Arizona republican., 1904-03-18

from early youth. They were studious lads and by the time they were IS years of age had acquired about all there was to be learned in the primitive schools of their native land. which, as in Ill the old and unreformed eastern coun- tries consists of religion and the actual and legendary history of their country and people. They were both deeply interested in the agitation for better form of government.
 They resolved, therefore, to go abroad and learn something of the methods of other countries. The question was how to get out of the country. The bullie.; of the shogun's army were everywhere in evidence and if they were caught trying to leave their heads would be sent up as trophies to Yedo. However, where there is will there is a way. so one dark night along in the year 1865 found the two future statesmen of Japan in a little seaport on the south ern coast of the main island slipping past the drunken soldiers of the sho- gunate, who, while, drinking sake, little suspected that these two young men were being rowed swiftly from shore to an English vessel on the harbor on which they made their way to London. Here they found themselves in a strange world and for two years applied l themselves to the study of European politics, visiting and sitting in the galleries of the English house of com mons and house of lords and the French chamber of deputies. At the end of two years they returned to their native province in Japan, slipping into the Fcountry as quietly as they had left it. In a few years after that came the revolution. and with it Marquis Ito and fCount Inouye rose to prominence, the 1 first as prime minister and the latter as a member Of the mikado's' cabinet council. It was to these two men that the Japs owe their present restored 1 though limited monarchy. Several years ago Marquis Ito in a tour around the world visited this country. during which time he received an honorary degree from Yale college.
 Count Matsagata, a man of SO or more. was born on the little Island of Kuishui. which is next to the southern most of the string of islands forming the empire of Japan. It is on this is land that the famous Satsumaware is made
 The Satsuma cland was among the first to rise in rebellion against the shogunate and Matsugata played a lplayed a prominent part as one of the
 leaders. He has been twice prime min
 ister of Japan, and served fourteen
 years as finance minister. He might
 be termed the Grover Cleveland of Jap-
 an, for it was he that reformed the Japanese currency placing it upon the
 gold standard. Although man of lib-
 eral ideas and politics. and one of the
 leading reformers of nis age. Count Mat
 sugata had never left the shores of his
 native land until about two years ago
 when he made P trip to Europe.
 General Yamagata is the field mar !, shal of the Japanese army, and. like
 the other members of the cabinet coun-
 cil, is somewhere in the neighborhocC
 of 66 years of age. He was born in the
 same province as that in which IUC
 and Inouye first saw the light of day
 He might be termed the General Miles [ of Japan. being the oldest and mos ? distinguished military leader of tho
 realm. He did not however, accom-
 pany Marquis Ito and Count Inouye O.
 their trip to Europe in 1855, and wa'
 educated entirely in Japan. He ha.
 served two terms as prime minister
 and it was he who directed the sue
 cessful operations of the Japanese flee and army in the war with Japan. IT , the war with Russia the latter will fins him a formidable adversary.-Wash- ington Post.