and judicature on western lines and the creation of an army and navy comparable with those of the greatest Powers. The formal recognition of Japan's right to be treated as an equal was fittingly given by Great Britain, the country that first consented to surrender the privileges accruing from extra-territoriality, by the ratification of the treaty of 1902. Some have seen a symptom of forgetfulness of the debt of gratitude that Japan owes to Great Britain in the drastic provisions of the new tariff, but at the forthc.ming session of the Diet steps will probably be taken to prevent this slight shadow over the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.