The Cordova daily times., 1922-01-06

against the old idea that contact with Western civilization meant danger for the Empire. He abandoned his class ics to study the language of the Dutch who had arrived in the country, and from an English teacher at Nagasaki he picked up English and something of the learning of the West which he coveted SO much. The coming ot Commodore Perry when Okuma was sixteen had caused great sensatioi among the young radicals which was increased by the later bombardment of Shimonoseki by the combined fleets of Great Britain, the United States, America and Holland.
 Okuma and some of his friends deemed the fall of the Shogunate re- gime inevitable. They secretly left Nagasaki and went to Kioto. the then imperial capital, to join with other clans and memorialize the Shogun to relinquish his power in favor of the imperial court which had existed only in name for about two centuries. The division over this question resulted in the great war between the 'Sho- gunate and imperial forces which re- suited in the restoration of the Maiji Emperor.
 Okuma, mere student, was ap- pointed to the, important post of coun- cillor when the imperial regime re- turned to power in 1868. Previous. ly he had been commissioned in the direction of international affairs at Nagasaki which was then the only port open to foreign commerce. He soon won a reputation for diplomatic ability
 The important question in the early stages of the restored Meiji govern ment was the persecution of Chris tians A Shogunate law prohibited belief in Christianity, but the number of converts at Nagasaki gradually in creased. Although personally not anti-Christian. Okuma favored the re- jection of the demands of the foreign ministers in connection with the ar rest of Christians on the ground that they had no right to meddle with the internal affairs of Japan The govern ment adopted his opinion and made him a member of the committee to negotiate with the foreign represen- tatives The proceedings were held at Osoka and the American minister, Townsend Harris, was present, Okuma was the spokesman of the Japanese and he astounded the foreign diplo- mats by his cleverness of exposition and the. force of his insistence He contended that the authorization of Christianity might mean blood-shed in Japan. But he insisted especially that it was a purely domestic question. He did not accept the idea of the foreign CTS that if Japan did not accept Chris tinrity her doom was sealed. The con. ferees reached TO agreement; but tho japanese authorities avoided ex- treme measures in connection with the Christians.
 !. Okuma's rise was now rapid He took historic parts in the development of the great Meiji reign which opened Jaran to western civilization. He raised loans and saw that they were paid. He labored for the abolition of the feudal system and the establish mert of constitutional government. He was minister of finance until he resigned in 1881 because his colleagues rejected his proposal for a more rep resentative government. A year later he formed progressive party In 1888, year before the promulgation foreign minister and undertook the task of reviving the treaties which had heen concluded with the powers be- fore the restoration. The object was to regain rights previously conceded. It was then that occurred the out rage which crippled him for life, yet did not quench his extraordinary vi tality and energy. A young agitator incensed at some of Okuma's methods