Tombstone epitaph., 1915-12-26

Copyright. 1915. by W. c. ChapmanJ

ilo~ nearly il succeeded in embroiling
the United States and Japan only FIVE
men know in detail The first of
these is Sir Arthur Sturt, the British
ambassador to the mikados court.
The second is the Chinese minister.
The third is myself. The fourth is
Count Ohuma. the astute one-legged
statesman, who has been a moving
power in japanese affairs since the
eSents that / shall describe occurred
The ffth is Doctor Fong, and where
he is nobody knows.
was not in Japan in any official
capacity was there renewing my &C
quajntance with old scenes and per
sons. when Sir Arthur, from whom !
had psrted the night before. on the oc-
casion Of Lady Sturt's reception. and.
as I thought. probably foreyer-since
! was planning TO sail for Shanghai
sent for me by special embassy mes
senEer.
knew that some matter OF the
FraNest import must have happened TO
cause him to summon me at eight
O'Clock in the morning. The cause
was partly revealed. however, when,
on bringing me my breakfast, my Chi
nese boy informed me that his mai
esty, Mutsuhito. emperor Of Japan,
was dying
had known of the precarious CON
dition CT his health. and that the fatal
ciipnzr Of his wasting disease might
occur at almost any time; still, the
shock seemed to have been very sud
den. for vhea said goodby TO Sir
Arthur, the evening befo-e, his
majesty was reported TO be in excel
lent health.
had a 'ricksha called and hastily
made my way into the embassy com
pound, where the ambassadors secre-
tary was awaiting me with a very
grave expression upon his face.
You have heard the neTs?" he
asked. His majesty
is dead" I exclaimed.
"He has been dead two days" he
answered
This news was confirmed by Sir Ar
thur. who looked even graver as he
motioned me to q chair
u have been told. Mr x" he
began. that you have more intimate
acquaintance with the court life Of
japan than any man since Bertram
Milford"
Your excellency is very kind"
began. but Sir Arthur cut me short.
This is 10 time for compliments"
he interrupted brusquely. Il have
Just been informed that the emperor's
death has been kept secret these two
days for the gravest reasons. You
are, believe. personally acquainted
With Count Okuma?"
rs everybody is answered For
Count Okuma. stumping around on his
wooden leg-the other was destroyed
years ago by fanatics bomb:
OkBma, the friend Of foreigners, the
man whose affectation OF the simple
lie led him to carry home his own
laundry; Okvma, the patron OF west
ern learning. the wiliest and most
as.ute Of the compleZ-minded advisers
OF the late emperor. was the most ac-
CE$Saoit anu lT4tUulg OI men.
Il an Informed, beyond the pcssibiI-
ity of doubt" said the ambassador,
that Okuna has now in his pocket an
ultfmatum TO be presented to the
American minister this afternoon, at
the palace"
I saw at once the meaning Of the
conspiracy OF silence. Mutsuhito. OF
course, would never have sanctioned
war with the United States; and
Yoshihito, his heir, and nov in theory.
thoagh not in fact. emperor Of Japan,
was even more firmly pro-American.
The interregnum. thus artificially ere
s.>.i. was to he utilized by Count
Okuma and the cabal which he had
formed for the purpose CT an attack
upon the Philippines.
The name of his late majesty was
forged to this document, which is writ
ten on the regulation thick red state |
note paper" continued Sir Arthur |
Japan demands that the United States |
evacuAte the Philippines within a
Great Britain
7 certainly did. As treaty ally Of
Japas. England would te compelled
70 stand aside. IL she did not partici-
pate in the attack, impotent to aid
America Her action would doubtless
be construed as an alliance with
japan. or az least a participancy In
her treachery. and the people OF the
Uaited States, stung to tie quick,
would certainly declare war upon Eng
land. with results intellectually evil to
humanity.
1ad. with all respect to the valor Of
American arms. to cold tie Philip
pines against japan wo-id be. as all
ssrx-egists are aware, military in
possibility. Manila must raj, long De-
fore re-en:orcemerts arrived: and,
without a base, without adequate
transportation facilities, now could the
Omitted states nope TO throw an army
OF nau a million men into the aTcni-
pefxeo. 70 cope successfully with tns