Year: 1871

rosawa ang of which you will have received informa-


on by telegraph regarded an event OF far more
startling political significance than any other WITHIN the


last six months although 1t is quite impossible 1or Ior
eigners ascertain the immediate causes which led 10 IT,
the precise movement Of which it Is perhaps part


the consequences 1t may presage. Among the Japanese
Themselves many whose opportunities OF obtaining ae
curae information should be the best profess-and PROD
ably with sincertyan entire Ignorance OF any PUBIC
motive for such deed. But that it has political mean
ing and other is generally believed partly on account
Of the conspicuous position Of the and his great ac
tvity In pressing forward the most energetic measures
| Of Government reform, and partly because OF
his personal popularity, which forbids the
idea OF any private malice having been entertained TO-
ward him. Only few days after his DEATH the Damio
Of Inaba who has been less entanged In affairs
OF state the years. and who certainly Ia not
friendly to the present Government assured me that he
did not believe Hir0sawa had enemy In the world.
And such the universal declaration This Of course ia
only matter Of general conviction, and t may yet 10
discovered that secret fued existed Of which the
public knew nothing, and which has thus tragicay
ended But at present his family his friends and his
official associates appear confident that his advanced p0-
ston alone made him the object Of attack which may
have proceeded from of the old Reaconsts-a few
of whom still ercey adverse to any form OF progress
which involves foreign from some unscru-
pul0us rival OF the Damio Of ChOsiu whOse confidential
adviser Hirosawa formerly was and whose influence in
the Government kept constantly alive by the active
officers exerti0ns who did not shrink at this violent
means of Kidding himself of obstacle to his
| own supremacy. The short and conclusive argument
of the sword is still unhappiy too frequently employed
Japan for the settlement Of vexed questions of state
and in Hirosawas 1t is toeraby certain that moth


ing but desperate expedient would have checked
him In any course he had determined TO pursue for he
was man Of great courage and resolution, and not
more distinguished for his enlightened ideas than for
his determination to assert and forward them The
most reasonable conjecture IN the absence OF real evil


dence that powerful leader OF the jealous South
factions his way to easier and earlier reaza


ton OF schemes II Hirosawa could be thrown out OF
his path. some time ago endeavored to show you how
fragile the bond il that just unites the nobemen
who cOnspred in 1867 to overthrow the Government OF
that day. and who actually though not Dominaly con-
stitute the Government in power. 1t is question
il their alliance is at present anything more than hoi-
| low FORM Many bitter qrarres have arisen between
that expert and ingenious ntrguer, Satsuma and
his associates Of 6 and there is at this moment an un
settled quarrel between him and tleas three OF South


ern neigbOrsl upon questions OF alleged usurpaton
OF influence and power In the councils OF fedo. The
effects these disputes constantly Visible here ana


II seems probable that Hrosawas life was sacrificed In
consequence OF them 1t is rumored that some OF his
assaants recognized as belonging to the clan OF
the Damio OF Hgo and believe 1t is true that men,
ber of his family detected the Ugo crest upon their
clothes but this may have been assumed as disguise
and up this tme although efforts have been spared
to the assassns nothing positive has been dscov
cred as either their identity the objects OF the
crime Beside the above theories two other remote po


cal possibilities speculaed upon First that the
Tohugawa conspratorsthose who are plotting for the
restoration Of the family OF the deposed Tycoons 70 their
former power-saw In HrOsawa their most intelligent
and therefore, their most dangerous adversary, and


found expedient get him out Of the way before the
immediate approach OF the general convulson which is
expected; and, second, that the 5000 or 1900 awess
insurreconists agitang the southern islands had
conceived plan OF parayzng the action OF the Gov
ernment against them by putting to death one or more
of the prominent officials at the capital and thus throw
ing the administration into confusion. As regards the
frat OF these suppostions should be said that the
obyous policy of the Tokugawa adherents for reasons
long 90 explained In THE TRIBUNE is OF repose and
inactivity Violence could only inure their cause The
latter has little plausbilty but 1t seems hardly
credible that unorganized and purposeless MOB OF
rioters should either have cOnceVeu vi 'enlureu W eA
cute so daring plot


Uirosawa was native of the province OF Chosu, and
was early e attached to the personal retinue OF the
great Damios who rules the district. Although not OF
very exalted origin, his inGisputabe talents procured
him a rapid advancement, and when comparatively
Young he became leading adviser In his masters couI
ellis While belonging to noOriOusly warlike clan, his
attention appears have been strictly devoted to civil
labors and for considerable period before the disturb
ances Of 1867 the chief direction Of the complicated
political relations Of Chosu was in his hands when
Government was 1eOrgdmZcu, tIrce years uBo ny
the deposition OF the Tycoon and the resumption OF
noUer-or what passes for power-by the Mikado, the
princpa Daimos concerned in the movement selected
their favorte representatives to participate in the man.
agement of the national affairs at Yedo. Thus, In var
GUS departments some OF the cleyerest men OF Hlzen
sosuma AVA and others may be found, Ostensibly
serving the MikadO alone, but really directing the des


MES OF the country according to the interests Of their
former patrons. The Lord of Chosiu sent Hrosawa as
his alter egO and caused him to be raised to probably the
highest dignity that subject without lofty personal
rank could hope Obtan-that OF "Sangi" one OF the
most potent and influential titles Of japan. The Chief
Board of Government here is the DaijokwaD the nom
iual leading members Of which two mobiles Of
elevated station but the active management Of which is
controlled by the "5ang" and numerous officers beneath
them. In the present organization OF affairs every
| department OF State is subject to their sul r.
VISION aud as in this case, talent takes the only prece-
dence and ettcred by of the usual emb arrassng
FORMS 1t was not difficult for the clear headed Southern
statesman to grasp aud hold position at least second to
that Of OF his associates and to exercise command


ng influence wherever the authority of the Cabinet could
nenetrate That he used his advantages for the best
interests OF his country and that whatever his ndety
to the purposes OF hs former master may have Dee ne
united IL thorough determination to forward ~ he


most comprehensive every measure OF progress
and that could be devised Tor the welfare Oi De
entire nation, all persons who have ever been brought
into official with him WILL think heartily admit
| And believe that the respect which was universally
acknowledged for his public character was not greater
than the regard in which he personally held There
could not be q more conclusive contradiction tnan
he Individually afforded Of the popular theory that
all Oriental politicians must necessarily accomplish
their work by OF fraud, dnpicty, ana cunning
He was one OF the manifest fellows that ever breathed;
frank. hearty, full of pluck and vigor, and equally
courageous combating the prudces Of his too conser
vave companions and in resisting the unreasonable de-
| nands OF foreign presumption. His aspect and manner