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370 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
and here for several years some of the government
officers remained, among whom were our old friends
Mr. Rai Goro and Professor Koba.
During the years of his quiet life in Higo, since
leaving Kyoto, Professor Koba had been earnestly
at work in developing the resources of his native
province, and helping the farmers to improve their
own condition as well as their crops, and, in general,
educating the people. He sent his two nephews
on an American vessel at Nagasaki to study in the
United States. He assisted other young men, in
the same way, and soon scores of Japanese students
were learning the science and languages of the west.
When called to Kyoto, in 1868, he found himself
among young men, and he the oldest of the Mikado's
counselors.
To one of such eminent personal dignity and in-
makers of New
tellectual acquirements the young
Japan gave great deference, and listened earnestly
as Professor Koba pleaded for wise measures and for
social and moral, as well as political, reform. Mr.
Rai nobly seconded most of his propositions in the
parliament. Koba urged that the eta and hi-nin
should be at once given citizenship, more freedom
of conscience in religion be allowed, and persecution
of Christians be stopped. Though the oldest,
Koba led his colleagues in urging an enlightened
and progressive policy. In a word, Koba labored to
obtain for the subjects of the emperor many of the
rights of person and conscience now enjoyed under
the Constitution promulgated February 11, 1889.