The Washington herald., 1912-07-30
PRINCE Y0SHIHIT0.

advanced easily to the idea that per-
haps the European nations were not i'm
pregnable. Far removed from the strug-
giles of presidents and kings with re-
fractory legislative bodies was Emperor
Mutsuhito. Mutsuifito has governed ex-
| clusively through his ministers. Besides
his council. he has had the privy coun-
Gil, with limited advisory functions, and
| above them both the informal body of
| ''Genro," or Elder Statesmen"
None Of his ministers ever gave closer
| attention to matters OF state than Nut
suhito. He always has insisted upon be-
ing informed as TO every important step
| in the government. and allowed nothing
TO slip by without his knowledge and ap-
proval.
| 1t would be incorrect to say that Nut
suhito was a popular ruler in the sense
| In which the term Is understood In the
| Occident. The veneration in which the
institution of Emperor is held by all Jap
anese places it far above such a thing
as popularity. The Emperor is addressed
in the devotions of the people as Tenshi.
| The Son of Heaven" or Tinno. "Heav-
enly Emperor" or Shuto. Supreme Mas
| ter
Name Seldom Mentioned.
| Mutsuhitos name was scarcely ever
!
according to some authorities. II it was
even known to half the populace.
| Neither was his personality familiar to
| the Japanese. for reasons obvious from
the above. Mutsuhito appeared before
popular assemblages but seldom. As
| matter of policy, he attended with his
court such occasions as the opening OF
| new railway or the launching of a new
hattleship. Received with tremendous
n n al axry1 ND fo,
late years took on the noisy manifesto
tions familiar in the Occident. II was
his inviolable habit never to acknowl-
edge or pay the slightest attention TO the
tributes of the people. The attack upon
his life by anarchists some years ago
Aroused popular feeling OF anger and
resentment beyond the comprehension
OF the Occidental mind.
More often did the Emperor appear at
garden parties and receptions. 1t was
within his own palace walls that foreign
ers have had their brief glimpses of Nut
suhito. OF unattractive demeanor. and
always serious to a degree. he showed
himself Indifferent to and but little suit
ed to social pleasures.
Made to Feel Reverence.
Though he was most cordial and gen.
erous in his treatment of distinguished
foreigners in Japan. each one whom he
received was made to feel something Of
the veneration and reverence which the
japanese accord their monarch. When he
received foreigners the Emperor always
stationed himself in an inner room of his
palace. dimly lighted. The visitor ad- |
vanced through an assemblage of off, !
cials in gorgeous trappings toward the |
throne and when at some distance from |
the Emperor delivered a bow so low that |
ii was almost prostration.
Then advancing half way to the EN- |
peror the visitor again prostrated himself |
After this second bow he advanced to the |
throne. bowed again and then took the |
extended hand Of the monarch The
conversation was always begun by the |
Emperor. never the visitor and was |
usually most formal The audience was |
likewise terminated by the Emperor, who \
extended his hand again in saying good |
by. The visitor then backed away from
the imperial presence and bowed again at
the door. Women were never under any
circumstances received by Mutsuhito |
The procedure in granting audiences was
but a part of the most rigorous etiquette
Of the Japanese court, more formal than
any of the courts of Europe.
Hints of Scandal.
Hints of scandal in the private life Of
Mustuhito have appeared In the press
since the possible seriousness of his ILL.,
ness and became a matter OF talk AsI
to that question, a delicate one in the
Western world the standards of the ORR
ent must be kept in mind. While the
Princess Haruko was his lifelong wife
and the Empress, 1t is fact that Mutt
suhito had eight women as concubines
They were chosen from families OF the
best blood in japan, as a sort of guar
anty that there should be male heir to
the throne In fact, there never have
been any children by the Empress Haru-
ko, and all the sons OF the family but
one were born of the Princess Yaniga-
wara, Yoshihito, the lawfully acknowi-
edged successor to the throne. was the
third son. the others dying soon after
birth. Yoshihito was born August 81
1879, and nominated heir apparent August
81, 1887. By the law of the imperial fam
lily the succession to the throne must be
through the male line exclusively, though
he may not of necessity be the son of the
Emperor preceding.
President Taft enjoyed the distinction
Of having been twice received by Nut
suhito. The first occasion was in 1905
when Mr.. Taft headed the famous Taft
party in its tour around the world |
With the seven Senators and twenty
three Representatives in his party Mr.
Taft was given not only personal audi
ence but a luncheon by Emperor Mutsu-
hito. Cen Clarence r. Edwards, U. s.
A.. who was a member Of this party and
also accompanied Mr.. Taft on his second
trip to Japan, was received even a third
time by Mutsuhito when he accompanied
former Secretary Of War Dickinson
around the world.
Confers with Taft.
On Mr.. Tafts first visit the Portsmbuth
conference was in progress to conelude
the Russo-Japanese war. Emperor Nut
suhito engaged Mr.. Taft in a lope con-
concerning the-JapanBe pro-
posal to take over Korea. Agaixin 1907,
when Mr.. Taft was on his waf to the
Philippines. he had another Lengthy dis
cussion with tho japanese -Em1eror, out