Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-05-12
From the New York Tribune.
The United states and Japan.


intelligence arrives, we shall hope that Mr..
Harrs's public career has not so unexpect-
edy terminated His death at this time
would he severe and almost irreparable
loss. To his activity and energy we owe
the best of the advantages we now hold in
our relations with japan Among the rep
resentatives Of foreign nations at Yeddo,
ho has always held the first position of in
huence and authority and, although the
disposition of the japanese rulers is natural
ly more friendly to the. United States than
to any other Government-all the rest hav-
ing at some time given reasonable cause for
distrust and aversion-a less efficient min
lister could never have brought about such
fortunate results as those which have fol-
lowed Mr. Harris's labors.
To appreciate the value OF Mr.. Harris's
diplomatic services, the history Of recent
attempts to invade the long uninterrupted
secusion of Japan must be understood
| Uuntil l846 no effort was ever made by
the United States to open negotiations with
that empire. AT this time the japanese
were more or less unfrendly to every ma
tion with which they we're acquainted. The
Portuguese and Spanish had two hundred
years before, incurred their just anger by
plotting to overthrow the government, and
had been expelled. The Dutch were per-
mitted to remain, but were held 10 close
and contemptuous surveillance. The Eng
lish had lost favor through the gross mis-
conduct of the captain of one Of their
men-of-war, who, in 1908, sailing under
Dutch colors, entered the harbor OF Nagas-
nki, and there played such pranks that
thirteen of the native authorities, unable
to survive the modification of their nabili-
ty to punish them, simultaneously ripped
up their bowels, according to japanese Gus
tom, to preserve their honor. The Rus
slams, owing to a similar offense, were still
obnoxious Dissatisfied on the whole, with
the habits of their visitors, the japanese
were at FIRST disinclined to listen to the
propositions of the United States, and II
was not until 1853 that Commodore Perry
succeed in overcoming their reluctance.
The success of bis mission gave rise to re-
newed endeavors on the part of England
and Russia, neither of which, however,
was able to share his advantages at that
time.
Commodore Perry's treaty with japan
secured, among other privileges, the right
of residence at Simoda, in Nippon, for a
United States consul, and, to fill this Office
Mr.. Townsend Harris was chosen in 1855
, Unon his way to Japan, Mr.. Harris nego
tiated treaty with the Government of 81
am, securing new and important benefits tC
American commerce. On arriving at 81
moda, he Immediately set about the wori
which be has ever since prosecuted will
distinguished success. At every step b,
was confronted by obstacles sufficient t
: paralyze less resolute man. The prejudi
ces of two hundred years were not to b,
set aside in an hour, but, gradually an(
, surely working his way, Mr.. Harris passed
from one achievement to another, begin
ming by substantial treaty of commerce
and ending by inducing the delegation t,
this country of the first political embass
that has ever left Japan. Representative
of other nations in that region have beeI
fortified by the presence of armed forces
Mr.. Harris had no such advantage, but
} from the first was quite alone. But thi
I does not appear to have diminished his in
: fuence, for, in 1851, he was received wit
e great honor by the Tycoon at Yeddo, an
distinguished by marks of esteem whic
, had been shown no foreigner before hi
time. During an illness at Yeddo, he wa
, attended by the Tycoon's own doctor, an
i supplied with appetizng decaces specia
D ly prepared for him by the imperial hand
of the monarch's spouse. These evidence
D of consideration prove how completely MI
: Harris had, in his own case, allayed tn
apprehenSons with which foreigners la
A hitherto been regarded.
In bis treaty of commerce, which wa
the first liberal treaty vouchsafed by JaI
an, Mr.. Harris introduced clause provit
, ing that the Christian religion should b
e freely affirmed and practiced by all foreigI
IS ers who should so desire. Up to that tim
e Christianity had been Internationally pre-
e scribed. All natives who came 10 contaC
e with foreigners were compelled to u
|. ter frequent public renunciations of Chri
n tian faith and even to trample upon ii
cross. The Dutch, upon their regular vi
its to Nagasaki were forced to give u
u their Bibles, and to abstain from all profe
u sions of their creed The cause of th
" hostility was the settled conviction, hard
r yet eradicated, that Christianity was fir
is introduced into japan only as means
r coquest, and that, to escape subjugato
< its influences must be forever repelled NJ
4 Harris afteward struggled to secure Il
h full tolerance of religion among the Japa
ese themselves, but with less effect. "a
70 though failed in this attempt" be says
q letter to Mr. Cass, the labor will not |
lost the first blow has been struck, al
b the success of the measure is only que
D. tion of time, and, in my opinion, the d.
lg is not distant when it will be adopted"
r. Soon after the signing of the Unite
e States treaty, Lord Elgin visited Yedd
h where, with the generous assistance of NJ
" Harris. be negotiated an English treaty
~ similar character. Mr.. Harris's courte,
ID was promptly acknowledged by the En-
Or liSh Government; and be presently receive
to an elegant compliment in the form ef
th snuf-bOx altogether too radiant with di
or monds to be degraded into practical Sc
vice, from her Majesty of Britain. Th
i, box is now in the hands of one of Mr.. Ha
~ ris's friends in New York. The Fren,
~ ambassador, who accompanied Lord Elg
Ds to Japan, also based his treaty upon til