The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-05
TIT Nix ADO ! And !. J!
HIS Fine KINGDOM.
The Slow Conservative Wayby Which
This Asiatic Ruler Has Brought
His Land into Riches, Power
and Prominence.

His Landlnto Riches, Power
and Prominence.
The Mlkado Of Japan expects to profit
by this war with China more than any
OF the other rulers of Europe and Asia
VIII profit. From the first he has spur
red on his troops to the enemy's pun
7tsEnent and at the initiative great bat
5tesSthe japanese bore the brunt of the
fight.
The Mikado himself IS not in the fray,
a1or=the japanese would not spare their
ruler in war, nor the risk of his losing his
head before the Boxers spear; but from
afarS he governs his troops and is the ideal
MINISTER OF war, from the throne.
Always slightly inclined to be warlike
the Japanese have insisted upon their
rights, where China was concerned with
persistercy that demanded the respect
Of the Powers. In the japanese and
Chinese war they showed what they could
do at sea; and now on land they are show
ing their proves again.
Foreseeing the scrap that must in
evitably come the NIixado, like an ex-
cellent general. has kept his troops pre-
pared and at moments notice they went
into battle.
China lays all the blame of her troubles
and her loss of pretige to the Mkado.
This remarkable man, who has the power
of coming to the front at the right time,
is stranger to the world. SO. quietly
does he hide in his own kingdom.
JAPANESE LAW.
The empire of Japan shall be reigned
over and governed by line of emperors,
unbroken for ages eternal
These words constitute Article of the
Constitution of Japan promulgated Feb
ruary H. 1889, exactly to the day, almost
81
the American treaty ships were sighted
from 1dzu. On November 3, 1900, will
occur the birthday of the Emperor of
Japan, who in his lne-the Oldest of
political dynasties in the worid-stands
officially the 21st.
The Emperor, whose name means lit
orally gentleman opened his eyes in
the sacred city of Kioto on November,
8. 1852. Very curiously, in the view of
Americans. this was Just about the time
that Commodore Mathew c. Perry re-
ceived his orders to proceed in the steam
frigate Mississippi to make a treaty with,
Japan. AS all know, Perry went to the
Tycoon's headquarters, near Ieddo. and
never knew till the day Of his death how
real, though hidden, was the sentiment of
the japanese people toward the NEkado,
who stood to them as the Son of Heaven
and the representative on earth of the
rest of the world afterward.
Mutsuh!to was the second son of the
Emperor Konie who reigned from 1917 to
1867 dying at the age of thirty-seven.
His mother was the Empress Asako. Her
family name was Fujawara, she being of
that ll11strious family which, before the
domination of the military classes in the
eleventh century. furnished most of Japan's
statesmen and which since then has given
o,1,1 of qmiDpnca To
the court. The name means wistaria
meadow. The young Son of Heaven grew
up within the precincts Of the palace and
amid those surroundings which have been
so brilliantly set forth in. color. and detail
by the Tosa school Of painters and in the
classic romance of Murasaki Snikibus in
her still famous poem. 'Genji Alonogatari,"
to be read in English.
For six centuries since the lady wrote
and the artists spread their brilliant colors,
court life changed but astonishingly little,
for the eyes of Japfln. as those of China.
We're upOn the past and not upon the fu-
ture. Even in all the great papers Of State.
including the Constitution. the pretence is
made that pretty much all the progress,
wealth and blessing which the japanese
of to-day enjoy is not the result of con-
tact with the West nor of the forces,
literature or moral ideas :ourished by Oc-
cidentals but is purely and solely the re-
suit &oftthe benevolent care and affec-
tomato vigilance of the divine ancestors
Of Japan-who came from Corea and
Tartary.
To-day the Emperor is a man forty
eight years old, in sound health. with
good powers of mind, sensible, benevolent
and devoted according to his lights, to
his peoples welfare. HIS subjects are now
in. all lands, restless, enterpris:ng, ambi-
stious, patriotic, burning to make Japan
not the second but the first Power in the
world. He reisns over the united empire,
containing, with the Ru k:u lIoo Chool
Islands. once claimed by China, the BONN
Archipelago on which both the Union
Jack and the Stars and Stripes were once
planted in token of desire, at least, If not
a formal claim; Formosa and the Pesca-
dores, coded from CHM, and the lower
half of the kurile Islands, containing in
all forty-four millions of people.
THE KINGDOM
His island empire extends from the fogs
in latitude 50 degrees 90 minutes to the
ba1rny breezes of latitude 81 degrees As
minutes, and is set in a square or oblong
between the 10th and the 156th degree of
longitude.
From the first the boy N1ikado-for as
early as November 10th, 1860, he was de-
cIared heir apparent TO the throne-showed
a sweet and winning disposition, gracious
in manner, but moro plant than strong. 1t
is very evident that thirty years of eXpe-
rience in active government have greatly
tempered and strengthened his character
and Will. a fact with which every Cabinet
and Prime Minister has now to reckon.
When his father, the Emperor Komei died,
November 9Th, 1867. NIutsuhito was de-
clared his successor on the mating throne.
At this Very; moment the clans hostile to
the anarchy of THE Throne and the
Camp" having compelled the resignation
Of the Tycoon, formed military combina-.
ton and prepared for the coup d'etat OF
January Sd, 1868.
On that day they displaced the palace
guard kept by the Aidzu clan, took pos
session Of the gate, and allowed none but
those favorable to their views to come near
the Emperor. When the vacillating Keiki.
the ex-Tycoon, attempted to re-enter Kioto
in force. the new Government declared him
a rebel. He was beaten in the battle of
Fushimi. and in disguise fled to Yeddo on
the United States war steamer Iroquois.
The two years civil war ended when the
ironclad ram Stonewall was handed over.
to the M.kadc's forces by the American
Minister, General Van Valkenburg.
The p;yotnl event in the his tory of Japan.