The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-09-20

and disconnected; that
of Yoshihlto is complete and self'suf'
Sclent. One hundred and twenty
third sovereign OF his line, he traces
his royal descent back to the mists
81 the world, back six hundred years
and more. before the time OF Christ
back, in fact, to the great heroic age
pf Japan, when two gods were called
upon to create land from the liquld
Stands OF the air-and they created
Japan.
From these gods he claims de-
scent and not even the most highly
educated and scientifically mindeu
Japanese will dispute 1t. That Is the
ehord of belief which no modern So
phistication can pierce. The deau
Mutsuhlto has taken his harborase
with his fellow gods. and Yoshihito'
reigning, is of his blood.
This, in part. explains the attitude
Of veneration in which the Japanese
regard their ruler. explains the senti'
ment which marks him forth from
DTOlugI SONtItlbubs ~ 10 a oNAAN4A-A~
which few Japanese will discuss.
1T is a sentiment" said one to the
writer, (which 1t is impossible for
Japanese to analyze, and which If an
alyzed no foreign mind could compre-
bend.
1T springs partly from the intense
ldealism of the people and is really
4 peculiar form of patriotism. 1t Is
as If the Japanese nation were rev.
erencing itself, for it believes that 1t,
too, sprang from the gods and that
It is of the family of the emperor To
q nation which reverences its ances-
tors. the emperor represents a link
between the present Japan and every
thing that has gone before-a link
perhaps, between the material and
the spirit world. He is at once an
element of mysticism and the embodi-
ment OF material national strength,
It is as if,"-the Japanese gentleman
paused-'you could merge the senti-
ment of q Roman Catholic for the
pope and the affection of a people for
a great king"
"Will the present emperor preserve
for himself the full sentiment which
the people had for his father?" was
asked.
The Japanese shrugged.
+ "In a measure, perhaps. Wholly,
perhaps not" he answered.
That he will command a peculiar
| have given, which are inherent in
he nation. That the affection of the
people will be as great as that given
70 the late emperor is doubtful. You
see, the last sovereign inspired and con
rolled Japan from its growth from a
eudal land to a worldwide nation.
rom the time the great princes or
aimios surrendered their powers and
states to the granting Of a modern and
pituitary constitution in 1889, his was
le initiative of each successive ad-
vance. He had done more even than
the nation Xpected-certainly more
than ever had been accomplished for a
nation before. That record was per-
senal to him and is responsible for the
personal love with which he is regard
ed. We honor and reverence the new
sOFereign-yes. He is emperor he is
the embodied spirit of Japan. But,
love? Even an emperor must earn
love for himself"
ca on+o,, Vo,bibito +bo ,or, ~,
peror Of Japan, upon his kingdom
the recipient, in western eyes, of
strange marks of Japanese respect.
For if the race follows the precedents
given to Mutsuhlto, Yoshihito's
name will not be pronounced by any
of his subjects. "The sovereign"
"the emperor" he will be; never
Yoshihito. To call the name of Yo-
shihito will be sacrilege. 1t would be
as if a shrine had been assailed.
And that is only a small indication of
the respect which the Japanese will
give him as a sovereign. No man or
woman will sit before him. None, If
convention be maintained, will speak
directly to him, for 1t Is the custom
to address the emperor of Japan only
through members of his household
In his presence even the greatest will
look upon the ground, unless the en-
peror be placed at some elevation,
when it is permissible that the eyes
be raised, and even this is a conces-
sion to the new world of things in
Japan.
For Mutsuhito, the dead emperor,