I started with the Shinsengumi in Bakumatsu

Chapter 205 The First Step of Democracy

The Declaration of Human Rights is not long, only a dozen regulations, but its meaning is different. It marks the official end of Japan's traditional feudal social thought.

With the Declaration of Human Rights, the minds of Japanese people will gradually be liberated and move towards democracy.

Of course, at the beginning of the democratic movement, there will be people with ulterior motives to confuse people's minds, but in the face of the interests of the vast majority of people, it is impossible for these ambitious people to succeed.

The emergence of democratic ideas may have a certain impact on Yagyu's autocratic power, but as long as Yagyu's policies are beneficial to all citizens, then these disturbances are nothing more than disturbances.

Tsuda Shinichi looked at the newly released "Declaration of Human Rights" with mixed feelings in his heart. You must know that he has studied this aspect deeply. When he originally established a constitution for the shogunate, he did not achieve his goal.

But now, in circles, the authoritarian Prime Minister Yagyu has helped him achieve his goal, which is the emergence of real democracy in Japan.

However, in the constitution, Yagyu added a regulation on democratic dictatorship and one-party dictatorship, which ensures that Japan will not have two Western parties fighting each other and political correctness.

The name of Japan's ruling party is the Reform Party, Yagyu Nozomi is the Prime Minister of the Reform Party, and the Prime Minister of the Party is the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.

Of course, other political parties can also be formed in Japan, but they must be approved by the government before they can be established. The minimum number of party members must be fifty.

If the political opinions and influence of these opposition parties are recognized by the government, they can participate in politics and propose bills in the House of Commons.

The House of Commons has the power to propose and impeach the House of Lords, but has no decision-making power.

The House of Lords has two powers, but it is at the same level as the House of Commons and cannot control the members of the House of Commons.

In other words, the power of the House of Commons in Japan is far less than that of the House of Commons in countries such as the United Kingdom. Even the Prime Minister is not elected from the House of Commons, and the House of Commons has almost only supervisory power.

Although the House of Lords has decision-making power, it is supervised by the House of Commons.

The cabinet is subject to the decision-making power of the House of Lords and the supervision of the House of Commons.

That is to say, Yagyu's prestige was too great, and the lower house had not yet been established, so the cabinet was not affected.

But as Yagyu improves the system, the power of the prime minister after that will be limited.

Once the Declaration of Civil Rights is issued, it will be on the agenda of the House of Commons.

Tsuda Shinichi handed the complete "Declaration of Human Rights" to Yagyu. After checking it, Yagyu nodded and said: "Very good, with this declaration, our country has taken a big step forward on the road to democracy.

Mr. Tsuda, I will present this declaration to the Emperor immediately. I think this declaration can be announced soon.

Your Ministry of Justice needs to step up and discuss the election law, and I will be involved when the time comes. "

Tsuda Shinichi was full of energy. He immediately expressed his position: "Prime Minister, don't worry. I will lead all colleagues in the Ministry of Justice to improve our country's laws day and night!"

Yagyu sent Tsuda Shinichi away, and then took the "Declaration of Human Rights" inside to see the declaration.

Since Emperor Meiji married Queen Mary, he has been a little slack on political affairs. Most of his time is spent traveling with Queen Mary, holding dance parties, and appreciating the art of various countries.

In order to make Queen Mary happy, Emperor Meiji built a national opera house in the north of the Imperial Palace, near the Konoe Palace. Not only was it necessary to introduce Western art, but also Eastern and domestic art.

According to Emperor Meiji's idea, it was to build Kyoto into the pearl of Asia, shining like the sun.

Of course, Yagyu supported the emperor's development in art. Because of this, the Empress Dowager was very dissatisfied with Yagyu. She felt that Yagyu was trying to monopolize the government and deceive the emperor. He was really a traitor!

Yagyu didn't care about the Empress Dowager's thoughts. In order to let the Emperor focus on art, he had already found craftsmen to study the phonograph.

The phonograph is an electric device used to play records and records. It was invented by American inventor Edison in 1877.

but now!

Bring it to you!

Yagyu entered without any notification and arrived in front of the Imperial Palace. Queen Mary was sitting under a cherry blossom tree. Flower buds appeared on the tree. After a while, the cherry blossoms would bloom.

Queen Mary is sitting under the cherry blossom tree, wearing a noble dress, maintaining a posture. Opposite Queen Mary is Emperor Meiji who is focusing on painting.

