Agricultural Policy, as Presented by a Great Japanese Writer (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906. Excerpt: ... Chapter 11 FUJDAMEHTAL BASIS OF SHIEYEK SATO'S ECONOMIC THEORY. in the last chapter we reviewed the relation existing between Shinyen Sato and the time in which he lived. It is now our purpose to take up the economic theory for which he stood. First of all there is one question to be answered, which is, -what was the fundamental basis of his agricultural policy? it was the belief of this great scholtr of whom we write that the ruler or rulers of a nation should govern the people not for their own benefit but for the best interests of the people. He believed that it was the Will of Heaven that the government should be primarily for the benefit and advancement of the people, and not for those who ruled. This being so, it was natural that he should oppose the monied aristocracy of his time, especially the feudal lords. It was well known that these lords were surrounded by wealthy assistants who lived in luxury. They wasted great amounts of wealth on fine and costly banquets, beautiful clothes, expensive mansions and gardens; they were also.surrounded by many beautiful girls and women with whom they idled away their days and nights in corruption and luxury. The lower classes were thus made to suffer. The merchants and farmers were continually made to pay these great expenses; they had to work long hours and hard and receive very little compensation for their labors. The natural result was the necessary breaking up of the homes of the poorer people; the separating of children from parents, of "brothers from sisters, and even of husbands from their wives. It was impossible to keep up a home and support a family. All of this Shinyen Sato saw to be true and it was this which he opposed. In short he believed that the rulers of his time were not fulfilling the Will ...