Real Leader Of His People.

New York Times 100 years ago today, July 30, 1912:
President Taft Pays a Warm Personal Tribute to the Emperor.
    WASHINGTON, July 29.— Upon learning of the death of the Emperor of Japan, President Taft dictated the following statement:
    "I am greatly shocked at the death of the Emperor of Japan. It has been my good fortune to have met the Emperor as many as half a dozen times, and to have come into such relations with him as his guest as to feel that there was a personal friendship between us. The Emperor was a remarkable ruler. He was brought to actual power through the Shogun rebellion, and his life has measured the wonderful growth and expansion of the Japanese Empire.
    "The Emperor was a hard worker and gave great attention to matters of Government. His genius for government was shown in his selection of Generals, Admirals, and statesmen, who have reflected glory upon the Japanese Nation.
    "Rarely in the history of the world has such progress been seen or can be so clearly traced to the ability of certain men who led in it. They were the Emperor's selection, and enjoyed always his support. His distribution of offices, honors, and titles was made after careful comparison of the importance of the services rendered.
    "No one who knows intimately the history of Japan in recent years will deny to Mutsuhito the real leadership of his people."
    The first official news of the death of the Emperor of Japan came from Ambassador Bryan at Tokio. President Taft cabled his regrets directly to the new Emperor and to the Empress dowager. To the young Emperor this message was, sent:
     His Imperial Majesty Yoshihito, Emperor of Japan, Tokio:
    On the sad occasion of the death of his Majesty the Emperor Mutsuhito, your illustrious father, offer to your Majesty my most profound sympathy and that of the Government and people of the United States.
    Accept my good wishes for a long and prosperous reign and the continuance of the welfare of the Japanese Empire.
        (Signed) William H. Taft.

To the Empress Dowager this message went forward:
    Her Imperial Majesty Haruko, Empress of Japan, Tokio:
    I beg your Majesty to accept the condolences and sincerest sympathy of Mrs. Taft and myself in the great loss which you have sustained in the death of your illustrious husband, for whom I entertained sentiments of the highest personal esteem and regard.
        (Signed) William H. Taft.

Secretary Knox sent this cablegram:
    His Excellency Viscount Uchida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tokio:
    I offer to your Excellency the expression of my personal sympathy and sorrow in the great loss which has been sustained by the Japanese Nation in the dearth of his Majesty the Emperor Mutsuhito.
        (Signed) P. C. Knox, Secretary of State.

THE MIKADO'S CAREER.
Mutsuhito Introduced Reforms and Ignored Traditions of His Country.
    Mutsuhito, Emperor of Japan, called by the common people Tenshu Sama, the August Son of Heaven, and byu the educated Shu-jo, the Supreme Master, occupied the throne of Japan during the most momentous period of her history, when she arose from an obscure island kingdom to a place among the powers of the world.
    The 121st of the sovereigns who had reigned in an unbroken line, the Emperor, so the legend reads, was descended from the gods, who sprang from the sun goddess, Tensho Daijin. The goddess's first mortal successor was Jimmu Tenno, who ascended the throne of Japan 660 years before the birth of Christ.
    The Emperor was supreme, for he sat upon a throne which was established at the time when the heavens and the earth became separated. Being heaven descended, he was sacred. This is declared by the Constitution of Feb. 11, 1889, and by it he combines the rights of sovereignty and exercised executive power with the advice and assistance of the Cabinet Ministers who were responsible to him and appointed by him.
    Mutsuhito was bom in Kyoto on Nov. 3, 1852, less than two years before the visit of Commodore Perry to Japan and the opening or the ports of that country to the world.
    At 14 years the boy ascended the throne of his fathers, on Feb. 13, 1867, in succession to his father, Komei-Tenno, and became the head of the spiritual power of Japan, as well as the titular
ruler of his people.
    At that time, however, the Shogunate represented even greater power than did the Emperor. Yoritomo, who died in 1199, was the founder of the Shogunate. When the exactions of Kiyomori, the all-powerful Minister, had aroused the indignation of the whole people, Yoritomo, who was a scion of the great house of Minamoto took advantage of the moment to restore his own fortunes, and forced the Court Of Kyoto to bestow upon him the title of Shogun. By the appointment of Military Governors from its own clan the Shogunate became the military power and actual controlling influence in the nation.
    Coming to the throne a lad without political experience, Mutsuhito surrounded himself with strong counselors, to whose sage advice he owed much of the success of his early years as Emperor.
    Within a year he had abolished the Shogunate. Civil conflict followed when Keiki, the last of the Shoguns, took up arms against the Emperor, and even set up as a pretender to the throne.
    When victory was won, Mutsuhito pardoned Keiki. Enomoto, who held Yezo and proclaimed a republic in that island, was also pardoned. Saigo, who headed the rebellion of Satsuma, likewise escaped the expected sentence to death. Gathering about him the feudal lords, Mutushito then made himself the actual ruler of Japan.
    The Emperor, when 16 years old, invited foreign representatives to confer with him in 1868. It was while he was on his way to this assembly that Sir Harry Parkes, the British Minister, came near being assassinated by some of the "two-sword" men, survivors of the old regime. Notwithstanding this demonstration against the Emperor's progressive policy, the peaceful revolution of the Empire continued. The Emperor by oath bound himself to the further extension of reform.
    Under his administration Japan moved forward steadily to perfect herself in the modern arts of commerce, science, and war. Unbounded in ambition and with a steadfastness of purpose, which would not admit of defeat, he worked unceasingly to promote his country's welfare.
    The number of schools was increased and English was put in the curriculum. Gradually European dress displaced the more picturesque garb of the native land, the flowing silken robes gave place to the frock coat, the evening dress and the high hat and the patent leather shoes. Mutsuhito taught the Samurai that a patriot could serve his country in the ordinary walks of life as well as in warlike pursuits. He told his people this in a poem he wrote:

    There is no second way whereby to show
     The love of fatherland.
     Whether one stand
    A soldier under arms, against the foe,
     Or stay at home, a peaceful citizen,
      The ways of loyalty are still the same.

