The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-16

are writer. That's all
Arrival or tho Japanese Embassy.
About week ago we published an account
of the arrival of the Japanese steam corvette
Candinmarruh at San Francisco-an auant
couu7ier announcing the advent of the embassy
from the empire Of Japan to Washington. Yes
terday we published the interesting intelli-
gence of the arrival, ON the 9th of March, of
the embassy itself, in the United States steam
frigate Powhatan, at the city Of the Golden
Gate" The date of the news-the first brought
by the Pony Express-is the Sd Of April, and
it was only ten days in reaching st. Joseph, Mo.
The embassy and suite had been entertained
magnifcently at Honolulu by the King and
Queen of the Sandwich Islands, owing, no
doubt, to the influence of the American officers,
who reciprocated the compliment by giving
ball on board the Powhatan. AT San Francis
co the reception was grand, $4,000 having
been appropriated for the purpose from the
city treasury. The Corporation, the members
of the Legislature, the Governor, and citizens
generally, paid their respects in person, and re-
ceived the guests publicly on the I'd inst, atthe
largest hall in the city; and while the express
was leaving on the Sd, there was splendid
procession through the streets, in honor Of these
strangers from the other side of the Pacific.
AS may be easily conceived, the Ja-
panese, who were never before out of
their own country, were delighted beyond
measure with the attentions and honors they
received. Indeed, everything they see and hear
must astonish them. They are in an entirely
new world, and must carry back to Japan an
extraordinary account of their visit. Could
reporter who understood their language be
present at their conversations after the various
receptions given them, and the different objects
Of interest which they have met, what a curious
picture his report would present to the readers
of the HERALD!
The Powhatan was to have sailed for Pa
mama with the Japanese on the 9Th inst, and
the Roanoke was to have been in waiting at
this side of the Isthmus to receive the embassy,
after crossing by railroad to Aspinwall, in
order to convey it direct to Washington. So
pleased were the Japanese officials with their
expressed desire to have that ship wait for
them at Panama to take them back to their
native islands. They intend to stay month
on the Atlantic side of the republic, and will,
of course, visit New York. Their visit
will probably be extended much longer, when
they find us so civil to them. Had they arrived
a little sooner they might have been taken to
the Charleston Convention; but if they are too
late for that, they will be in good time for the
Baltimore and Chicago Conventions, where they
will see how American kings are made, in
manner so different from their own.
The Emperors of the Japanese-for they
have two at the same time-are hereditary; one
spiritual ruler, residing at Nisko, and the
other temporal sovereign, reigning at Jeddo.
The original Emperor was the spiritual, believ-
ed to be descended from the gods-a sort of
Pope, combining all spiritual and temporal
power in his own person. But military lead
er arose, who, like Victor Emanuel inNItaly,
took in hand the temporal power, and is known
as the Siogun. Ever since, the Micado or spir-
itual, Emperor is only sovereign de jure, while
the temporal ruler is sovereign de facto,
and only consults the Micado regarding
relations with foreign Powers. The diff
fculty of the position, both of the
Emperor de facto and his administration, with
respect to American intercourse, and the send
ing of an embassy to the United States, contra
ry to their ancient laws and usages, may be
estimated from the fact that when the admins
tration proposes any important measure, and
the Emperor vetoes it, the matter is referred to
three princes of the blood, his nearest kinsmen.
If they agree with the Emperor, the members
of the administration are compelled to die by
ripping up their own bowels but if they do
not agree with the Emperor, then he is COM
PEELED to abdicate the throne in favor Of his
next heir, for Japanese Emperor never re-
tracts his opinion.
The triumph of American diplomacy in ia
pan, therefore, must be regarded as one of the
greatest on record. The English would have
been delighted if they could have induced
the Japanese, government to send an en-
bassy to London. The powerful Russian 60
vernment, though bordering the empire of
Japan, could never succeed in obtaining COM
mercial intercourse with it; and with the excep-
ton of the Chinese, whom the Japanese despise,
and the Dutch of whom they have no very ex-
allied opinion, they do not trade with any other
nation. The coming Of the Japanese embassy
to exchange treaty Of commerce is great
event in modern history-a new era opened by
American enterprise. There is no denying the
fact that in the East, including both China and
Japan, the American government has got the
inside track Of all other Powers. The Japa-
nese trade is prize to the United States
eagerly coveted by other nations-a prize
whose Importance can hardly be overrated,
when viewed in connection with our acquisi-
tion of California, directly opposite the islands
of Japan, the railroad across the Lthmus of
Panama, and the rapid communication now es-