There has appeared in the Japan Mail of the 3d instant an interesting sketch
of the principal events, in the life of General Saigo, a copy of which is
published in the Japan Herald of this date, and which I have the honor to
inclose.
[Inclosure.]
Saigo, the rebel leader.
[From the Japan Mail, March 6,
1877.]
In view of the grave interest which centers in Saigo at the present
crisis, we place before our readers a short sketch of the principal
events of his life, for the particulars of which we are indebted to the
kindness of a Japanese friend.
Saigo Takamori, better known by the more common name of Kichinosuke, is
about fifty years of age, and comes of a good family of the samurai of Satsuma. He is a man endowed with far
more than ordinary abilities, his personal appearance also bearing
evidence to the superiority of his intellect. His younger days were
spent mostly in and around Hiogo, and in Yedo, where he completed his
studies, and where he first made the acquaintance of Katsuawa, the
ex-minister of the navy.
During the years of Kaiyei (1848–’53), while in Kiôto, he formed a
friendship with a priest of the temple called Hôshô–In, at Kiyomidzu, by
the name of Gessho, who, like Saigo, was an ardent upholder of the Kinnô (literally, duty toward the Emperor) cause,
and who was a favorite of Konoye, a Kuge of high
rank.
In the autumn of 1858, Saigo was induced, against his judgment, to make a
journey to Mito, as the bearer of a message from Konoye, delivered to
him through Gessho, to the Daimio of that
province, who was confined in his Yashiki by the Bakufu (government of
the Shôgun). The imperial court had expressed a desire that the Daimio of Mito should be appointed one of the
advisers of the Bakufu, as he was known to be a staunch upholder of the
Kinnô cause, and the message that Saigo carried was an official notice
of the desired appointment. But he failed to carry out his mission as he
had expected, and came to Yedo. After remaining there a short time he
returned to Kiôto, where he resided with Gessho, Umiyeda, and Yechiji,
all adherents of the Emperor’s cause, and with whom he consulted as to
the best steps to be taken for the overthrow of the Shôguuate.
In the mean time the Bakufu had commenced a rigorous persecution of all
partisans of the Kinnô cause. Saigo and his friends were especially the
objects of its hatred, but for some time no severe measures were taken
against them, probably through a wholesome fear of the Satsuma party. At
length, however, Gessho was threatened, and his life being in great
danger, by the advice of Konoye he escaped in a kago to Osaka, closely pursued by the officers of the Bakufu.
Saigo and Umiyeda together managed to protect his flight, and to get him
safely into hiding at Osaka. Saigo then went back to Kiôto, but after a
short stay, finding that Gessho’s life was still threatened, he hastily
returned to Osaka and induced Gessho to attempt flight into Satsuma.
Accordingly, accompanied by Umiyeda, they procured a junk and set sail
for the south. They were chased by their enemies, and narrowly eluding
pursuit, arrived at Shimonoseki. Leaving Gessho behind, Saigo proceeded
to Satsuma to procure a hiding-place. Gessho, however, was compelled to
fly, and came to Fukuoka, in Chikuzen, and after many narrow escapes, by
the assistance of a certain samurai, named
Hirano, managed to make his way to Satsuma, where he took refuge in a
temple. In [Page 352] the mean time Saigo
was urging the Satsuma authorities to afford protection to Gessho, but,
owing probably to fear of the Bakufu, assistance was refused. Meanwhile
the Bakufu authorities were endeavoring to procure spies at Fukuoka who
would undertake to go to Kagoshinia and capture Gessho.
On the 15th October, in the dead of the night, Saigo came to the temple
where Gessho had taken refuge, and found him and Hirano sleeping. He
silently roused them, and Gessho at once comprehended, from the anxiety
visible in his friend’s countenance, the imminence of his danger and the
necessity for immediate flight. Taking with them the priest’s servant,
Insuke, they entered a junk and set sail to the east. The boat was amply
provided with food and sake, and a feast was
prepared and partaken of. Suddenly, without a word, Saigo rose, and
embracing Gessho, plunged with him into the sea and disappeared. After a
few moments they reappeared on the surface, and were at once seized by
the bewildered occupants of the junk and dragged on board. Both were
found to be senseless. Saigo, a robust, powerful man, after a time
revived, but all efforts to restore life to Gessho were in vain. Saigo’s
motive for this action has been accounted for in various ways, but the
most probable solution is that, despairing of saving his friend, he
resolved to perish with him.