    In the free-will grant that he made to his subjects of Constitutional Government he fulfilled a promise, which it had taken him over twenty years to keep. It was the crowning work of twenty years of organization and reformation.
    Some of many important events that marked his reign were the abolition of the feudal system 1871; building of the Tokio-Yokohama Railway, 1872; adoption of the Gregorian calendar, 1873; interdiction of wearing swords, 1876; suppression of the Satsuma rebellion, 1877; expedition to Formosa, 1874; adoption of a Constitution, 1889; establishment of the Diet, 1890; war with China, 1894; war with Russia, 1904-05, and signing of treaty of alliance with Great Britain, 1905.
    Clauses of "political inferiority" in Japan's, treaties with other nations early became obnoxious to the Emperor, and he set about obtaining revisions. After a rebuff, he met with success when Great Britain in 1894 acceded to his demands, and by 1901 all the other nations had complied.
    The Emperor built up a modem army, which commanded the respect and admiration of the world. Like England an Island kingdom, Japan soon saw the need of a navy, and the test of war found her not wanting in this arm of her defense.
    How much patriotism Mutsuhito had inspired in his subjects was shown at the time of the Boxer rebellion, when the army of the allies marched upon
Peking.
    "There are no finer troops in the field," said an officer who took part, in speaking of the Japanese soldiers, "The men prided themselves upon their efficiency, surpassing the European troops in discipline. They were determined to show the Europeans how very excellent they were, and none could gainsay their estimation of themselves."
    When in 1894 war began with China the Emperor reviewed the troops as they left, and he distributed rewards for distinction and meritorious service when they returned. He did the same thing when Japan went to war with Russia. After the fall of Port Arthur he sent a message to Gen. Nogi instructing him to meet in every way the demands of the Russians in the negotiations for capitulation.
    When the Diet refused military and naval appropriations, the Emperor set an example of patriotism by contributing 300,000 yen ($150,000) a year to the national defense and equipment.
    Many travelers have presented pictures of the man as ruler of the Empire of the Rising Sun. Their composite portrait shows him to have been a man of determination, a ceaseless worker, a deep student of the affairs of the world, a believer in the development of the naval and military strength of his country, and a patron of the arts and sciences.
    The Emperor rose early every morning, and after breakfast and examination by a physician, he would put on his uniform of supreme generalissimo, and make his appearance in his study at 10 o'clock. He remained there usually until 2 o'clock, then he would rest for about an hour, and again return to the study, and busy himself with the affairs of the empire until 5 or 6 o'clock. In the evening it was his custom to spend the time until 9 o'clock with the Empress and ladles of the Court. Then the doctor would come to give him a massage, and he usually retired at 10:30 or 11 o'clock.
    The dead ruler of Nippon was both an artist and a poet. Notwithstanding the burden of State cares, he found time to amuse himself by carving and writing verse. Some days he would write forty or fifty poems. Many of these comforted and inspired the people when Japan was at war with Russia. The Emperor often showed his skill as a designer, especially when he wanted to give souvenirs at his palace dinners to foreign visitors.
    The Emperor was fond of horseback riding and often would exercise on a wooden horse when he was too much occupied with large affairs to go riding. He gained skill from long training in his younger days and was one of the best horsemen of the Empire. Walking was another favorite recreation, and he could often be seen walking in the palace garden leading a Yorkshire terrier which was presented to him by Marshal Oyama.
    The Emperor had several hobbies. He was a collector of art objects and an excellent Judge of lacquers and chinaware.
    Another hobby was the collection of small clocks, and he had at least one of these in every room in the palace.
    He was also a collector of swords. When it became known that the Emperor was fond of such weapons many of the lords presented him with their own, and now his collection numbers more than 300 of these.
    With the advent of civilization in Japan there has been apparently a lessening of that feeling of reverence which the people held for the August Son of Heaven. In 1910 a plot was discovered among some of the Emperor's subjects to assassinate him. Socialists and anarchists, it was reported, were behind the plot, and its discovery was followed by many arrests.
    The Emperor married on Feb. 9, 1869, Princess Haruko, daughter of Prince Ichijo. To them were born five children. The eldest of these, Prince Yoshihito, was born on Aug, 31, 1879. The Prince was an exceedingly delicate child, and it required the utmost care of the court physicians to bring him to manhood. Now he has outgrown his former ailments, enjoys goods health, and possesses the love of his people to a great degree.
    The remaining children of the Emperor were girls. The eldest is Princess Masako Tsune, married in April, 1908, to Prince Tsunehisa, eldest son of the late Prince Kitashirakawa. It was the latter who as a child was set up as a rival candidate to the throne in opposition to his Majesty. The latter freely pardoned his cousin, and in after years had no more stanch supporter. The other daughters are the Princess Fusako, born Jan. 28, 1890; the Princess Nobuka, born Aug, 7, 1891, and the princess Toshiko, born May 11, 1896.
    The Emperor supported the Imperial family out of his privy purse of $1,500,000 yearly, and showed great fondness in his gifts to the Crown Prince.