Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1912 — JAPAN’S EMPEROR DIES AT TOKYO [ARTICLE]

JAPAN’S EMPEROR DIES AT TOKYO

Crown Prince, Yoshihito, Succeeds to Throne. 10,GOO GATHER AT PALACE Mutsuhito Led His Nation Through Period of Transformation and Radical Reform; —Been Ruler Since 1867.

Tokyo, July 30. —Mutsuhito, the emperor of Japan, died at 12:43 o'clock this morning. Acute nephritis, was given as the cause of death. The crown prince, Yoshihito, has succeeded to the throne. Tens of thousands of persons who had gathered in the park about the palace, prepared to spend the night in prayer for the emperor, gave expression to their grief when the announcement of his death was made. All the imperial, princes who had ben within the vicinity of the imperial palace since the beginning of the serious period of his illness on July 19 were summoned to the sick chamber last evening and remained there till the mikado expired. Accomplished Great Reforms. Mutsuhito possessed a .personality of which but little is generally known. Of a quiet, unassuming nature, yet possessed of a will of iron, he accomplished great reforms. As a statesman he commanded the respect of the nations of the world. As a leader of his people in peace and in war he was both loved and feared. To his virtues they attributed the victories over their enemies by land and sea. To . his wisdom they credited the advance of ancient Japan to a plate in the front rank of nations. His reign began in 1867 and outlasted that of all but two or three living monarchs. Under the rule of Mutsuhito Japan enjoyed an unprecedented era of prosperity. Civilization has made rapid strides. The arts and ideas of the western world have been adopted and Japan has emerged from darkness into light. Career Started in Storm.

Mutsuhito was born in Kyoto November 3, 1852. He was the second son of Emperor Komei and succeeded to the throne on the death of his father in 1867, becoming the one hundred and twenty-first emperor of Japan. The country was then in a ferment owing to concessions which had been granted as the result of a treaty made in 1856 "after the visit of the expedition commanded by Commodore Perry, the American naval officer, in 1852-4. This threw open some ports to foreign trade. It was only by force of arms that the new ruler enforced his decree and saved Japan from a reversion to primitive conditions.

Era of Progress Is Opened. In 1869 the emperor established a deliberative assembly. This and other reforms Then inaugurated' ended feudalism, which had existed for centuries in Japan, and the nation moved forward on the road of progress. Everything European was eagerly adopted, including frock coats and patent leather boots for officials. Torture was abolished in 1873 and a I modern judicial code was authorized. The first railway.was built in 18-72 and the English language was taught in common schools.

Washington Goes in Mourning. Washington, July 30— President Taft and official Washington went into mourning upon receipt of news of the death of the Japanese emperor. A number of minor ambassadorial entertainments were cancelled and it is probable that there will be a ban on official pleasures of this nature for some time. The death of the Japanese ruler came as something of a personal shock to the president, who had met Mutsuhito several times on his junket to the east and also during his term of office as governor of the Philippines. Taft Sends Condolence. The president sent the following telegram to the new Japanese emperor: “On the sad occasion of the death of His Majesty, the Emperor Mutsuhito, your illustrious father, I offer to your majesty my most profound sympathy and that of the government arid 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. “WILLIAM H. TAFT.”