Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-10

is largely directing the foreign policy of
Japan. He is. in fact, the Gladstone and
Bismarck of this part of the world, stand
ing higher than Lii Hung Chang has ever
stood. and having the confidence not only of
the leading men of Japan, but the implicit
confidence of the emperor
Marquis Ito and the Mikado.
The relations of Marquis Ito and the EN-
peror have been for many years of the
closest possible nature. They began with
the downfall of the shotgun, when his
majesty was dragged forth from the pup
pet-like seclusion of his palace in Kioto and
by the party to which Ito belonged placed
on the throne at Toxic and made the real
ruler of Japan. 1t was Ito who acted most
as tutor and adviser to his majesty in his
dealings with foreign nations. and in the
reorganization of his empire along the lines
winch have produced the new japan and
made the Japanese people the greatest of
the Asiatic nations.
Romantic Career.
Marquis Ito was, in fact, the first of the
great men of Japan to realize that his coun-
try could not remain shut out from the
rest of the world and that it could not
successfully fight the great nations of Eu-
rope without modern ships and without a
khowledse OF our science of war. The
story has been told but never as MARQUIS
Ito himself could tell it. He got his first
glimpse of the western civilization as a
boy Then. as now, he was an intense
patriot. and he, like the other young no.
bles of the time, was opposed to having
foreigners land in Japan. He was of the
soidler class, and at one time belonged to
band of young men who ran away from
their homes with the idea of clearing the
foreign ships and men from the harbor of
Yokohama. Their boyish expedition was
discovered and stopped by the soldiers of
the shotgun. little later on Ito saw the
WarShlpS OF the foreigners and noticed how
well they We're armed and managed, and
he concluded that the only way his coun-
try could ever successfully fight the Euro
peans would be by its people learning their
methods For this purpose he and Count
innouye decided to go to England and
bring back the desired information
The two boys proposed their plan to their
MI itaTy commander. the Prince of Chosiu
VINO gave them 5000 for their expenses
1t was contrary to law for them to leave
Japan. but the prince instructed them to
slip away and take ship for England where
they We're to learn how the English made
tl.elr guns and ammunition and to study the
secrets of European naval supremacy. They
attempted to do this, but by a mistake
were shipped as common sailors Their
money was stolen and they had many ad-
ventures in working their way before the
mast TO England. There Ito saw with Won
der the wealth and power of the western
world and realized that Japan could never
nope 10 W1lnSland Its combined strength.
He and 1nnouye talked the matter over
and decided to go back home and advise
their people to adopt the new civilization
They did so, and as their first reward In
Eouye was nearly killed by mob of fanatic
patriots and Ito had for time to keen in
hiding. 1t was soon seen, however that
the boys were right. The statesmen of one
party, with them, organized the new move
ment, and from that time on both have
been In the front ranks of everything which
has aided in making Japan the great coun-
try it is today.
May Write Book.
AS chatted with Marquis Ito this after
Eoon, l referred to his wonderful career
and asked him If he had kept a dairy, and
whether he would not some time write "a
book Of "reminiscences, saying that such a
volume might pay him half a million dol
lars. as that of Gen. Grant did his family
The marquis laughed as he replied:
Such sums from book making are only
possible In rich country like the United
states. Our people are comparatively poor
and our authors as a rule make but little
A profit of $4,000 from such a book would
be considered enormous here. Besides, 1
nave no written notes of my early life /
had diary. but this was lost during the
revolution. I should have to rely upon my
memory for that period of my career Be
present to have time to write about the
past. ] may do something Of the kind in
the future but not now
AS Marquis Ito said this We were sitting
in the library of his Toxic house, situated
on the hill just above the American Legal
ton. A Japanese servant dressed in the
costume of the country had Just brought
In some delicious tea. which was served in
cups of the most delicate porcelain and
which We slipped as We talked. The mar
quis himself was dressed in European
clothes. wearing a frock coat of black and
dark pantaloons. He has strong face.
bright black eyes and an energetic manner
He is now about sixty years of age but
Is still IN his intellectual and physical
prime He speaks English well. and our con-
versation was carried. on in that tongue
Japan and Russia.
One of the first questions l asked was as
to the present situation Of Japan as regards
Russia. Said J.: Your excellency has
doubtless noticed that the air here is full
of war and the rumors of war Both the
japanese papers and the foreign Journals
published in Japan are predicting that Ia
| pan will fight sooner or later What do
| you think of these reports? Is there real
| ly any danger of a war between your peo-
| pie and the Russians?"
No" replied the marquis. 1.-THE relations
| Of the Russian and japanese governments