Arizona republican., 1905-01-01
eHoEN1x. ARIZONA, JAN. l, 1905.
HAPPY NEW YEARi
Is the r1ikado .'Insaue" ?


 Is the emperor of Japan insane? An American doctor who landed in the United States from Toldo the other day is responsible for a story to the effect that in the Japanese capital the mikado is reported to be mentally ir- responsible. As the story runs, the emperor received an injury on his head some time ago, and this injury ac- counts for his present state.
 Without corroboration the report would be worth scarcely a passing mo- tice, were it not so strictly in line with Japanese precedent. It is diff ficult to realize it, but the fact is that going back forty years in Japanese history takes one to the dark ages of that nation. It is as if one were swift ly carried by an elevator from well lighted room to the darkness of eel lar. 9
 And up to forty years ago insanity was the chronic ailment of Japanese emperors after they reached the age of manhood. No emperor for hundreds of years has been more than a figure head, for no emperor had reigned di- rectly over his people for more than a few months O., years. At best, of course, power as divided between the mikado and the shogun, and the emperor's side of the government was handled by regents. The regent busi- ness was the occupation of certain great families. The life and career of one empe TOT was like that of all his predecesgors. Throughout his infancy and youth he was carefully and ten derlyI nurtured. Everything possible was done to make him effeminate. He never walked in the sunshipk, and his feet never touched the ground His food. his daily life and all his habits were directed to a single end-that of leaving him without strength physi- cally or ambition mentally. No pas sion or appetite which would contri- bute to that object was neglected. At last, when he reached in years the es- tate of a man, he quickly came to his own. He became emperor, all right Wives were provided for him, and he had all the retinue, the pomp and the circumstance of an oriental monarch. But the method of bringing him up had done it's work He neither knew anything of his people and empire nor cared to know. The business of state was attended to by his ministers. He had no ambition beyond personal amusement and the qualification of childish whins, and if on rare occa- sions the ambassador of a foreign power was ushered into the presence an interpreter said the proper thing for the smiling and amiable monarch.
 Finally, after an heir to the throne had appeared on the scene, ruInor be- gan to be circulated through the pal ace and then through the country, that the cares of state were becoming too much for the beloved and venerated emperor; his mind was showing signs of giving way under strain. Presently the reports were confirmed; the em- peror had become insane, and it was necessary once more for regents to take charge of the empire. The em- peror was taken to some island pal
 
 sion, and the regency was on deck again. The traditional process of bringing up was then employed with the infant heir to the throne Careful training for a score of years left him in a fit state to follow his father; and so on and on, through one generation after another.
 The vulgar methods of western na- tions were not employed. Everything was politely and affectionately done. There was no mistreatment of an em- peror, no assassination. Each of them was permitted to live in a prison-paI- ace to the end of his allotted days, surrounded by the 1uxuries which would bring content. With 1t all was steadily cultivated among the people a respect and love for the mikado-a feeling which fell little short of wor- ship So it was that when the emper- or had 'Gost his mind it was consid- cred unfortunate, but quite a matter of course. And happily for Japan, able reger ts were always at hand to conduct the fairs of state with pa triotic abili
 How if \ the present emper- ,r brok traditional re
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