The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-20
fashionable Society nj WASHINGTON


Fashionable Society at Washington is doomed
to experience a serious disappointment. New
Tork Aldermen have also missed an opportu-
nifty for indulging themselves in glorious feed at
the expense of that city. The Japanese lions that
were expected at the Federal Capital, will not
make their interesting debut as able diplomatic
manager in Eastern Asia, Mr.. TOWNSEND HARRIS,
at one time confidently expected The announce
ment was premature. Liberalism in Japan has
been subjected to retrogade movement The
Frog in the Well' party again i'll the ascen-
dant, and, moreover, it has been discovered that
to send Commissioners to a foreign country, would
violate fundamental law of the Empire. The
brace of Commissioners who were luxuriating in
the prospect of foreign travel in despair. Our
government had placed vessel of war at the SER
vice of the distinguished strangers and from PAN
anna to Maine everybody on the tip-toe of
expectation, but the "Frogs in the Well' have
croaked so loudly against the innovation, that the
Island Ambassadors have been compelled to put
Off the projected visit to a more convenient oppor-
tunlty. The AlIKADo, or spiritual Emperor, would
not give the Embassy his sanction. The Youth
full ZToGooN is wholly governed by the Council
of Princes, and the latter insist that the
GENIUS of Commerce, who had, in a moment of
fear been suffered to escape from the vase in which
he had been confined for two centuries, shall be
forced back into his narrow prison-house, and
sealed down with seal more potent than that of
SOLOMON. Thus far too, the Japanese imagine they
have suffered seriously from foreign intercourse.
They have been decimated on the sea-hoard nv
cholera which, it is alleged, was introduced by
vessels in port. They have been maltreated by
reckless and turbulent sailors, and they have lost
considerable property by disastrous conflagra-
ton. Superstition points to these evils as fore
warning them of what they may expect if they
abolish the old laws of the Empire, and commence
anew to traffic with outsiders. The status quo
party have themselves been strengthened by these
occurrences, and now that the war in China has
ended, and the presence of ships of war among the
islands of the Indian Archipelago no longer creates
ALARM the Japanese are disposed to restrict their
intercourse with other nations to the narrowest pos
slDle limits. We do not say that the treaties which
have been made will not be respected: but where
ever the provisions of those treaties can he
rendered imperative, japanese ingenuity will
We have an abiding faith, however, in the
diplomatic ability of Mr.. TOWNSEND HARR1s.-
Ever since he demonstrated at Jeddo before the
assembled Princes, that every black dog had white
hairs in his tail, have admired the genius of the
man. That of itself was a new discovery in the
natural history of CANNES, of which he had lust
reason to be proud, and the reputation he achieved
thereby among the japanese saUans, was honestly
acquired. But Mr.. HARRIS has shown himself a
man Of talent in matters of far more inheritance
he II was who first led the way to the presence of
the ZIoGooN, standing erect and unabashed before
mat secluded potentate, instead of creeping up to
his couch of mats all tours after the fashion of
The Dutch at Desima. He even had the simplicity
or the hardihood 10 talk to the japanese Emneror
as II the latter were compounded of the same ele
ments that enter into the composition of ordinary
mortas, and, to cap the climax of his audactv
with that lnquiSitiveness which is alleged to be
characteristic of New England man, he had the
boldness to ask the COCOON how old he was.
whether he was a Benedick or a bacheor. and
how many children called him Father CLEARLY
mere is a man who is capable of learning much
and teaching much, and we cannot but hone that
ne Will eventually succeed in making the 'sFrops
IN the WelP' his proselytes But in all Asiatic
countries reforms move slowly Even those who
are supposed to entertain the most liberal opin-
ions, but too frequently advance to the attainment
OF their object, as if, like some of the ancient
pilgrims to Jerusalem, they travelled encountered
with peas in their shoes, or were bound by VOW
to make one step backwards for every two steps
forward ilyrfo
is gentleman of an eminentiy practical turn Of
mlho, and, unlike our late Commissioner to China
has no genius for distractions If he fails in his
efforts to silence the Reaconists, we shall not be
surprised to learn that he has undertaken Journey
to Miaco, for the express purpose of ingratiatinp
himself with his Japanese Holiness, ssthe Divine
"MIKADo," by unraveing that famous theolopi-
cal knot concerning the color of the Devil which
has occasioned SO much strife between the fou1
religious factions into which the Empire of Japan
is divided. The poor MIKADo, harassed by these
contentious, and called upon to decide whether
the color of his Satanic Majesty be black, white
red, or green, has only thus far succeeded in
effecting a compromise with his interrogators bv
declaring the parsonage in question to be four
colored monster. AS many of the religious en-
thusiasts are not content to accept this parti-
colored decision, there can scarcely be any doubt
whatever but that the perpexed MIKADo would be
exceedingly obliged to Mr. HARRIS, if he were TO
point out some method of determining the CUES
ton in dispute to the satisfaction of all the parties
But what mainly interests us, at the
present time is the fact that the japanese mission
to this country has been postponed and that this
act of postponement indicates change in the
policy of Japan that is decidedly unfavora-
bic to easy and familiar intercourse. Had the |
commissioners been permitted to make the pro-
posed journey, their presence amongst us would |
have created quite sensation We |
might have learned from them many of those
ceremonial observances in which the Japanese are
eianoratey trained, from their youth upwards;
"hat sort OF greetings are most appropriate to
particular occasions; how men should bow to
their equals, and how to their subordinates. and
ABOVE all our inferior dignitaries-Common
oounoiliheh' Tor example-mght have been in
srncted IN an art in which they are Iamentablv
dehclent-that Of making elegant kootoos., In
return, we might have taught our strow-sbod
visitors many things of which they also arc sodr,,
ignorant, and might, perhaps, have laid tho
foundation for a more generous appreciation of
foreigners whilst opening up new fields to COM
nercia enterprise.
K. G.. C.