The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
Whole Heart of His Majesty Is in
His Progressive Country
and People.
TREASURES co TO WAR
His Majesty Gives His Personal
Wealth to Swell the Nations
Finances.
HIS MARVELLOUS CAREER
What He Has Done for the Wom-
en- of His Enpire-The Royal
Family.

LONDON, March 5.-Mutsuhito the Won
derful Emperor. has done wonderful thing
In the reforming days of Japan the mobiles
gave up their estates TO the nation. Now we
are told by our special correspondent that
the Emperor of Japan has handed over the
treasures of his palace to the war fund,
says the Daily Mail. The chief of nation
which may fairly be reckoned among the
youngest and most vigorous of the present
age represents in his person a dynasty that
held rule over Japan so long ago the
palmy days Of Tyre and Carthage. before
Daniel prophesied the downfall of Nebu-
chadnezzar. He is living proof that when
Mr.. Kipling said. in contrasting the East
and West, never the twain shall meet"
he was among the false prophets, for surely
Japan and its ruler give evidence sufficient
as to the fusibility of Oriental and Occi-
dental civilizations?
The story of Mutsuhito is the story of the
new Japan, and there is nothing writ in
the annals of romance more wonderful
than that. Conceive country still main
tanning a system of feudalism to-day, and
tomorrow standing forth for nearly every
thing we associate with enlightened gov
ernment imagine, if you can, the England
of King Stephen and his robber barons
changed by the magic touch of some wiz
ards wand into the England of Edward
VII. and you have no very exaggerated idea
of the startling metamorphosis which came
over Japan when its present ruler, then a
lad Of fifteen, succeeded TO the throne on
Feb. Is, 1867.
For many centuries Japan with truly
Oriental tOpsy-turYyneSS, had lived under
emperors who were mere fgureheads, be-
reft of all authority, the puppets of a mill
tary dictator known as the Shotgun, who
was the real sovereign Of the country; but
Mutsuhito came to the throne abso-
lutte monarch-the day of the Shotgun was
at an end. In the new era of reform thus
inaugurated the figure of the Marquis Hiro-
bumi Ito stands out like that of Bismarck
in the making of Germany, but nothing less
than the direct and personal influence of the
Emperor could ever have achieved with
out the blOodshed of great civil war the
memorable event of 1885, when on Feb. IL
the absolute monarchy was abolished and
constitution more liberal than that OF
some of the great Western powers was
promulgated. February, by the way, would
seem to be fateful month to Japan, since
il has witnessed the accession of the En-
the present encounter with Russia, which.
be the issue what ii may, cannot fail TO
prove epoch-making.
PERSONALITY OF MUTSUHITO.
In many ways the position OF the ruler
of Japan corresponds with that of the
King of England. though he still possesses
certain privileges which denied to our
soveregns, and the system of government
by house of peers and a house of repre-
sentatives is modelled on our own institu-
ton.
The personality of Mutsuhito is almost
as interesting as the story of his country,
which his life reflects. He is as unlike
the Mikado OF tie comic opera as Zakkuri
at His Majesty's Theater is unlike any min
lister of Japan during the last quarter of a
century, although when he came to the
throne wearing his hair brushed upon the
top and hidden in a head-dress fastened
with bands. two black top-knots protruding
from it: white and red garments, long pol
ished shoes, and chain OF state" and was
carried 10 Toxic in a god-lacquered nori-
mon. or closed litter, borne by relays of
coolies on their uplifted palms, the re-
semblance might not have been so distant.
Standing some five feet six in height, and
thus above the average stature of his coun-
trymen. wearing suit of European
clothes he is in way different, If we
did not notice the almond eyes, from any
cultured European gentleman; but we can
not fail to note those eyes. inscrutable,
so searching.
In every movement the Emperor shows
himself a man who Is thoroughly master
of the momentous affairs which destiny
has committed TO his charge, alert, active
confident
For years his life has been ordered on
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