New-York tribune., 1906-04-15
THE NEW JAPANESE PREMIER

Marquis saionji belongs to an illustrious family
~ ~ Japan whlcn may be compared with the
house OF Westminster in England. In the past
ms tainily produced premiers or other importan nt
ministers OF state, and had even marriage con-
hections with the imperial family. Consequent-
~, his family IS regarded in Japan as q dis
unguished one. The present marquis himself
mas an honorable personal history. a lad of
eighteen, he met the revolution OF forty years
ago, ana gathered volunteers for fighting in the
cause or the Emperor, and even led troops for
me suppression OF the Shogunate army in
northern Japan In those days the ti-foreign
spirit was stu rife in Japan, foreigners being
regarded as barbarans; yet the young MARQUIS
an extraordinary man for his age already
oeVotee Of European civilization, and fully
acknowledged that the only way to promote
Japans safety and progress TO learn and
adopt It Thus at the age of eighteen he be-
came student In the Quarter Latin in Paris.
lie was one OF the anxious spectators of the
commune disturbances there. He was a be-
ioVeo pupil OF the eminent French savant AGO.
90 INC IreQuented the salons OF the statesmen
oI the Revue des Deux Mondes' age. Yet his
interest was not confined TO politics. \ little
oIaha written by him in conjunction with n
certain Partsenne during his sojourn in France
.T Nh remains as a proof Of HIS literary talent
nus, having lived in the French capital from
his eighteenth until his thirty-thrd year he
returned 10 Japan pure Partisan. To his great
@ @suIpt4se, however, his country was then in a
me clan government formed by the politicians
oeIonslns 10 the Satsuma and NaEato clans
"hlch were especially instrumental in bringing
t apout INC revolution was steadily establishing
itself lie saw revival. only in a different
LoTIn OF lhe o!c Shogunate government. which
was altogether foreign to his expectation In
deed, he was greatly surprised like Rip Van
Nlnke. A young man, fresh from Europe and
fun Of aspiration and enthusiasm he could not
bear for moment TO be n mere onIoolter at
such situation He at once started n daily
paper in Toxic ana proclaimed a liberalism OF
European type in the midst Of clan politicians
His attacks upon the government Of that time
were formidable and exerted a beneficial in
fuence upon the general public, Such procedure
was. in fact. an extraordinary event IN those
days Journalistic work was then regarded in
Japan OF a very low kind, and those who
engaged IN II were mostly political advent,rers
who had no respectable position in society SO
the fact that a nObleman whose ancestors had
married into the imperial family should become
a journalist naturally evoked q tremendous sur
prise. The imperial family soon notice! H. and
an imperial command made Marquis Saionji give
up his profession Later on he became a
member OF the Imperial Commission for the
Preparation of the japanese Constitution. and
afterward accredited japanese Minister
first TO Austria and then 10 Germany. on his
return 10 japan he Joined the first Ito Cabinet
Minister Of Education, and toward the close
Of the Chino-Japanese War became Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. Talegsshi. N. p IN The
Contemporary Review.