Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-26


The New York Tribunes correspondent giyes
the following particulars in regard to Hirosawa,
the Japanese statesman, of whose assassination
the telegraph Informed us some days ago:
The assassination of Hirosawa Sangi. of
which you will have received information by
telegraph, is regarded as an event of far more
startling political significance than any other
within the last six months, although. it is quite
impossible Tor foreigners to ascertain the imme-
date causes which led to it, the precise move.
ment OF which ii is perhaps part, or the conse-
quence 1t may presage. Among the Japanese
themselves, many whose opportunities of OBJ
tanning accurate information should be tbe best
PROTESTANT probably with sincerity-an entire
ignorance OF any public motive for such deed.
But thatit has political meaning, and no other
Is generally beheYed partly on account ofthe con-
splcuous position OF the man and his great ac-
tivity in pressing forward the most energetic
measures Of government reform, and partly he
cause of his personal popularity which f0rbids
the idea Of any private malice having been en-
tertaned toward him. Only few DAYS after
his death, the daimio of Inaba, who has been
more or less entangled in affairs OF state for the
last ten years, and who certainly is not friendly
to the present government, assured me that he
did not believe Hirosawa had an enemy in the
world. And such is the universal declaration
This, OF course, is only matter of general con-
Wcuon, and 1t may yet be discovered that
some secret fued existed, of which the
pubic knew nothing, and which has thus tragic
any ended: But at present, his family, his
| Iiehas, and his official associates, appear con-
hdent that his advanced position alone made
nllh lne oO1ect OF an attack which may have
| proceeded from some of the old reactionists-S
Few oil whom are still fiercey adverse to any
| form OF progress which involves foreign recoy-
niuon-or rom some unscrupulaus rival of the
| dalmio OF Chosin twhose confidential adviser
Hirosawa formerly was, and whose influence in
the government was kept constantly alive by the
active officers exertions), who did NOT shrink at
this violent means of Kidding himself of an OBJ
| stacle TO his own supremacy. The short and
conclusive argument Of the sword is still unhap-
PLY too frequently employed in Japan for the
settlement OF vexed questions of state; and in
Hirosawa's case, it is tolerably certain that
nothing but so desperate an expedent would
have checked him in any course he had de
termined 10 pursue; for he was man of great
courage and resolution, and was not more dis.
tinguished for his enlightened ideas than for his
determination 10 assert and forward them. The
most reasonable conjecture, in the absence OF
real evidence, is that some powerful leader OF
the jealous southern factions saw his way TO an
easier and earlier realization of his schemes il
Hlrosawa could be thrown out of hi paths.
- Hirosawa was native of the province OF
Chosiu,. and was, early in life, attached to the
personal retnue of the great daimio, who
Iuies Inc district. Although not of very eX.
aaiteu origin, his indisputable talents procured
nlln rapid advancement, and when compare
.IseH Souhg ne became leading adviser in his
.laetei councils. While belonging to no.
toIlously Warilke elan his attention annears IN
nave been strictly devoted to civil labors and
Tor considerable period before the disturb.
ances Of 1857 the chief direction of the comnl;.
Gated political relations OF Chosiu was in Hi
hands When the government was reorpanzed
tnree years ago, by the deposition OF the tycoon