MOULDER OF NEW JAPAN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1506, 31 July 1912, Page 5

MOULDER OF NEW JAPAN.

A LINK BETWEEN . TWO ERAS. MUTSUHITO'S CAREER. In ono remarkable sense, no other monarch has lived so long as Mutsuhito, the late Emperor of Japan. He was born at Kyoto as recently as in 1650, yet lie lias lived to see llis nation emerge, as it were, from medievalism into latest modernity. On any other throno ho must have lived for cenhiiieS'to seo so much If it is true, as tho Japanese themselves unanimously assert, that he has himself directed and guided tho tremendous revolution of national life which lias evolved from Oriental barbarism. modern Japan; there needs no other evidence of his greatness. Mutsuhito was the second son of tho Emperor Komei, by a subordinate wife. At tho age of eight, owing to tho death of his brother, ho was declared heir to the throno. From that time forward he was surrounded by such a hedge of sanctity and cercmonv that one wonders how liis strong individual character had space to develop itself. Western Tendencies.' Though ho rccoivod the traditional education of his Oriental ancestors, cliango and turmoil were in the air, and from his father, who strovo to realise tho pressuro of his time, he learned tho Western tendencies of his day. and was able to form his judgment on them. Already, it has been said, ho had tho useful characteristics of strong will to carry out his ideas,, and a capacity far choosing wise advisers and honestly following their counsels. Ho was strong enough to overcome insurrections of those who drew tho sword for the old order of things, and great enough to make devoted friends of the men he overcame, including tho last proud representative of tho disrated Shoguns. Ho gathered round him as advisers the wise group of Elder Statesmen, including such illustrious nannies as Ito, Okuma, Inouye, Katsura, Yamagata, and Oyama, nor ever scorned the services of younger and still rising men. Although the motto of liis Government seems lo have been "keep all that was good in tho old, take all that is good in the new," his natural bent was said to bo strongly conservative, and in private affairs, in religion, in the management of his household, and tho constitution of the family relations, ho kept closely to the methods of his forefather,?. He" did much to encourage femalo education, and the opening of new avenues of activity to women, but preferred to eco tho rqyal princesses grow up into Japanese ladios of the old school. A Hard Worker. The late Emperor was an indefatigable worker, rising at five o'clobk every morning, and attending to all details himself. A writer in the "Fortnightlv Review" tells lis that "during tho war with Russia the mass of matter was enormous, for besides reading and dictating dispatches, 'discussing every move with the Army Council, conferring with his Ministers on tho all-important question of financc/ and n dozen other subjects of pressing interest, tho Emperor made the well-being of his soldiers his own especial enre, and devoted cverv moment that could be spared to- sftiilving the question of commissariat and field hygiene. besides thinlcing out everv possible way in which 1>» "uuhl lessen their suffer mgs and send them bodily comforts ano moral encouragement." The 'expenditure of the Palace was rigidly curtailed to provide comforts for the troops, and in tho winter the Emperor refused to liavo firt?3 because his soldiers could hare none. The Spirit of the Samurai. The late Emperor did much to encourngo the spread of education. Ho was accounted an eloquent poet in the condensed Chinese style. The following extract.from a rescript issued to liis troops, and poetic appeal to the Samurai spirit in ins soldiers, are evidence of a wise and exalted spirit:— "A soldier should value simplicity of life. If you bo not content to lead simple/ frugal lives, you will become flippant: weaklings, your tendency to extravagance will quickly increase, you will bo tempted with filthy desires. Then your nobility and your gallantry will be blown to the winds, and all will avoid you. Would it not be a pity thus to incur unhappincss for a lifetime? If this disease of extravagance and luxury were onco'" sown, it. would spread like an epidemic. Tho spirit of the Samurai, the soul nf knighthood, u'onld be quenched. Tn fear of iliis Wo instituted penalties of deprivation of rank and gavo you the warning. Hut We aro still in fear that this disease may spring up. Wo hereby warn yon again. Never forget Our warning, you soldiers! "Mutsuhito." "Tho foe that strikes thee, for thy country's sake Strike him with all thy might, but while thou slrik'st, Forget: not still, to love him." To the Japanese, of course, the Emperor is always a god, as well as ruler. The heir-presumntivo to tho throne, th® son of the late Emperor, was born in 1879.