Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-09-23
J.pan,s Real Prophet.


have wr,ught the modern transforina-
ton IN Japan. The progress OF the -
land empire has been ascribed 10 Mar
auis Ito. Ia the mikado. % Count
Inouye. 20 General Yamagata and TO
many more. but the real prophet OF the
new day in the Land OF the Rising sun
has scarcely been mentioned in the oc-
cldent. This man was named Noshlda
Torajlro. and his history reads like a
romance.
Back OF Kurokl and his cOmmissariat
department, back OF Togo and his tor
pedoes. back of Ito and his statesman
/ shin. back of the mikado and his recov-
cred sovereignty. stands this traveller.
exploring the sixty provinces OF Nip
pom and appearing on Perry's ship with
the purpose of exploring the five CONT
nents. a seer perceiving Japan's sal
walton I'm the reception Of western cul-
ture, an outlaw lying In Jail and con-
verting his jailers, a pedagogue train
ing in his famous School Under the
Pine the future members of the impe-
rial cabinet. hero of the noblest pro
portions. the man whom Ito always
calls the great master"
Fifty years ago 1t was a crime for a
Japanese to attempt to leave his coun-
try. out of his love for his country
Yoshida dared that crime. 1t was for
the completion of his study and knowl-
edge that he rowed out to one of Per
rvs ships, kicked his boat away from
the side of the vessel and committed
himself to voyage which must have
seemed to every japanese of that time
TO be a parallel not so much to an arc
tic expedition as to Ulysses descent
into hell
: The next morning, surrendered by
a the Americans to the shogun's govern
ment, Yoshida sat huddled in coop
-, which was too short for lying down
and too low for standing up. From
this position he spoke words which
traversed Nippon, carrying with them
Il an inflaming message of the greatest
!, of foreign conquests, the conquest of
+ foreign ideas. To this crusade Yoshida
Il began to arouse his countrymen. The
civilization of the "barbarians" must
!. be wrung from them!
Having served his term in his coop
! Yoshida was allowed to live in his OWL
y house and to set up the School Under
the Pine. Here Ito and his fellows
s learned the lessons which made then
r the nation builders of the new Japan.
=. But now Yoshida was to be called
from his School Under the Pine to thu
place of execution. He had studied
without repose, finding counterirri
W tant for the drowsiness of exhaustion
by putting mosquitoes up his sleeve
st He had transmitted his knowledge ant
ST his enthusiasm to his pupils. AS on
rv Of them said, HE had divided himsel
I'D among u.s." Now came the time 70
an overt deed which would focus be
fore the eyes of all Japan the scattere
y sentiments of revolution.
The shogun's minister had set fort
~ on an errand of insult to the mikadl
~ Yoshida saw an opportunity to stlk
a blow at the shotgun, usurpation an
reactionaryism while at the same tim
a. raising banner for the mikado. lega
III ity and progress Therefore from hi
on confinement at Choshu he sent grou
ak of his disciples to waylay the Shotgun
minister and to christen new Japa
H. with his blood. The discovery of tn
-, plot saved the minister's life an
brought Yoshlda's to its final accoun
The reformer was allowed to defer
III himself In a speech in which he d
tn nounced the encroachments of the sh
gun upon the power of the mikad
,t. Then he was executed, thirty-one yea
80 old.
If any of those who have died f
mankind are to be honored, then wi
ed not this young hero who paved Il
oy, way for rejuvenated Japan? Let h
name be cherished by the nations
,or the west, on whose model he sought
build his own land. Surely he
worthy Of memory, this youth who
Die Ito calls 1.-THE great master"
A prophet in the government printil