As the last Dajo Daijin, he supported the System of Departments of State to the last moment, although he took the post of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal without any opposition, knowing that it was an honorary office created for him, and congratulated Hirobumi ITO on becoming the first prime minister.
また、最後の太政大臣として太政官制を最後まで擁護しながらも、内閣制度の発足に伴い内大臣職を宛てがわれるとこれが三条処遇のために作られた名誉職である事を承知の上であっさりと引き受け、初代内閣総理大臣伊藤博文の門出を祝った。