The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-17
JAPANESE MARTYRS.
The Touching Story of the Devoted
sogoro and the Cruel
Kotsuke-n0-Suke.

80 tfA@ ~ "a
Soma, a rich agricultural district con-
tanning I36 villages. Kotsuke-no-Suke
was a 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 a
member of the shogun's cabinet, Kot-
suke-no-Suke spent the greater part of
the year in Yeddo, where he maintained
a private palace and a host of retainers.
His extravaganza gave rise to much COM
ment in the capital, but few of the
naughty mobiles who frequented his en-
tertainments knew by what means the
lord OF Soma procured the vast sums of
money necessary to support such lavish
magnificence.
In the fall Of the year 1913 the farmers
dwelling 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
est hearted among them were filed with
despair at the apparent hopelessness of
their situation. Sogoro, the mayor of
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 a petition to the shogun's cabinet and
then to select a committee to go up to
Yeddo and present it to that body.
When the evil doings of their lord were
known to bis fellow councillors their up
braidings and his own wounded pride
might shame him into mercy. Sogoro's
plan was adopted, and he was one of the
number chosen to go to Yeddo 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:
81 am going to Yeddo, and it may be
that | shall never return, for it is hard
to say how l shall be treated by those in
power. | am willing, however, to give
my life for the good of our suffering fell
low tenants. Let us therefore drink a
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 riotousliving of their spendthrift lord,
and they wept when they reflected that
all his wanton luxury was bought with
the life blood of their furnishing friends
at Soma. In q 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 c~ondescended to listen to
their grievances and to accept their me-
mortal.
The action of Kotsuke-no-Suke's ten
ants created no little Stir in Yeddo, and
many observations upon that nobleman
and his 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
n time or another been guilty of OPP
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 to retur the petition
to the ~complainants. Accordingly So
goro received a 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:
ga short time ago you had the aidac-
ity to thrust this petition into the hands
of Lord Kuze. By his extraordinary
clemency he forgives your ~offense, but
beware that you do not again presume
upon his lordsliip's fo~rbearance, for Ill
will it fare with you"
Ellis lordship's censure is just" hum
bly, responded Sogoro. but. oh, my
lordsl this action Of ours is not hasty
or i'll considered. Year after year have
we suffered untold hardships. until now
we and OUR friends are without, even
the accessories of life. Therefore have
we presented this petition. I pray you,
lords, consider our casc--vouchsafe to
help us that we may live. Our gratitude
to you shall know no bounds"
"Your request is a just one," replied
the councillors, when they had heard the
words of Sogoro, ''but your memorial
cannot be received"
Disheartened beyond measure Sogoro
sought OH his companions and acqua;nt-
ed thcm 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 themselves and their friends.
AT last SogoEo said:
There is still one thing left for us to
do; we can appeal to our lords master,
the shogun. know it is a capital of
Tense for u cominoner to approach his
majesty, yet, for tho 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 toll 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 TO- made
haste to follow out his suggestions. The
intrepid farmer and his six associates
drew up a new memorial setting forth