Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-25

To know I'm fartE = on from heaven
Than when wa = boy.
Thomas Hood
A TALE OF CID JAPAN.
In the first half ot tie Seventeenth cen.
trry Ko.suke-no-Suke was the lord Of
Soma, rich agricultural district con.
tanning 1856 villages. Kotsuke-no-Suke
was a hard, grasping landlord, who op-
pressed his peasants by heavy taxes until
they were reduced to tie last extremity
Of poverty. Year after year the wretched
farmers petitioned their lord, through
lie village mayors, to have their burdens
lightened, but without avail. Being a
member Of the shogun's cabinet, Kot-
s,ike-no-Suke spent the greater part OF
the year in Yeddo, where hs maintained
private palace and q host Of retainers.
His extravagance gave rise 10 much COM
ment in tho 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 we're threatened with
starvation during the winter. The stout
est hearted among them were filed with
despair at the apparent hopelessness Of
their situation. SoSoro, the mayor Of
one Of the villages and himself . 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 20 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. Sogoros
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:
Il am going t. Ycddo. and it may be
that shall never return, for It y hard
10 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 q
cup of wine together, for it may b. that
you shall see my face no more. II I die,
mourn not over my fate-weep not for
ina"
Sogoro and his companions went to
Yeddo. and there they soon learned Of
the riotousliving Of their spendthrift lord,
and they sept when they reflected that
all his wantcn luxury was bought with
the life blood Of their furnishing friends
at Soma. In a few days they had an
opportunity Of presenting their petition
10 Lord Knze, a member Of the cabinet,
and they all felt csatcd that the great
nobleman had condescended 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 stonea All the
members Of the shogun's cabinet had at
ono time or another been guilty Of op-
pressing their own peasants. and it would
be extremely awkward for them now to
cit I'm Judgment upon Kotsuke-no-Suke.
So it was decided to return the petition
70 the complainants. Accordingly 30
goro received = summons to appear ct
the residence Of Lord Kuxe. There he
was met by two councillor, who handed
him the III starred memorial, saying:
"A short limo ago You had the audac-
tty to thrust this petition into the hands
Of Lord Kuxe. BY his extraordinary
c1emency he forgives your offense, but
beware that you do not again presume
upon his lordshipis forbearance, for III
win u fare with you"
"His lordslip's censure d just" hum
bly, responded Sogoro. "But, oh, my
lordsl this action Of ours e not hasty
or i'll considered. Year after year have
We suffered In,eld hardships, until now
We and our friends are without even
tie necessaries Of life. Therefore have
We presented this petition. pray you,
lords, consider our case-vouchsafe to
help u that We may live. Our gratitude
to you shall know no bounds."
"lnur request Is ADJUST one," replied
the councillors, when they had heard the
words Ut 6og0ro, "but your memorial
cannot b received"
Disheartened beyond measure Sogoro
sought out his companions and acquaint-
ed them with the result Of their efforts.
Il was q gloomy evening which the
Soma men spent together, discussing
with fearful voices the desperate extrem-
ity to which tho failure Of their plans
had re3nced themselves md their friends.
A. last 6oforo said:
's1hess = SIN ono thing left for us to
Do; Ne can appeal to our lords master,
the ahcgun. know Il = capital Of
tense for . commoner to approach bis
majesty, yet, for the sake a 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 Door friends
to have stout hearts, for there Is yet hope
Tor them.r
Sogoro had from the first been recor.
ni.ed ~ the leading spirit Of the enter
prise. and his companions now made
haste to follow out his suggestions. Tho
intrepid farmer and his nix associates
drew up new memorial setting forth
their grievance in . plain, straiehtfor-
ward manner and earnestly appealing
for redress. SIS
Shortly after, while the Shotgun. I've
mitsu, was On his way to Uyeno to wor.
ship at the tombs Of his ancestors. So
goro contrived to break through the
troop Of armed retainers that were
escozting his majesty, and thrust the
petition into the hands Of the shotgun.
The daring farmer was seized and hur-
ned on to prison. Iyemitsu was a lust
ruler and gave the peasants memorial
his careful attention. The result Of IL
~ was that Kotsuke-no-Suke was or.
dered to reduce his tenants taxes to a
proper amount, and to return to them
The money he had wrongfully deprived
hem Of.
The lord a Soma was . very angry
nan. but, though he might rage and VOW