Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-27
A TALE OF OLD JAPAN


In the first half Of the Seventeenth CEN
fury Kotsuke-no-Suke was the lord Of
Soma. rich agricultural district con-
tanning 1856 villages. kotsuke-no-Suke
was hard, grasping landlord, who OPP
pressed his peasants by heavy taxes until
they were reduced to the last extremity
of poverty. Year after year the wretched
farmers petitioned their lord. through
the village mayors, to have their burdens
lightened, but without avail. Being
member Of the shogun's cabinet. Kot-
suke-no-Suke spent the greater part OF
the year in Yeddo, where he maintained
private palace and host Of retainers
His extravaganza gave rise to much COM
nent in the capital, but few of the
naughty mobiles who frequented his en-
,ertainments knew by what means the
ord Of Soma procured the vast sums Of
money necessary to support such lavish
nagntficence.
In the fall of the year 1913 the farmers
lwelling on the estate Of Kotsuke-no-
Suke assembled together to devise meas
ures for their relief. That year the taxes
had been heavier than ever before and
scores of families were threatened with
starvation during the winter The stout
.st hearted among them were filled with
despair at the apparent hopelessness of
their situation. Sogoro, the mayor of
one of the villages and himself a farmer,
had been throughout all their vicissitudes
the stanch friend of the down trodden
peasants. He now advised them to draw
up petition to the shogun's cabinet and
then to select committee to go up to
Yeddo and present it to that body.
When the evil doings of their lord we're
known TO his fellow coa,cilors their up
braidings and his owr wounded pride
might shame him into mercy. Sogoro's
plan was adopted, and he was one of the
number chosen to go to Yedlo to present
the memorial to the cabinet Knowing
the dangers that attended his mission
Sogoro. on the eve Of his departure,
called his family together and said:
al am going to Yeddo, and it may be
that shall never return. for it is hard
to say how shall be treated by those in
power am willing, however. to give
my life for the good of our suffering fel
low tenants Let us therefore drink
cup Of wine together, for it may be that
you shall see my face no more If die,
mourn not over my fate-weep not for
me-"
Sogoro and his companions went to
Yeddo and there they soon learned Of
the riotous living of their spendthrift lord
and they wept when they reflected that
all his wauton luxury was bought with
the life blood of their furnishing friends
at Soma In few days they had an
opportunity Of presenting their petition
to Lord kuze, a member of the cabinet,
and they all felt elated that the great
nobleman had condescendt-d to listen to
their grievances and to accept their me-
mortal
The action Of kotsnke-no Suke's ten
ants created no little stir in Yeddo, and
many observations upon that nobleman
and bis style of living were made that
could scarcely be called complimentary.
But it does not do for people living in
glass houses to throw stones. All the
members Of the shogun's cabinet had at
one time or another been guilty of op-
pressing their own peasants. and it would
be extremely awkward for them now to
sit in Judgment upon kotsuke-no-Suke.
So it was decided N return the petition
to the compliments Accordingly So
goro received summons to appear at
the residence of Lord Kuze. There he
was met by two councillors, who handed
him the i'll starred memorial, saying:
"A short time ago YOU had the audac-
ity to thrust this petition into the hands
of Lord Kuze. BY his extraordinary
clenency he forgives your otfense, but
beware that you do not again presume
upon his lordship's forbearance. for i'll
will it fare with you"
His lorlsiip's censure is just" hum
bly, responded Sogoro. But, oh, my
lords, this action Of ours is not hasty
or i'll considered. Year after year have
we suffered untold hardships until now
we AMI our friends are without even
the necessaries of hfe. Therefore have
We presented this petition. pray you,
lords. consider our case-vouchsafe to
help lis that we may live. Our gratitude
to you SHAH know no bounds"
Your request is just one" replied
the councillors, when they had heard the
words of Se;,oro. but your memorial
cannot he received"
Dislc;.rtened beyond measure Sogoro
sought "ul his companions and acquaint-
ed them with the result Of their efforts
1t was a gloomy evening which the
Soma men spent together, discussing
with fearful voices the desperate extrem-
ity to which the failure of their plans
had reduced tliemsel yes and their friends
At last Sogoro said:
There is still one thing left for US to
the S. ,un. know it is capital Of
Tense Tor r"mmoner to approach HE
majesty. yet. for the sake Of my suffer-
ing brethren. shall sacrifice myself |
that their wrongs may be made known
and happily righted. On the morrow,
therefore. do you all. except six men,
return to Soma and tell our poor friends |
to have stout hearts. for there is yet hope
for them"
Sogoro had from the first been recog-
nized as the leading spirit Of the enter
prise. and his companions now made
haste to follow out his suggestions. The
intrepid farmer and his six associates
drew up new memorial setting forth
their grievance in a plain, straightfor-
ward manner and earnestly appealing
for redress
Shortly after. while the shotgun, I've
mitsu. was on his way to Uyeno to wor-
ship at the tombs Of his ancestors, So
soro contrived to break through the
troop of armed retainers that were
.scorting his majesty. and thrust the
petition into the hands of the shotgun.
The daring farmer was seized and hur-
lied off to prison. Iyemitsu was . just
'uler and gave the peasants memorial
lis careful attention. The result Of it
III was that kotsuke-no-Suke was or
Tered to reduce his tenants taxes to .
roper amount, and TO return to them