The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-25

them as they left the council TO 70
home The effect of their news con-
firmed the opinion OF the princes thai
they must have modern civilization in
Japan. and that was a part Of the oe-
ginning of the Japan of today.
1t was a little later that the en-
peror was transformed from a puppet
into a live acting monarch. and then
Ito became a leading figure. He was
soon made a emb of the cabinet Of
the mikado and became one of his
chief advisers. He continued so
throughout his life, and had a great
deal to do with making Japan what
she is now.
With other things. Ito introduced
our banking system into Japan. He
came 10 the United States and studied
| modern finance here in the Treasury
Department at Washington. He told
| me he was very grateful 10 our gov
eminent for the facilities it gave him.
He said this was when General Grant
was president and George 5. Boutwell,
Secretary of the Treasury. In that
talk Prince Ito said:
4 shall always be a friend OF thu
United States, but l believe that the
best element of our people have tho
greatest friendship for your nation
L have had altogether three long IN
terviews with Prince Ito. The first oc-
CURED twenty years ago at the house
of the prince in Toxic. He was then
the Japanese premier and acted such
during the var with China, which oc-
Cured shortly after my talk. My Sec
ond interview with him was in 1900.
just before the war with Russia. He
gave me to understand that the rela-
tons Of the two people were strained,
but. said that the governments were
friendly. Nevertheless within SIX
months after that war was declared
and some of the greatest battles Of all
time were fought. In that interview
Ito talked Of the PHILIPPINE Islands
which had just come into our hands.
He sale that he was glad that the
Americans had taken possession OF
them, and hat he thought it was our
duty to develop them and their people.
My last interview with Marquis Ito
was only a few months before his
death. l was about leaving Japan for
Korea to write a series of letters about
that country. Ito had been governor
general of Korea, and he had the wei
fare Of the Koreans greatly at heart.
He asked me to come out to his cCun-
!. try villa near Toxic, and spend the
NdN WILL Ill L In " oItu VIZ 1iCS
a long conversation about himself and
his country, and also abOut Korea and
other matters relating to the far East.
Here he reiterated his former Sentl-
ments relating to the United States.
President Roosevelt was then in the
White House. and he expressed the
greatest admiration and regard for
him. Mr.. Roosevelt had sent him a
photograph and the prince had had
this enlarged to portrait size and
framed. He had one Of his servants
bring him the framed picture into
the room, and place it on a chair be-
fore us so that We had Theodore
Roosevelt looking at us, a silent parti-
: cipant in our talk. l venture that this
5 is the only time hat Mr.. Roosevelt
has. kept silent in any tripartite con
), verSatiOn.
: In talking of the future Of Japan
Prince Ito e~mphatical1y said that the
mission of his nation was peace rather
than war. He hoped that ia
I pan would engage in trading
and manufacturing and evident
ly thought that it had a stu
to that which England has in Europe,
: one that fits it to be a great CONNER
: cial and industrial nation.
r He said that he thought the friendly
S relations Of Japan and the United
States would continue, but intimated
eHoe lis oopoiio"o OIAiiuIei " 1a'i
e fOrnia ought nOt to be iScriminated
against in the schools.
l referred to Korea and he said that
! he was anxious that that country
should develop along modern lines,
and that the people be given a modern
civilization. I know that he did all
Il that he could for Korea, and never
theless it was a Korean who took his
n life. The assassination occurred in
k Manchuria, where Prince Ito had gone
q from Chemulpo, Korea His body was
d brought back to Toxic for burial. Al
k the time Of the funeral the emperor
le and empires each sent representatives
d and thousands upon thousands accom-
panied the great coffin which was car
n ried on the shoulders Of men to Hi
d biya Park, where the funeral cere-
y monies took place in front of The
r ShintO Shrine.
A g