The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
PREMIER OKUMA,A APOSTLE
OF JAPANESE DEMOCRACY
Private and Public Virtues of the Statesman Sketched
by a Native Hand-His Great Duel With
a Gigantic Samurai.

~ TOHA HACHIN0.
"TAe ssn'O' japanese Corre-
sDondent.
TOXIC, March Should I be asked by
. foreigner to point out . representative
character Of Oriental great mon Japan
has nowadays. without q moments
hesitation would I mention the old Count
Of waseda, who 10 now leading the
country during these memorable epochs
Of the world's war through the most
perilous seas Of International politics.
His m~Asnanimity toward his personal
enemy who had actually attempted on
HE very life. his liberality in material
ways toward those who are indebted or
apply to him for assistance. his UNI
hesitating readiness to shoulder any
amount Of responsibility II BY so doing
there u the least prospect OF promoting
the public veal Of the nation. the CRATE
full treatment Of old friends n early
comrades irrespective OF the heaven and
earth difference probably treated In the
social position. the high standard OF
morality he observes In his private life,
his sterling integrity and strict probity.
never questioned during his Ions public
career of fifty years. All these and
others support the assumption that he
ought to he classed among true and Gull
tivated gentlemen Of the nrst class
standing.
His invariabie optimism in the depth
Of the gloomiest and m~elancholiest sit
uation In which n mortal can find him.
self, his INFINITE resourcefulness In the
face OF any hardy and intricate prob
lens presented him for solution. his dar-
ing i~ntrepidity and excellent nerve and
his lofty contempt Of death that more
than once confronted him. his r~esolute
firmness to carry out amid showers OF
attacks n reproach. even at the ex-
pense OF his personal safety and reputa-
ton, those plans which he believed TO
concord with the permanent interest of
the nation, the calm serenity OF his mind
and the tranquil equanimity Of his heart
and his open hearted simplicity and
friendllness with any one who Is honored
with his interview. testify TO the unde-
niable fact that he Ia equipped with
every Necessary quality that goes to
make up a great hero OF Oriental pat
tern.
Conauers by Hts Dignity.
He is a man who conuuers by his
personal dignity and his overwhelming
sweep-it-allness, not by the ingenuity Of
his artificial skill or the elaborate de-
vice OF fine Vaccinations. a very inter
esting story Is told which most clearly
indicates the traits Of his personal char
acter.
While he was studying In Nagasaki as
an elite student, despatched from his clan,
one day he CHANGED TO visit a restaurant
where a gathering was held among his
school fellows. As the f~easting went on
they grew happier and iivelier under the
influence of wine. Okuma was not the
exception. He INDUCED most freely In
lecturing his views on the current topics.
strongly advocating the necessity OF
transplanting Western manners and In
stitutions for the purpose of carrying out
the rapid improvement of the national
condition which was then yet In the
wake of rejuvenescence, helplesSly crude
and infant, from the standpoint Of mod
ern civilization.
His advanced ideas and resoundlng
elopuence fascinated the audience. COM
posed chiefly OF young men likewise sent
by different feud lords to complete
their education in Nagasaki. then looked
upon as the centre ~ the modern en-
li~ghtenment IN the Far East. As he
approached the close of his Grafton one
Of them hastily Withdrew from the place
without being noticed by nan others.
They all drank ana ate to their hearts
content III a manner most to
youthful. unrestrained. self-complacent
heroes who think the armament too
small and the earth too narrow before
the gigantic ambitions they are revolv-
ing within their hearts.
Late AT night the banquet was closed.
Every one took to his way home. Okuma
hpinR annp0 tho number As ia marital
from his comrades and went treading
along a dark local path a gigantic sal
mural "a man Se!onging To the warrior
caste) suddenly emerged from q by cor
ner. fully equipped for n fight. his
sleeves bound up with the sword cords
to insure the freedom Of arms, his skirts
folded up 10 help the agility Of move
ment and his head tightly bandaged to
prevent sweat from flowing into the eyes
during the action.
Plumbing with the HIT Of his long
red sheathed sword. he strutted up be-
fore Okuma and haughtily remarked.
you wretched betrayer. to speak of
opening this sacred realm Of gods for
the white barbarians have long been
waiting here to stine your ventilation.
Now. let's he fair, Make your prepara-
! ton and cross swords with me :"
h"
Okuma Is not a man who would recoil
from such a challenge. which he In
stantly accepted with a heroic smile on
his face. His preparation WIS finished
in a moment. They politely saluted each
other as a true Samura hould before
the opening of a single combat and then
with a laundering shout long swords
were simultaneously withdrawn, mark
ing the beginning Of the duel. A hot
fight ensued, sparks OF fire gushing
from the blades az they struck each
other now and then lighting up the aw-
full darkness that alone stood witness
to the bloody scene now actually going
on.
Though both Of them were likewise
distinguished In their swordsmanship
Okurna was slightly surpassed by his
veteran opponent. Sui what he wanted
In art he made up with intrepid valor
Nevertheless. as the fight went on. his
inferiority became NOR, II more clearly
indicated in his Increasing GREATNESS
ness, which fact redoubled the eagerness
and energy Of his resolute enemy, who
now struck without a moments inter
mission with his heavy sword. which
Okuma, being utterly exhausted. found
It increasingly difficult to avoid or catch
with his own.
Driven, as he was. to such an ex-
tremity. yet he was ms serene and col
lected az ever Confronting the certain
death, he would not stoop to ask for
the mercy OF his foe but with a sudden