ENLIGHTENED GOVERNMENT
nutely. The nation wishes to believe that its sovereign exercises a directing influence, and the belief has a wholesome effect. In the opening years of Mutsuhito's reign, his youth necessarily disqualified him to employ the power with which he had been suddenly invested. But that from the first he evinced an intelligent interest in the stirring incidents of the era is affirmed by those best qualified to speak. Certain broad principles of national and international policy have always had His Majesty's earnest support, and it is more than probable that he would refuse his confidence to any Ministry avowedly deviating from them. But on the whole his active part in the administration of State affairs is probably smaller than that of the least autocratic sovereign in Europe. When an important question finds the country's leading statesmen in disagreement, it has become habitual that they should discuss it in the Mikado's presence and accept his verdict as final. But of course His Majesty decides, if not in accordance with the majority, then in favour of those whose views experience has taught him to trust. Preëminent among the latter is Marquis Itō. No other man in the Empire is so near the Throne, and the fact certainly constitutes a proof of His Majesty's sagacity. It may be added here that the financial position of the sovereign is very different now from what it was in the days when he lived a pensioner on the Shōgun's bounty. The
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