Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-29
The Outbreak i'm Japan.
Correspondence OF the \. 7. Trlbuhe'
KAcAuc Innnn Anril 2 lSE

INGulS Vi lllCISot lliiShIh Npo'A NS' ~AeNA
esting leastW Use to us whom inclination or tate
has thrown upon thesn shores. My last letter
gave you information of the assassination OF
the two Dutch shipmasters, in the streets OF
Yokohama, and the want of any apparent
cause therefor That event has been absorbed
in one of greater Importance, perhaps should
say greater signifcance-the ASSASSINATION OF
the Gotairo or Prince Regent, on the 24th ult.
The present emperor, as you know, Is youth
of fifteen ears and during his minority the
| administration of affairs is vested in the hands
of a regent, appointed by the council OF
| state. The Office is regarded so honorable
that the person selected to fill 1t wears his title
| and honorable distinction for life, though Its
functions cease with the majority of the young
prince. The Gotairo a little past midday, on
| the oath ult.. was returning from his customa-
ry daily audience with the emperor. He was
escorted as usual by a large train OF armed at
| PENDANTS preceding and following the mormon
in which he rode. Leaving the palace at the
| same time were the Prince of Dwarf and Prince
of Kinsin, the titular brothers OF the emperor,
also attended by large retinues. The EN-
peror's residence, for, strictly speaking, palace
lie has none at present, it having been burned
in early winter, is the center OF three waned
and fortified enclosures All the space wlthln
the three enclosures is occupied by the lmpe'
y Va
ment, Damios and governors resident at the
court In the middle enclosure, waiting the
approach of these trains, was Il body OF Y
men, servants apparently of some Dalmo, Tor
they bore on their shoulders portions OF a
princes baggage, and, as the weather was wet,
wore the ordinary rain cloaks OF menials. AT
a favorable moment, when the Gotairo's reti-
nue. was crossing a moat this band OF assas-
sins, for such they proved to be, threw down
their burdens, cast aside their ain-cloaks, and
stood forth fulLarined men clad in mail. They
made a rush upon the regents norimon, with
drawn swords, cutting it furiouSly Two
pistol shot were also fired into it. The
sailants, being intent upon the murder of the
regent, paid no attention to his guard, who
now gathered around, and after a severe
struggle beat the assailants back. -Four
of the assailants and six of the regents
men were slain. The regent was severely
wounded and his subsequent death is both
affirmed and contradicted. Nor is it easy to
learn the truth, for the japanese speak from
motives of policy ra her than from motives of
truth i'll all such affairs The retinue of the
Prince of Dwarf, which was in advance of the
Regents, bore their master rapidly away from
the melee. The guard of the Prince of Kinsin
drew themselves up around his norimon to act
on the defensive only; interference by their
code Of honor was out of the question. The
surviving assailants made good their flight,
but were afterward arrested and await their
tate-as yet undetermined Unfounded re.
ports OF their execution have prevailed. The
soldier of Daimio, like the Highland clans
man, is accountable to his own chief alone,
and it is as rare a thing for the emperor him
self to seize a criminal under his chiefs pro-
lection.
An affair like this, the attempted assassina-
ton of the first man in the empire, within the
royal precincts, is one of the gravest impor-
lance in its bearings, especially in land where
the throne is supported more by the balancing
forces of rival factions than by any other bond
of union. The deed is brought home to prince
Mito, whose soldiers the assaiants were. Mito
is one OF the three titular brothers of the en-
peror, from whose families the royal success
sion is maintained for selection. On the death
OF the late emperor, year and half since,
Mito was an aspirant to the throne. a young
prince of the house of Kinsin, however, was
the chosen one of the DaimoS. Nor was Mito
so much as honored with the post of regent
during the young emperors minority. Such
was Mltos attitude towards the government
that, year since, Mito was forced to resign
his honors and pretensiors to the crown i'll IA
vor of his SON. Since that time he has been
the unceasing enemy of the present gov
ernment and what is especially untor-
tunate, he has been the powerful oppo-
nent Of the new foreign relations of the
empire. just year previous to this last at
tack, on the same day Of the year-one of the
great annual holdays-the regents nOrimon
was fired into. The assailant at that time was
follower of Mito, and, according to some ac-
counts, it was this transaction that eliminated
in Mito's disgrace. The common popular ru-
mors are that the late emperor died by poison,
given at the instigation OF Mito, and that the
late burning of the palace was his diabolical
design as well. Mito has fled to his large es-
tates he is powerful in men and means, and
whether he will openly raise the standard of
revolt, making his rallying cry equally h3stili
ty to the present dynasty and to all foreign re-
lations, we wait thoughtfully, anxiously, to
see. The ministers of state assure the foreign
representatives that this broil does not affect
foreign affairs, but, with Mito's antecedents,
this is not so clear.
When l wrote of the murder of the Dutch
ship masters, | intimated that the frequent
assassnations might be the offspring OF set
tied hate. There is now scarcely doubt but
that these murders were instigated by this
very Mito, who thus hoped to embroil the pres
ent dynasty i'll a foreign quarrel. His last
blow was struck at the throne itself What
further schmes this ambitious old man has, for
he is seventy years of age, time will reveal.
That a civil war should arise is far from improb,
able. The government is straning every nerve
to secure the perpetuity of quiet. 1t assures
us of our safety, and at the same time places
guards all about us to make that safety safe