Emperor Meiji was painting an ukiyo-e painting for Queen Mary.

The exquisite Ukiyoe paintings and exaggerated expressions shocked Queen Mary's mind. She had never seen such a gorgeous picture. This feeling was like seeing Leonardo da Vinci's works.

Ukiyo-e emerged in the Edo period, then spread to Europe, and then spread quickly and became loved by Europeans.

The style of Ukiyo-e directly influenced the Impressionists in the mid-to-late 19th century and the post-Impressionist painters who followed.

Artists like Edouard Manet and Vincent Van Gogh were influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e.

Van Gogh was an obsessive fan of Japanese Ukiyo-e paintings.

Van Gogh's absorption of Ukiyo-e art style began with copying. These copied works include Utagawa Hiroshige's "Bridge in the Rain", and the absorption of this painting method can be clearly seen in his work "Auvers Rain".

As Van Gogh deepened his study of Ukiyo-e works, he began to combine the flatness of Japanese prints with his own swirling brushstrokes and black outlines. "Lullaby" is a representative of this fusion.

In a letter to Theo at the end of his life, Van Gogh said: "It can be said that every work of mine has been influenced by Japanese paintings. Japanese art declined on its soil, but it took root under the pen of French Impressionist artists. "

Van Gogh's friend Gauguin was also influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e.

In "Visions after the Sermon", he used ribbon-like colors and flat headdresses to depict Jacob and the angel fighting, and their postures were inspired by Hokusai's comics.

From the experiences of these artists, we can see the influence of Japanese ukiyo-e in Europe.

Queen Mary became obsessed with collecting works of famous artists after seeing Ukiyo-e paintings, and Emperor Meiji specially invited an Ukiyo-e master to teach him how to paint.

Now that his skills were successful, Emperor Meiji couldn't wait to offer his talents to Queen Mary.

Yagyu arrived just in time, as Emperor Meiji was in the final stages of his portrait of Queen Mary.

Emperor Meiji put the final touches on the painting and shouted excitedly: "My dear, come and see!"

Queen Mary lifted her skirt, and Lucy helped straighten it. Then she walked to the portrait. She showed a sweet smile and praised: "My dear, your skills have improved again, I like it very much.

In addition, your father-in-law is here. He should have something important to ask you, so go quickly. "

Queen Mary kissed Emperor Meiji on the cheek. Emperor Meiji raised the corners of his mouth and whispered, "I'll be right back."

Emperor Meiji put down his painting brush and walked towards Yagyu. He complained a little: "Xiangfu, why are you here?"

Yagyu smiled and said: "Sorry, Your Majesty, there is a document here that you must take a look at."

Emperor Meiji took the document and looked at it. It was a draft of the "Declaration of Human Rights". He took a rough look and said: "I know this Declaration of Human Rights. In the Western countries, Britain and France have such things, and it seems that the United States also has it. It is indeed a prime minister. Father, now even we have it.”

Yagyu asked: "Your Majesty, do you think there is anything that needs to be modified?"

Emperor Meiji returned the document to Yagyu and said, "No need, just hand it over to the House of Nobles when the time comes and let the Emperor uncle pass it."

Yagyu didn't say much and closed the document in his hand.

However, Emperor Meiji remembered something and said quickly: "Hey, my dear father, the queen mother wants Iwakura, who has been sent to Europe to serve as minister, what about this?" Yanagyu immediately said: "Your Majesty will decide this matter yourself. That’s it.”

Emperor Meiji saw that Yagyu didn't have much reaction and didn't care about it, and then agreed to it.

Yagyu, on the other hand, summoned the House of Nobles with the Declaration of Human Rights.

At the meeting, Yagyu handed out copies of the "Declaration of Human Rights" to all the nobles present for review. Many people frowned when they saw the first article.

Duke Yingji was the first to stand up and said: "Your Majesty Prime Minister, this declaration is simply a fallacy!"

Other nobles also shouted: "What do you mean those commoners are equal to us?"

"How can those civilians become members of parliament and participate in politics? Why do they have!!"

"Prime Minister, this thing cannot be promulgated. You have to consider our feelings!"

Almost more than half of the members were furious and opposed the "Declaration of Human Rights" in their hands. However, cabinet officials accounted for one-third of the Noble House, plus Nijo Saikei and Prince Asahiko's faction, which also made up half of the people.

Yagyu was determined to win the Declaration of Human Rights.