Saigo now changed his name to Kikuchi Genjo, but the Satsuma authorities,
dreading the vengeance of the Bakufu for permitting the escape of its
intended victim, banished him to Oshima, where he again changed his
name, taking that of Oshima-Sanyemon, in consequence of his having three
times visited this place of banishment. In spite of the bodily hardships
that he had to endure during the years of exile spent on this island, he
continued to Cultivate his mind, and never wavered in his firm resolve
to overthrow the Shôgunate and restore the Mikado to legitimate
power.
In 1863, when the struggle between the imperial court and the Bakufu grew
more open and bitter, Shimadzu, lord of Satsuma, pardoned Saigo, and
recalling him placed him at the head of the administration of affairs in
his province. In 1865, when the Bakufu and the Chôshiu clan, were in
open warfare, Saigo arranged an alliance offensive and defensive between
this clan and his own. In 1867 he attended the great meeting at Kiôto,
and profoundly impressed the assembly by the truth and shrewdness of his
counsels. In 1868 he was appointed adviser to the commander-in-chief of
the imperial forces.
When the Mikado’s troops advanced as far as Shinagawa, in the final
struggle with the Shôgun, Katsu-awa, in an interview with Saigo, begged
him to cease hostilities, as Keiki, the irresolute and effeminate head
of the Bakufu, was willing to surrender. This was at midnight, and Saigo
straightway asked to be furnished with a proof of submission. Katsu-awa
said that on the following day the castle at Yedo should be surrendered.
Saigo at once replied, “If to-morrow, why not to-night? There is no need
to wait.” The terms were made and the castle was given up.
After this, Saigo accompanied Arisugawa, the present commander of the
imperial forces, to Echigo in an expedition against a number of rebels
who had not yet thrown down their arms. After subduing these, Saigo was
ordered to reduce to submission the retainers of the Shogun’s cause who
had made their way to Yezo, which he undertook to do in thirty days, and
he accomplished the task, giving proof of excellent judgment and great
valor. For this the government at once wished to appoint him to the
office of sangi, but he declined the distinction
and returned home.
On the 2d July, the Mikado acknowledged his services in the following
terms:
“You have been the strongest upholder of my cause, and you have for years
been zealously endeavoring to secure my restoration. Owing to your skill
as military commander, in obtaining possession of Yedo Castle, in
gaining the victories of Echigo, and by your diligence in all affairs
connected with my service, you have gained for me the peace I to-day
enjoy. I honor your actions, and, as a reward therefor, decree to you an
income of two thousand koku of rice, per year.”
This Saigo likewise declined to accept, but on the Mikado’s ordering him
to receive it he complied.
In 1871 Saigo was recalled by the Emperor, and elevated to the office of
sangi with the rank of jussami. In May, 1873, he was appointed general of the
imperial army, still retaining the office of sangi. In October of the same year arose the Corean question,
which led to a diaagreement between Saigo and some of the other members
of the cabinet, unfortunately resulting in Saigo’s withdrawal and return
to Satsuma. Since that time the government has made frequent overtures
to him, and the Emperor has more than once ordered the return of the man
most influential in effecting his restoration, and whose firm devotion
to the throne he re-established still, we thoroughly believe, remains
unchanged. But from dislike to some of those who surround the sovereign,
and who, he has reason to suppose, seek to advance their personal power,
instead of laboring for the dignity and welfare of the empire at large,
he has remained in retirement, devoting his time to the direction of a
system of “private schools,” or, as we now know, military academies,
established by him, and supported to some extent by the decreed to him
by the Mikado as a reward for his faithful services.
