1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 113 



sympathizers of the Taikun. A controversy ensued, how- 

 ever, as to which side should be taken in the impending 

 struggle. It was decided to hold a council that night in a 

 room secured for the purpose. Accordingly, while their 

 followers encamped without, Saigo and three of his com- 

 panions on the one side, and six or eight of the other clan, 

 met at the appointed time and place. The discussion con- 

 tinued far into the night, Saigo's party having from the first, 

 however, no thought of yielding, while the adverse majority 

 proved equally determined. 



Suddenly, at a pre-arranged signal, the paper lanterns 

 were extinguished, and, without a word, Saigo and his three 

 associates sprang each to a separate corner of the room, 

 where, drawing their short swords, they covered the sliding 

 doors, preventing any escape, and to the right, left and 

 front, cut and thrust until no living thing remained to receive 

 their blows. The opponents were slain, and their clansmen, 

 being without leaders, consented to abide by the decision of 

 council, and forthwith joined the Imperialists. 



A striking coincidence appears in the lives of the two 

 brothers Mori. Mori Arinori, the younger, formerly min- 

 ister to China, now vice-minister of education, was one of 

 the first Japanese educated abroad, and was likewise first to 

 receive a foreign diplomatic appointment, having been ap- 

 pointed acting minister to the United States in 1871. While 

 here he interested himself in the problem of education for 

 Japan, reaching the radical conclusion, that only by the 

 adoption of the Roman alphabet and the English language 

 could she attain high rank in science, literature and govern- 

 ment, her own tongue being incapable of extreme accuracy 

 of expression. 



Minister Mori was the first to advocate the abolition of 

 the sword, and it was largely due to his efforts that the noti- 

 fication of the 28th of March, 1876, to that end, was pro- 

 mulgated. 



He has indeed personal as well as political incentives in 

 promoting this measure. While he was learning the better 

 ways of our civilization, his brother, Mori Yokoyama, a civil 

 officer of high rank, urged upon the government certain state 

 policies, but without success; whereupon he declared, that, 



