Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-19


FAINT intelligence received from the East for
many months, is that brought by the Wander
bilt, of the negotiations made by our Consul,
Mr., Townshend Harris, with the Japanese
government. followed by treaties between
England and that country, negotiated by Lord
Elgin, and also between Russia and Japan
1t appears that Mr.. Harris, who is stationed
at Simoda, about six months ago went to
Jeddo to obtain, If possible, removal of the
restrictions attached to the treaty negotiated
by Commodore Perry but in vain were all
his efforts till the U. S. ship Powhattan, hav-
ing lett Nen-tsn, came to anchor at Kama
gaws near Jeddo; when, by a change of
Japanese government officials, Mr.. Harris,
backed by the silent but potent inf uence of
the Powhsttan, succeeded in obtaining a
treaty with the following provisions:
"That there shall be no more trampling
upon the cross in Japan that Americans
ahall be allowed to reside in such ports as are
opened, to build churches and to worship
their God; that japanese also shall be grant
ed religious freedom.
That the tax of six per cent. re coinage,
now paid by the American purchaser of
japanese goods, shall be dispensed with.
That this treaty shall take effect from the
9th of July, 1859, though some of the ports
That the port of Simoda shall be closed
and that of Kanagawa shall be opened in it's
stead.
That the port of Hego (Which is the seaport
of the great cities Osaca and Misco) shall be
open to American trade.
That Americans shall not wander to Jeddo
from ksnagawa.
That Japanese coin may be exported after
it had been purchased by weighing American
coin against it-gold against gold and silver
against silver.
And that a Minister shall be sent to the
United States"
This is a remarkable treaty. We wonder
that it has been obtained, for we have suppos-
ed, and we had abundant reasons for the sup
position, that long period OF time must elapse
before direct relations could be had, even
commercially, with a people whose ideas of
economy were the solidiication OF centraliza-
ton, who were bound up in themselves, and
whose policy had for several centuries been
one of exclusiveness Especially do we
wonder at the liberal federation of Christiani
| ty from a people who, for nearly two oentu-
ries, have exhibited their hatred of the chris
tan religion by trampling on its symbol, the
| Cross But this is an age Of wonders.
But in this connection, we would state that
the internal condition of things in Japan has,
| for the last half century, been working
| towards just such result as has now been
reached. Japan like all other communities
in the least degree advanced in the social
scale, has had its two political parties-liber.
ais and conservatives. The conservatives be- =
long to the old school, of uamplers on the
cross, and advocates of exclusiveness; but
the liberals, the scholars, men Of science, and
| enlightened merchants, who, through the
! Dutch have kept themselves acquainted wi tn
what was going on in the world outside of
japan, have gradually been rising in political
| influence. Mr.. Harris, on his arrival at Jed.
do, found the Prince of Boringo at the head
| OF aiiars-an opponent of the liberals and of
course deaf to the solicitations of our Consul ;
but the arrival of the Powhattan was seized
upon by the liberals as a time for gainin .
control Of affairs, and accordingly the Prince
of Boringo, like other goyernn entail officials,
was obliged to retire aud give place to the
| Prince of Bitsu, with whom tbs treaty was
negotiated.
Mr.. Harris did not let the suspicious mo-
ment slip, but obtained treaty remarkable
for its lberalty towards Americans. Its was
negotiated in a conoiliatory spirit II impor-
lance is beyond estimate. The course pnr-
sued by Mr.. Harris paved tho way for the
English and Russian diplomats. Three weeks
later, Lord Elgin, with six ships of war, ar
rived at Kanagawa, and in spite of the
remoustranoea OF the japanese, sent a steam.
| or up to Jeddo and cast anchor within gum
shot of the batteries The other vessels
| followed, and the officers went into the royal
city, which s described as being neat and
clean, with no beggars, orpples, drunkards,
no lighting, no bad smols' Here Lord Elgn