I refer now to the conscription law, by which every Japanese, rich and poor, high and low, is obliged to serve in the army for a certain period, and thereafter for a certain further time to hold himself in readiness for such service. The wisdom of such a law, in view of a possible uprising of the samurai, was signally proved by the serious outbreak which occurred in Japan in 1877. The result of that rebellion set at rest forever the question of rule by a military class in Japan. The reorganization of the whole fabric of the public administration was naturally the first care of the imperial government. The departments were all established upon a new and an effective basis. Foreign advisers were employed to assist in the work, and no effort or expense was spared to create a system which would be at once modern, practical and economical. Time will not permit and it would weary you to recount all that was done. A few instances will serve to illustrate the whole. The government recognized the importance of education to themselves and to the masses. A complete system of educational institutions was established in every part of the empire, beginning with primary schools in every hamlet, through middle, normal and other more advanced institutions, up to the university in Tokio. Hospitals were endowed, and especial attention was paid to education in medicine and surgery. Nor was any distinction made between the sexes, but schools were established for the education of women as well as of men. This system has been steadily followed throughout, with only those changes which experience has shown to be advisable and beneficial. There are also a number of private educational establishments in Japan, many of which hold a deservedly high rank. Some of these are denominational, established in the first place by foreign missionary bodies, but now exclusively under Japanese control, while others are secular, the result of the labors of men of high scholarly attainments and conspicuous executive ability.

I refer now to the conscription law, by which every Japanese, rich and poor, high and low, is obliged to serve in the army for a certain period, and thereafter for a certain further time to hold himself in readiness for such service. The wisdom of such a law, in view of a possible uprising of the samurai, was signally proved by the serious outbreak which occurred in Japan in 1877. The result of that rebellion set at rest forever the question of rule by a military class in Japan. The reorganization of the whole fabric of the public administration was naturally the first care of the imperial government. The departments were all established upon a new and an effective basis. Foreign advisers were employed to assist in the work, and no effort or expense was spared to create a system which would be at once modern, practical and economical. Time will not permit and it would weary you to recount all that was done. A few instances will serve to illustrate the whole. The government recognized the importance of education to themselves and to the masses. A complete system of educational institutions was established in every part of the empire, beginning with primary schools in every hamlet, through middle, normal and other more advanced institutions, up to the university in Tokio. Hospitals were endowed, and especial attention was paid to education in medicine and surgery. Nor was any distinction made between the sexes, but schools were established for the education of women as well as of men. This system has been steadily followed throughout, with only those changes which experience has shown to be advisable and beneficial. There are also a number of private educational establishments in Japan, many of which hold a deservedly high rank. Some of these are denominational, established in the first place by foreign missionary bodies, but now exclusively under Japanese control, while others are secular, the result of the labors of men of high scholarly attainments and conspicuous executive ability.