The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-16


and Future Effect or the Embassy
The people Of Japan are consttutioahlS
apathetic. and, although curious, are by %
means easily moved to wonder The cold
manner in which they met the return of their
Embassy to this country, and the Indifference
they displayed concerning the details Of the
Ambassadorial mission, and the hospitality
shown to the Embassy in the United States, there
fore, afford US but little surprise. That we
have done the Japanese good service in con-
veying them to this country, and making them
familiar with our institutions and Inventions,
we feel convinced; and that the bond of friend
ship between ourselves and the Japanese has
been established on more durable basis than
before, we feel to be no less certain.
We cannot complain of the Japanese reject
ing the services of the two naval officers who went
out in the Niagara with the prospect ofrcmaining
in Japan to instruct the natives in the practice
ofgunnery, as the Japanese declared themselves
very well able to teach themselves in that
respect. We ought not to experience sense
Of disappointment because a number Of Dahl
gren guns Of Japanese manufacture were dis
covered in shed at Kanagawa, thereby show
ing that the Japanese were in no particular
need Of those sent to them by our govern
ment The fact that the japanese were clever
enough to construct such scientific weapons
from the one or two presented to them by
Commodore Perry shows that they are very
ingenious people, whose friendship is by no
means to be despised. We believe that the
fruits of the late Embassy will be reaped rs
long as The United States, or any of them, and
Japan exist The mere circumstance Of our
making them acquainted with the means of our
naval and military strength, even if we knew
the Japanese would become as cunning adopts
in the art of war as any of the Western nations,
is by no means inadvisable. Secresy is only
the defence of the weak. BY all means let the
japanese become enlightened, and learn as
much about us as possible. To know us well
will be to disarm suspicion; and if they ever
choose to fight us with our own weapons we
may be assured that we shall be none the losers
by it in the end.
The somewhat disappointed tone in which
some of the recent letters from Japan are writ
ten may be easily accounted for by the glow
ing expectations entertained by the writers OF
the immediate results of the Embassys return
home. Let us remember that Rome was not
built in day, and that the good effects of the
Embassy alluded to are not to be exhibited
in moment. The effect will be slow, but
we think sure, in our favor. The men whom
we feted and entertained so we'll cannot
but remember us and our generous
hospitality, and to some extent share bur sym.
patbies. Ours is the only country to which the
present generation of the Japanese ever accre-
dited an embassy, and their special acquaint-
ance with us must be productive of many ad
vantages which can hardly be expected by any
other nation. These people Of the far Orient
are practically strangers to every other land
save ours and their own; and, naturally exclu-
sive by disposition, the exception which has
marked their intercourse with the United States
conveys rich store of promise. Theirs is a
delightful land, and one Astounding in almost
unlimited resources. Already our merchants
have established agencies on its shores, and but
for the currency all would be doing well.
This matter, however, will, in all reasonable
probability, be settled within short period in
manner satisfactory to both parties, as the
Embassy devoted great attention to the results
of the assay at the Philadelphia Mint, with
view to the adjustment Of this vexed question
The reports Of the Ambassadors have not yet
had time to be acted upon; therefore any OPT
Mon pronounced adverse to q satisfactory set
Element would be premature. The title of
No-Kami enjoyed by the Ambassadors is
OF only temporary nature, and entities
its possessors to far less consideration than
those who inherit high rank. Thus we have
seen how those who were grandees among the
shayen heads at Washington and New York
were nobodes comparatively at Jeddo, although
the custom of interiors kneeling and bending
to superiors adopted throughout the empire
leads US to form an exaggerated idea of their
relative rank.
The correspondence we have lately pub
lished, and the last instalment of which
may be found in another column, affords us
large amount Of interesting information re-
specting the manners and customs Of the ia
panese at home. and makes us sanguiue that
increased commercial relations between their
country and ours viii be Of the highest advan-
tage to both nations, whatever may be the area
ma imperii ia the realm of the Rising Sun.
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TERRIBLE TIMES AMONG THE BLACK REPuBLI-
CASs.--Jnst now we are in a sort Of political
deluCe NV which the whole aanect or uartiaa