Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 4.djvu/233

 of course, from selfish motives, but truthfully bent upon promoting the interests of their country before all other aims. The fifth, Saigo Takamori, was a man in whom boundless ambition lay concealed under qualities of the noblest and most endearing type. His absolute freedom from every trace of sordidness gave currency to a belief that his objects were of the simplest; the story of his career satisfied the highest canons of the samurai; his massive physique, commanding presence, and sunny aspect impressed and attracted even those who had no opportunity of admiring his life of self-sacrificing effort or appreciating the remarkable military talent he possessed. In the first years of his career, the object of his ambition was Satsuma; in the later years, Saigo. The overthrow of the Tokugawa Shogunate presented itself to him originally as a prelude to the supremacy of the Satsuma clan, and when the abolition of feudalism defeated that purpose, Satsuma assumed in his eyes the guise of Saigo. Whether he clearly recognised his own project or was unconsciously swayed by it, there is no doubt that he looked to become supreme in the administration of State affairs. To that end the preservation of the military class was essential. By the swords of the samurai alone could a new imperium in imperio be carved out. On the other hand, Saigo's colleagues in the Ministry saw clearly not only that the samurai were an unwarrantable burden on the nation, but also that their