ABSTRACT
IT can be easily understood that the activity of the reforming government, and the joyful acquiescence of the majority of the people, excited serious discontent in the class that had formerly played the chief part, and was now deprived of all its privileges. The Samurai found that in the general economic and industrial competition and progress they were outstripped by the citizens whom they had hitherto regarded with contempt They were even deprived of what had formerly distinguished them outwardly from citizens and peasants, the right to wear two swords, by an edict of 1871. The money compensation they received was very small; in any case it bore no relation to their former way of living, and was soon spent. The only work they understood was that of fighting, and they had neither the capacity nor the desire for industrial or agricultural employments. Those, and they were the greater part, who received no office saw themselves face to face with poverty. The large party of opposition to the new system of government that was thus formed among the Samurai included many who, a short time before, had supported the imperial government against the Shōgunate. They had not foreseen that the restoration of the imperial power would result in the complete abolition of the feudal system, and the ruin of their class. As it was clear to most of them that there was very little chance of the restoration of feudal conditions, they placed their hopes on a foreign war by means of which they thought to win fame and esteem. And so the Samurai agitated for war with Korea.
