Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-26
OBJ Daily Spy d1lorost dQ@nsOap gonug 9prlI g. 1884,

and the resumption of power-or what passes
for poverty the mikado, the principal daimios
concerned in the movement selected their Ia
vorite representatives to participate in the man
agement of the national affairs at 1edo. Thus,
in various departments, some of the cleverest
men of Hizen, Satsuma, Ava, and Others may
now be found ostensibly serving the mikado
alpne, but really directing the destinies of the
country according to the interests OF
their former patrons The lord Oh
Chosiu sent Hirosawa as his alter ego,
and caused him to be raised to probably the
highest dignity that subject without lofty per-
sonal rank cou1 hope to obtain-that OF
"Sangi," one of the most potent and influential
tides Of Japan. The chief board of government
here is the Dai-io-kwan, the nominal leading
members of which are one or two mobiles of ele-
waited station, but the active management OF
which is controlled By the "SangT' and numer-
Gus officers beneath them. In the present or
ganization of affairs every department Of state
is subject to their supervision, and as, IN TINS
case talent takes the only precedence, and IS
fettered by none Of the usual embarrassing
forms, it was not difficult for the clear'headed
southern statesman to grasp and hold position
at least second to that of none of his associates,
and to exercise a commanding influence
wherever the authority OF the cabinet could pen
citrate. That he used his advantages for the best
interests of his country, and that, whatever his
fidelity to the purposes of his former master
may have been, he united toit thorough deter
minaton to forward in the most comprehen-
sive manner every measure Of progress and re-
form that could be devised for the welfare OF the
entire nation, all persons who nave
ever been brought into official contact
with him will | think, heartily admit.
And believe that the respect which was unlVer-
sally acknowledged for his public character was
not greater than the regard in which ne was
personally held. There could not be more
conclusive contradiction than he individually
afforded of the popular theory that all Oriental
| politicians must necessarily accomplish their
| work bv means of fraud, duplicity and cunning.
| He was one of the manifest fellows that ever
bIeahed; frank, hearty, full OF pluck ana Vlgor,
| and equally courageous in combating the pleJu'
| dlces of his too conservative companions and IN
| resisting the unreasonable demands of foreign
| presumption. His aspect and manner, com
| pared with those of most of his countrymen,
| were, it must be confessed, greatly in his favor
| He was unquestionaOly the finest looking Japan
| ese | have yet seen; about forty years OF age,
nearly six feet tall with massive frame, but
always alert and active, with countenance at
all times impressive and striking, but singularly
attractive when animated by discussion OF any
kind and invariably possessed by that native
grace and courtesy which seems the Dlrthrlght
of every person in this land, whatever his es-
tate.
The assassination took place early in the
morning of Monday, Feb 81. A little after
midnight his house, which stands in one Of the
most prominent parts OF 1edo, facing tne puDllc
race-course, and almost under the shadow of
the castle wall, was broken into by a band of
armed men, some thirty in number, and be was
Instantly murdered while he slept. Before a
general alarm could be given the assailantS had
vanished as rapidly as they had appeared
There was, unfortunately, no guard upon the
premises, and as the house stands almost alone,
whatever disturbance might have been created
out of doors passed entirely unnoticed. AT an
early hour, soon after dawn, the government
officials were busy searching for the criminals.
Similar investigations to those which proved so
efficacious in the case of Messrs. Dallas and
Ring, were at once instituted; and, as | write,
rumOr comes in that the actual perpetrator has
already been apprehended. If he be not yet
secured, he undoubtedly will be. The govern
ment can be energetic enough in an emergency
like this. The startling effect which the deed
has produced is shown in-among other ways
the precautions that have suddenly been taken
to protect the public offices of Yedo, and espec-
tally all the avenues leading to the interior of
the mikado's castle AT each gate the guards have
been multiplied, and, where two or three rife
men were formerly considered sufficient to hold
the ENTRANCES, scores of armed men are now