Sanjo bowed, and looked at Iwakura Tomomi, who said:—“You speak well, Sir Knight, and we do not hold the clans responsible for their compulsory neglect of His Majesty. But we shall be glad to hear what it is that Mori of Nagato desires of us.”
“Your Lordships, the Tokugawa has admitted barbarians within the realm of the divine ancestors. They are now upsetting all our time-honored customs at Kanagawa, and demand admittance at Hyogo. Your humble servant has dwelt for six weeks among them. I desired to study them, because I was anxious to know if their unhallowed presence foreboded evil to our country. I am convinced that it does. The five relations[78] upon which our social system rests are disregarded and set at nought by them. They respect nothing we respect. They are rude and insolent, and act as if the country of the gods was theirs by right of conquest. They defy our laws. Who ever heard of a merchant talking back to a samurai? Not only do they do this, but they dare order them about.”
“Have you seen that yourself?” asked Sanjo.
“I have, my Lord.”
“And what did the Tokugawa Knights do?”
“They did as they were bidden; they obeyed the orders of the insolent dogs.”
“Was no complaint brought?”
“Who would bring a complaint, and before whom? The samurai is not accustomed to seek protection. He protects, and in such a quarrel, his good sword is both judge and executioner. But, alas! the Tokugawa samurai is no longer a knight. He has forgotten the existence of the word duty, and has substituted the word pleasure. The country is no longer safe under the guidance of the Tokugawa. It must be taken away from them.”
“And given to Mori?” asked Karassu Maru.
“That may be decided later, my lord,” said Kano calmly. “At present it is not a question of who shall rule with Tenshi Sama’s consent, but if the country shall be safe from the invasion of the barbarians. They may not come in large numbers for some years; but if they upset all our sacred customs, they can ruin Japan without any armed invasion. They are but few in number now, your lordships, and we can expel them. But if we wait for a few years, they will have obtained such a foothold that we may not be able to succeed.”