The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-11-17
From the st. Louis Intelligencer.


Beautiful, mysterious Japan! Always an
object Of interest, she is now becoming one of
essential importance. For three hundred year,
mercantile nations have been looking upon the
eatree into her ports as a magnificent prize,
worthy Of great sacrifices for it's attainment
Now, il is declared to be an absolute necessity.
lnorder to give the reader some idea Of the
anxiety which has long prevailed among other
nations to establish q commerce with the japan.
ees, aud the difficulties which government
has to enccuner in its present frts to effect
the same, we will give brief account Of vari.
Gus attempts, with their results.
In tn, year 1912, the Portuguese were allowed
to commence trade, which was kept up with
vast profit 10 themselves until their final expul-
sion in 1897. They realized celt. per cent
above all expenses upon whatever they carried
to the country, and nearly the same upon all
that they took away from it
About the year 1000, the Dutch obtained a
sort Of join, footing with the Portugees in the
japan trade. Great jealousy existed between
the two classes Of merchants, insomuch that
some of the former were only too glad to dis
cover to the Japanese authorities the treacher.
Gus designs which the Portuguese were enter
tanning against their empire, and to assist them
| in maslcreeing or expel.ing host of hated ri
walls. From that day to this the Dutch, exclu-
sively, have been allowed to trade at single
sc port but under the mos. humiiating re.
| ,trctiOns and prohibitions, which no other ma
Ii IN would acccde, even if allowed the privi-
lege.
In l6l3 the British East India company sen,
a ship and obtained from the Emperor of Japan
he privilege of trading with his subjects. In
1915, however, the English were strictly pro
hib,ed from ever after approaching any town
save that of Firando. So many other restraints
! nd hSfr al spt fhpt
t nat the trade was rendered proftless, and was
soor ter abandoned, at loss Of 100000
In 1872, another English ship sent to
attempt revival Of the trade The Captain
was not allowed to land a particle of his cargo
or to stay in port moment longer than he couls
get away
In 1891, the "Argonaut," another Englisl
vessel, made similar attempt. She sur
rounded by lines OF boats, with warlike demon
STATIONS, and compelled to sail away withou
parley.
| In 1903, the "Frederick was sent from Cal
cutta with rich cargo of goods and presents -
! She was refused Abundance to the harbor, an,
enjoined to leave within twenty -four hours
In 1899, 1903 and 1911, the Russians mad
several similar attempts, but with like failures
In the last case, the captain and seven Of hi
officers and crew were taken prisoners and s.
kept for two or three years-most of the time
in cages, like wild beasts. The Russians hav
been similarly unsuccessful in divers other at
Temps, at different periods
Without pursuing exact details any further
we may mention that during the present centur
at least twenty different attempts at openln
some sort of intercourse with the Japanees PEG
pie have been made by the English, French an
Americans All have been alike unsuccessful
though some were managed with admirable tao
and skill. The most formal effort on our par
was that of 1876 Commodore Biddle, wit
the columbus and ssVincennes" appeared a
the entrance of the Bay of Joddo en- tie 2d;
July The ships were Immediately surruunde
by about four hundred guard boats, to proven
their entrance Oricommunicating with the shore
President Polk letter to the Emperor was de
livered, however, and after lapse Of ten day
| WIS answered as follows "No trade can be al
lowed with any foreign nation, except Holland.
The mineral wealth of Japan is sad t, hav
an extent that would be fabulous, were it nc
we'll authenticated. Gems and gold exist i
such profusion that they are bestowed lavish
about dead bodies, and buried with them No
only the palace of the Emperor, but the house
of many Of the great lords are covered with rio
plates of gold. Silver, copper, tin and coal ar
there in measurtless abundance; while pearls
agates, jaspers, comedians and other preciou
stones, are held in little or no estimation by tn
Inhabitants, who have never yet acquired tn
art of polishing them One Of the three prnc
pal islands Is larger than Great Britain and tn
whole population is so immense, with these vas
stores of wealth at their command. that an
manufacturing nation which could have un
limited access to the people, and trade in al
parts of the empire, would rapidly build up
mercantile affluence unsurpassed in the annal
of the world.
Our article has already acquired a create
length than we desired it to have, and we mu.
therefore defer its conclusion until to morrow.