Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-14
LOCAL NEWS.
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY
TO THE
UNITED STATES.
The Object of the Embassy.

Aside from interest and great commercial ern.,-
oh, loere is something fresh and novel in the
thefe nange OF civilties about to occur between
tue Mongols and Caucasians The Empire Of
Japan Is old, but only once since the DAYS Of
marco Paulo has japanese ever visited any other
wan Asiauc shores That was long ago, in the
yea. l0o4, when the Catholic religion had gained
so strong a hold in the Asiatic Archtnelayo thst
an embassy was sent to Rome and Spain IL Is
Ieiated that this embassy traversed Italy and
,a,,1 ana returned as we hope their more modern
kh VIII, highly delighted with what thew had
seen and heard. Since that time and before the
myaerious Empire has been frivolous I'm liz inter
course p' with the outside world. In I3l2, Mendez
Ilhto, portuguese, reached Japan, and a trade
spfang up between the two countries Francis
Aavier followed him and made converts to Chris
nanity but In 1855 they were all expelled or per-
secuted An EnglishInan, having been wrecked
upon the islands, was detained as prisoner and
ut English trade was opened, to be speedily
closed Fifteen years after the persecution Of
NdVlers converts the Dutch arrived and opened
commerce, and have retained, with some depres-
Slons their position until the present time During
All this period the japanese temper has been friv
oious now relaxing their rigid etiquette and then
resuming it, now admitting the Christians to
privileges. and then cutting them off This fiuc-
tgating policy on their part has not been without
None cause; for usually the Christians once adj
United, have commenced proseyting and thereby
offending the native religious teachers IL is said
Inat at one time, so successful had been the Jesuit
teachers, there were nearly two million native
Christians in the Empire, among whom were four
princes Prosecutions succeeded, and at one time
thlrty-seven thousand Christian converts were
butc hered At Last the Dutch themselves were
restricted to one island, SO by BIO feet not rer
United to 90 beyond this limit on penalty of
death, and were watched with the most Wig liant
c re
Since the mission of Commodore Perry in 1874
the disposition of the japanese has again relaxed
Treaties have succeeded, and at last we have the
unique assembly approaching our shores We
have already given sketches Of their appearance
their manners, their receptions and the impres,
son which the honors bestowed makes upon
mem when they arrive at Washington there
viii be other inStalments Of these novel enter
tainments. All this International courtesy is or
IL supposed to be, subservient to the opening of
commerce, advantageous to both nations 1t is
because THIS embassy apparently opens the door
To the enlargement of our commerce. to nev
aud untrodden field for American enterprise that
Congress has made an appropriation of s5O,OO0,
ana IS contemplating another of S50,0OO. By the
opening OF harbors on western coast and the
peopling of that region we are made neigbbors
to the Young communities springing up on the
Pacific islands, and to those depostorles of wealth
among the ancient Asiatic EN- pires IL has been
estimated that Japan, with its immense ronnIa
ton, somewhere between y 900 900 and so 6O6 600
VIII furnish new and valuable market for Amer
ican products and fabrics, when the DISTINCTIONS
20 commerce are removed and the japanese are
once taught to foster foreign trade.
Judging from experience it will be many wears
before these antcipations will be largely realized
The Aslatics do not adopt new customs rspidJv
nor would their consumption of American goods
oe AT al IN proportion to their population and
open to American houses il would be more adj
Vantageous; but only limited number of ports
are yet thrown open, and in these the proyisions
are restricted IL the Empire Of Japan could he
opened TO American traders the mines to he one
rated by them, their improved modes of agricuI-
ture and mechanism to be introduced the BENEFITS
would be almost incaculable But this cannot
he accomplished in many years. Hakodadi one
81 the ports, Is little else than a fishing VILLAGE
with no active trade, and with only sutticient
artlcIes OF export to load few ships IL the
nlted states can once obtain the confidence and
friendly intercourse Of the japanese time will
open the door TO extensive commerce
The Immediate object of this EN- bassy ia to X
change ratihcaiions Of the treaty made at Jeddo
IN 1905, which was to have been ratified before
out has been postponed from time to time, But
the novel embassy will improve the opportunity
10 OBSERVE our customs, manners resources and
CIVILIZATION. and will carry back with them
mass OF Information concerning us to be intro
duced among their countrymen Thus far the
Government has been more than Courteous even
liberal, towards their new friends In FURNISHING
them conveyance both ways in steam frigates and
IN ample preparations for their reception and en-
terlalnment, IL is a cause no less creditabIe To
our Government than ii will be in time adyanta
Esous. American diplomacy is gradually ma king
ITS way where European arms have been foiIed
ana we may hope that this is the beginning of
measures which viii link the great AsIatic races
with us IN friendship and interest