The sun., 1894-12-27
The p. an.
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THE AfIKhDO
. the Greatest or L,v,ne Rui.r..

Es the Greatest OF Lfvtng Hutsrn.
For valor and ssgacity the Emperor Of Japan
has won distinction and renown this year. A
sovereign of whom but little was known by the
world at the opening of the year stands in the
front rank Of mankind's rulers at the end Of IL.
Any one who runs over the list of living mon-
archs marking the character and career of each
OF them, is likely to be led to believe that the
foremost one among them all Is Mutsuhito, the
Mikado of Japan.
Look at his titles TO fame recall his life and
| work, and then think of those Of any Of the
| Others or of all of them. Under his rule, the
greatest and most marvellous transformation
that ever took place, within short time, in any
nation of the world, has been brought about.
During his reign Of twenty eight years, and un-
der his guidance. Japan has cast of the feudal-
| ism which had existed there from time imme-
| mortal, has changed her political system
| from that OF absolutist imperialism to
that Of parliamentary government under the
crown. has reorganized her ancient social sys-
TEN, has adopted all the arts and industries Of
civilization, has become the first military power
OF the Oriental world. has developed her old re-
| sources and created new ones, has enlarged her
| commerce in such a measure as to alarm her
| Western competitors. and has established for
herself a high name among the leading powers
| Of the earth.
These are Of the things which have adorned
the history Of Japan since the Emperor Nut
suhito assembled the throne Of his ancestors in
February. 1867, when he was in the fifteenth
year of his life.
The record is one without . parallel In our
age, IL It ever had parallel.
There Is not q doubt that the Emperor has
been the leading spirit as well as the master Of
the Government during all the period of recon-
struction. He 1t was who. under his own abso-
Lutte authority. and soon after he assumed the
crown, and when not yet twenty years Of age,
issued that revolutionary decree by which .
large proportion OF his subjects were relieved
from disabilities old as his dynasty, and
raised TO the dignity Of citizens Of the en-
pire. He It was who soon afterward issued
the decree for the entire suppression Of the
feudal system, which had been rooted and
grounded in his country. He 10 was who, six
years ago. voluntarily Invested himself of part
Of his own powers. granted liberal Constitu-
ton. and created q Parliament Of two Houses
which has the right TO enact measures Of legisla-
ton, subject to the veto Of the crown, and
which. within recent years. has repeatedly ex-
ercised q measure Of Independence not often
surpassed by the Congress of the United States.
Praise be to the enlightened Mikado, o title
which, in his case worthily illustrates Its orig-
nal meaning. THE Honorable Gate" Such .
gate is Mutsuhito.
10 would need pages OF THE SUN to tell of the
Emperor's works during the past quarter OF
century. Suffice It to say that while he has had
the counsel OF statesmen Of very high ability, 1t
is mainly to him that the new Japan owes Its ex-
istence.
There is the best OF reason for believing that
In the conduct Of the war now waged upon China
he has played q leading part. When the war
broke out he left his capital and took up his
abode at q point upon the western coast, from
vVhf ha u-ars fha Ill,
vey the operations by sea and by land. at which
he could obtain prompt intelligence of
the course of events, and from which.
as Is known with assurance, he has
issued orders that were quickly conveyed TO his
military and naval commanders. The japanese
Minister ut Washington. who Is not merely O |
courtier. but as proud a patriot any In Japan.
Is the authority for saying that from the time the
first shot OF the fired In Corea until the |
army took up its march for Pekin the Emperor
has every day actively exercised his full and i'm
mediate authority as Commander In Chief. 1t Is
not the less true that in the field of diplomacy,
or in the conduct OF negotiations with European |
and other foreign Governments the Emperor has |
served his country at first hand. His recent |
speech To the Houses OF Parliament gave salts |
factory proof OF his thorough knowledge OF all |
affairs relating to the interests OF Japan.
Who Is there among the living soverelgns of |
the world with whom he can be compared?
Not certainly with any one OF them in Asia. |
from the imbecile Hwangti of China to the |
Shah Of Persia and the sultan OF Turkey.
Look over the European list. The Car OF |
Russia is young man, who has just reached |
the throne, and Of whose ability nothing is |
known. The Emperor OF Germany has yet TO |
give proof that he possesses any genius for |
politics or for war. The Emperor Of Austria is |
amiable old ruler, who gets along as we'll as |
he can with his many-tongued subjects. The |
King Of Italy-unhappy Umberto IL The lesser |
kings not upon the list. The Queen OF Egg |
land is not upon it. The President Of the |
French republic has no place there. The score |
of other republican Presidents in North and |
South America-peace be to them!
No other living ruler than the Emperor of
Japan has record like his, record OF great
things accomplished, record OF progress and OF |
victory.
More than the reign Of Augustus was to Rome, /
more than was that Of Alfred or the Conqueror
TO England, OF that OF dustavus Adolphus 70
Sweden, or that Of Peter the Great 10 Russia, or
that OF Napoleon 10 France, or that OF Victor
Emmanuel to Italy, or that of William l. to
Germany, more than the Presidency of Lincoln
was to our own country, has been the reign Of
MutsuhitO TO Japan.
Mutsuhito, The Honorable Gate" il In the
prime OF life; he Is but az years Of age. He
may yet have long career as the sovereign Of
the Sunrise Kingdom. II he be not the greatest
OF living rulers, who is there in any country
that can dispute his title 70 that distinetionf
II he he not the foremost Of the worlds reyo-
lutionists, what lie the name of the foremost7
JoHN BWISToH.