New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-09-11
DIN RELATIONS WITH JAPAN.

our RELATIONS WITH JAPAN'
| Our country was surprised few days ago by
the unexpected intelligence that hostllities had
been committed upon our flag by the japanese,
with whom we believed we were on the most
peaccable terms. The United States vessel Penn
broke, it was reported, had been fired upon by
the Japanese forts while on her way from Man.
gasaki to Kanagawa and in consequence OF this
outrage the gunboat Wyoming had gone to the
scene of hostilites, silenced the forts and de-
stroyed two war steamers belonging to the
japanese.
Some of our contemporaries, on learning OF TINS
unprovoked attack upon our fag have de-
nounced unsparingy the evil intentions OF the
japanese Government. We could not entirely
coincide with these sentiments, for, while the
Government of the Tycoon had given many
proofs that its attitude toward the American
Government. was of more friendly nature than
il held toward England and France, there was
little if anything, in the report OF the outbreak
of hostilities which warranted the belief that
they had been instigated or even sanctioned BY
the Tycoon. 1t appeared to be, on the contra
ry, highly probable that the hostilties pro-
ceeded entirely from one Of the scmi-independ'
ent princes, called Daimios, who arc at the
head Of the sntiforegn party, and who, by the
assassination Of the Englishman Richardson,
have caused the present difficulty between En-
gland and Japan.
This view of the case is fully confirmed by
the later news, which reaches Us via san
Francisco, and which may be found in another
column OF this mornings issue The Tycoon
was DESTROYS 10 avoid any war with foreigners,
and the attack upon the American vessel was
entirely the work Of one Of the Daimios. II
was. however, expected tina, in the case of hos
,ilitics. all the Daimos would make common
cause agains, foreigners.
While We, Of course, expect that any further
attacks upon our iag will meet with an equally
prompt punishment IA the hrst, and that our
Government will see that all the rights of
American citizens will be fully respected, we
must no, be blind 10 the fact that in
Japan a. in tho countries OF Asa
and Africa generally, the Overlooking and
rapacious conduct Of England and France
II mainly responsible for the hatred which, not
| N Japan alone. but also in other countries, Is
sprnging up againt the foreigners, who, for
rlarnrly selfish purposes, obtrude their presence
upon them. The conduct Of England Is well
described in an address which the Peace Society
recently presented 10 Earl Russell. They tell
the Foreign Secretary that England's night OF
intercourse with Japan was, in the first instance,
obtained from tina, country under the coercion
Of fear. md that ii would be- useless 10 attempt
10 force an acquaintance Ut The lannon's mouth.
Our Government in is intercourse with Japan
has no such objects in view as England and
France, and though it may be compelled to
guard, By force of arms against further outragcs
which are undoubtedly mediiated by the native
party, IL ought never TO identify lis policy with
that Of England and France The people Of
! Asia and Africa will, ere long, learn how to dis
,nguish between the projec.sofa ACKNOWLEDGMENT
which England and France are everywhere and
constantly pursuing, and the entirely peaceful
and amicable intentions OF the United States.