He immediately stood up and said: "Since the black ships opened the door to our country, we have been searching for various ways to save the country and running in all directions. After more than ten years of struggle, we ended the rule of the shogunate and began to learn from Western countries.

In just five years, our country has begun to achieve results and its national strength has greatly increased.

This powerful Western country has made such declarations to become an advanced and civilized power. Although our country has achieved results, it is not enough and we must learn more.

Therefore, today I follow the example of the powerful Western countries and issue a human rights declaration that they also have, making our country more advanced and civilized. "

Tsuda Shinichi immediately applauded and said: "The Prime Minister is right, all Western countries have this method, and our country cannot fall behind."

Sakuma Shoyama also said: "In the United States, even businessmen can be officials, and officials treat others equally.

If our country follows our example today, we will surely see the grandeur of the United States in the future. "

Duke Yingji immediately yelled and cursed: "This is nonsense! Our family has been inherited for thousands of years, how noble it is. How can ordinary people compare to our family background!"

Itagaki Taisuke immediately responded: "What's the use of having a long family background? When the country is in crisis, I don't see families like you with a long history turning the tide."

"you…"

"Itagaki Taisuke, you are so impudent!"

"Bold maniac!"

An earl with a noble background threw the declaration in his hand directly at Itagaki Taisuke.

Itagaki easily dodged it, but his face was not angry. He stood up and went to the opposite side. Fortunately, there was an official nearby who stopped him.

The count was startled, and he almost thought he was going to be beaten.

But the two sides are still debating each other.

Prince Chaoyan struck a few times with a hammer and shouted: "It's like a shrew swearing in the street, how unbecoming it is!"

"It is an insult to politeness and ruins the etiquette and music!"

"Silence, silence!"

Only then did both parties stop and look at Prince Chaoyan.

Prince Asahiko looked at Yagyu and said, "Is there anything else you want to say, Prime Minister?"

Yagyu said calmly: "This declaration has been shown to His Majesty the Emperor, and he agreed."

When some cross-benchers saw that His Majesty the Emperor had approved it with one vote, why should they insist on it? They immediately agreed to the Declaration of Human Rights.

The Declaration of Human Rights received a majority vote and was passed directly.

Yagyu immediately asked the Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture to disseminate the Human Rights Declaration nationwide.

On the streets of Kyoto, next to the bulletin board, a civil servant shouted with a loudspeaker: "Citizens, the country has promulgated the Declaration of Human Rights. All people are created equal. We no longer need to be inferior to others, even as officials. I can’t bully you at will!”

The civil servant's shouting attracted many passing citizens to come closer.

“Citizens, according to the Declaration of Human Rights, we can monitor national political affairs and directly report illegal behavior by officials.

After a while, the country will create a lower house, and everyone will be able to elect the members they like. This is the power given to us by the Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution, and no one can stop it! "

The vast majority of Japanese citizens are farmers. They do not understand this declaration very well, but a small number of citizens in several big cities understand what it means!

They listened to the civil servants' speeches and felt very excited. They immediately ran around shouting and reading the declaration to others.

Of course, the emergence of the "Declaration of Human Rights" also had a great impact on the gentry.

In addition to the big nobles who are members of the House of Nobles, there are also small nobles in the countryside.

These small nobles were originally high-ranking warriors, that is, the retainers of the feudal lords. They had great influence in various countrysides.

They looked at the Declaration of Human Rights and were furious.

"Chaos, this is definitely chaos!"

"The sword was scrapped, the hair was shaved, and now you say that untouchables are equal to us. This is absolutely unforgivable!"

"Your Majesty has a traitor around you!"

The vast majority of the gentry were angry and criticized this declaration.

Of course, some nobles felt that this declaration could be used. Goto Shojiro summoned the Tosa people to discuss the declaration of human rights.

Since Yagyu suppressed several rebellions forcefully, Goto Shojiro kept a low profile in the cabinet and did not participate in Eto Shinpei's affairs.

During this time, he had been carefully studying Western books, and he was no stranger to the Declaration of Human Rights.

"Good stuff."

Goto Shojiro saw his opportunity.

He thought to himself: As long as I resign from the cabinet, form my own political party, and develop the civil rights movement, then I will have the opportunity to run for election as a member of the House of Commons!

Although members of the House of Commons only have one supervisory power, uniting the people to impeach officials will definitely lead to success!

"My chance has come."

(End of this chapter)