New-York tribune., 1873-01-18
JAPANESE PROGRESS.


THE MARIA LUZ AGAIN-THE HEIR-PRE
sUMPTIVE OF THE MIKADo AT A FOREIGN
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
IFRoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEsl
YEDo, Dec. 7-You have now, or presently
will have. among you two OF the former Daimos Of this
Empire who stood, at comparatively recent period
representatives of the strongest opposing interest this
nation. Both bear names which are famous in Japan
csc annals and the founders OF their families were
prominent leaders in the stormy events Of the 10th
tury one OF them, indeed aimed at and nearly
oeeded in making his house the ruling power in the land,
and prevented from doing so only by the address
and courage Of his brilliant rival. Hdeyosi, or Taiko
This the renowned Shbata OF the three leading
generals Of Nobunaga the masterspirit Of the revolt
against the Ashikaga dynasty of sloguns After the
violent death Of Nobunaga, IN 1882 shiData
and Hideyosi intrigued for the guardianship OF
the dead warriors son and heir. Inc latter
secured IT, and his opponent being dsgraeed retired TO
his native province and there after few fruitess at
tempts to reassert himself committed suicide. with
great number OF his retaner He had been on terms OF
intimate friendship with Hdeyosi who at one time man
ested regard him and another hero Of the period by
assuming new name, constructed OF syllables taken
from those Of his associates. This name, " Ha Shiba
Is usually applied 20 Hdeyos in the chronicles of the
Jesuts Tako bore, like the Turk. no brother near
The throne" and shbata felt that after his rivals
ccsson % supreme power existence would be useless
struggle BY the act OF wholesale "hara kr he ganedfor
himself according the peculiar sentiment Of the nation,
lasting fame which probably his military exploits would
never have conferred upon him. Since that time the
family has welded comparatively little infu-
enoe but it has enjoyed intense respectability. The
popularity about the most recent possessOr Of the
ttle that which makes him representative character,
Is that he the last believers the theory of the
exclusion Of foreigners and in the superiority OF all the
institutions Of his country those Of other ma
tons Although be leaves his native shores, 1t by no
a rfuu-p1f
OF the advantages of intercourse with the world at
large The project Of his visit abroad does not proceed
from his impulse. On the contrary when his cmei
officers first suggested il he manifested strong disn-
chnaon and it only by repeated and urgent repre-
scnatons that they persuaded him 20 shake on his In
difference and prepare himself for journey which be
looked upon merely as a purposeless hardship. This
does not howeyer, prove that he will fail to be i'm
pressed by his foreign experiences He is OF an age TO
enjoy himself. is said TO be keen-wtted man OF the
wOrd-that is, Of the ancient japanese word-and 10
possess qualities Of sound that are sure to over
come time his stubborn preudices He has an income
OF $4,000 or $4,000 at his dispOsa-sufcent to enable
him 10 the President Of the United States on equal
or superior financial terms, and TO command abundant
means Of intellectual improvement or personal recrea-
alton, wherever he may 60
THE ExDAIMIOs OF HIKONE.
TIE second visitor of noble descent is the present
cnef OF family of highest dignity in the State the
q hereditary position Of singular sway and strength
THIS is the ex-daimio OF Hkone, otherwise known as Iyi
Ramon no Kam II the true relation Of his house 10 the
government Of the Slogans could be fully known, II
would throw light upon many passages OF Japanese
history which are now obscure But II the policy Of
the descendants Of Iyeyas to prohibit the publication of
all records public events aud to this day there exist no
authentic annals of the past two centuries and half ex
ceptn manuscripts, which, until the overthrow Of the
Yedo Government in 1857. guarded by the utmost
secrecy by their These might now be made pubic
but with the exodus o. tie T0kugawls popular curiosity
concerning them seems also % have gone out. The
founder OF the Iy family was the valued officer of
Jyeyas from whom he received great wealth and rank.
and by whom he appointed 10 the guardianship OF
his successor with power SO transmit similar functions
O. his pOsterity for all time He made the chief Of
what we're called the Fudai daimios. and it was
understood that his line should always have
the preference in filing the Office of Regent.
His power in respects, appears TO have
been less circumscribed than even that OF the great
princes OF the great Tokugawa family, from whom, in
case need the SiOguns chosen In times OF dis
puted right OF accession his voice was most nhnentla
aud he said by 10 have had the right Of deposit
ton IN an extremity wnether this right was legu-
,naely possessed by him or not 1t is certain that in
instance he was concerned in its exercise for according
y Trustworthy manuscript records, he connived at
soine say assisted in-tbe assassination OF the fifth
ogun Tsunay yOsi. prcdigate imheeie, whose foies
were eudangerng the safety Of the lneal succession
Through all the successive the figure of
tie regent damio stands conspicuous Those who have
followed the of Japanese affairs since the visit OF
Commodore Perry, will readily recall the commanding
place assumed by Iyi Ramon during the disturbed
period OF 1882 which latter year he was murdered
ty the adherents Of the Tokugawa daimio, Mito This
obleman desired that his son, who had been adopted
into the family of Htotsubash and who really did gain
the highest office 1867, should become sogun in 1885,
but Iy declared in favor OF another candidate, whence
arose bitter enmity which terminated fatally for the
regent, as above mentioned
Iwell remember the excitement into which the mem
bors Of the first Japanese commission to America
worthy Hatamotos one OF whom IN greatly reduced
circumstances comes occasionally 10 renew with me the
,eeolectons OF his Washington fewere thrown by the
Intelligence OF the assassination long time was then
needed for news 70 reach America, and this event was
moi known until time in june, S6O when the treaty
bearers were in Philadelphia. dare say you VIII ma
record OF II in THE TRIBUNE Of that month The present
visitor TO the United States is the son OF the murdered
officer The father OF the earliest to foresee the
etnediepcy OF cultivating friendly relations with
forieners and the son is said to be animated by views
"a liberal in this day those OF his parent In 1852
when he was in full enjoyment OF his magnificent do
mains along the southern shores OF Lake blWa' ne
gathered In an annual revenue amounting IN value 10
upward Of a million dollars Al present he has some
thing over hundred thousand year. mention these
figures and others in similar cases. from time TO time,
90 show the extent of the opulence in which the great
daimios reveled until recently, and the comfortable
condition in which most of them still find themselves
notwithstanding their reduction TO pension OF one
tenth OF their former incomes. The exdaimio is ac-
oOmpaned believe by his younger brother ana sew
eral OF his retainers Of other days.
STATE OF AFFAIRS IN JAPAN.
The agtating though wholly groundess reports OF
dsorganzed state OF affairs in japan, which were indus
trousy circulated in the United States six weeks ago.
and which arrived here by the last steamer continue to
be discussed with much curiosity 1t is difficult for any
body 10 imagine how and where they could have origin
ated and quite as noOmprehensibe that the Charge
a.. 9.iras al washington should have considered II