On the other hand, Itagaki's assumption of office as Sangi caused the movement of the formation of Aikokusha (literally, the Society of Patriots) to fail, so he was severely criticized by the Jiyu Minken fraction for his betrayal and pressed to offer vindication.
いっぽう板垣は参議就任により、愛国社創立運動の失敗を招いたため、自由民権派から背信行為を厳しく糾弾され、釈明に追われることとなった。