Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-29
|N|KAD0 PAYS THE
DEBT Of NAT URE
Mutsuhito Expires After a
Long Period of Uncon-
sciousness.
NEPHRITIS THE CAUSE
Had Been Sufferer from the Terrible
Disease for a Long Time-Wlli be
Succeeded BY Crown Prince.

Toxic, July 30.-(Tuesday)-The
Mikado died early today.
Chown Prince Yoshihito's accession
to the throne was proclaimed with
in a few hours after his fathers
death, it was stated at the minister
les today. His coronation, however,
may not take place for year or more.
No trouble is anticipated in connect
ion with the change of rulers.
No immediate reorganization of the
cabinet is expected but probably it will
not be many weeks before Marquis
Saionji retires as premier in favor OF
his predecessor in Office, Prince Kat
sura.
This has been looked for a good
while. Japan's financial embarrass-
ments are serious and industrial dis
content is beginning to worry the gov
ernment. 1t is felt that the SaionJl
cabinet has not coped with the situat-
ion sufficiently.
Prince Katsura is returning to Toxic
from St Petersburg as fast as the
trans-Siberian railroad will bring
him.
Mikado Mutsuhito was born Nov. 3,
1852. He was son of Mikado otahito,
or to give him his better known pos
thumous name, Komei Tenno. He sue
ceeded to the throne on his fathers
death February l3, 1867 but was not
crowned until Oct. II, 1868. He was
married 43 years ago to Princess Fus-
ako, daughter Of noble japanese
family.
The period of Mutsuhito's reign
was the greatest in Japanese history.
When he came to the throne. Japan
was a hermit nation in the fullest
sense. Few Japanese were permitted
to 90 abroad and equally few foreign
ers were allowed in Japan, except
when, like Commodore Perry, they en-
tered by force of arms.
Under Mutsuhito, however, the peo-
pie awoke. In generation they made
up lost ground which western lands
were centuries in covering. Today
they are not only willing to hear but
insatiably greedy to acquire all that
the Occident has to teach.
Under Mutsuhito, too, Japan was
victorious in the two great wars
with China and with Russia. 1t an
nexed Formosa and Korea and many
diplomats believe it is now about to
take Manchuria, too.
1t had created an army and navy.
In short, fro nlcountry of barbarians,
it has transformed itself since Nut
suhito's reign began. into a power OF
the first class.
Had it been genuine, the most no.
table of the Mikado's acts, however,
would have been his resignation of abb
solute power and establishment of a
constitution, but the truth is that the
constitution is an ornament rather
than a reality and Japan is as absolu-
tely ruled today as it ever was.
It is the fashion to attribute to the
Mikado the advances the Japanese
have made recently. Actually he had
little to do with government affairs
but has remained all his life tool in
the hands of the little oligarchy
which, normally as group of mere ad
visors, have really shaped the destini-
es of Japan.
Mutsuhito was the one hundred and
twenty-frst of his line in direct de
scent, as the japanese are taught to be
lieve, from the sun. He had no chill
dren by his imperial consort but sew
eral by his supplementary wives.
Of these the crown prince goshlhito
now 33 years old, becomes Mikado.