The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-26

'"OoH JaPanehe ana foreign m9rchan9 were
removed. And, in short, a treaty Of trade
and commerce of as liberal character as the
Governments concerned had amy reason or
right to expect, was establshed-as we had
all hoped, upon q solid and substantial basis.
That hope seemed to be amply confirmed
when the official report Of the agreement with
the Japanese Government as to foreign SETTLE
ments came to hand the other day The
readiness of the Imperial authorities to pre-
pare sites at Hioga, Osaka and other ports on
the West Coast; the liberal terms on which
the leases were 20 be granted; the apparent
heartiness with which the Japanese agents
accepted the new tests to which their liberal
ity was subjected - all appeared to give
strength and oonclusiveness to the conviction
Heretofore cherished, that the last barrier TO
the development of the trade of the Japanese
Empire was about to be removed forever, aud
that new era Of commercial life and enleht-
ment for Japan, for the East, had certainly
opened.
In view, then, of what had been done, of
what had been promised of what had been
hoped for, it is discouraging to learn through
the telegraph, by way of Europe, that the
Damios are again at work, and that-iealous
as they are known to be alike of the Central
Government of the Empire and of the advances
OF foreigners-tbey have declared themselves
against the opening Of the great port of
Osaka. Nor is their opposition to be regarded
as insignificant, or as mere impotent protest
which they lack the necessary power to back
up. If the report, as ii comes, Is true. we
may not only look out for a serious interrup
tion in the commercial negotiations and ar
rangements now so far advanced, but we may
look for renewal of those affronts and of
those violent attempts to drive out the citi-
zens as well as the agents of foreign powers
which led to the ohastisement administered to
Prince Nagato and the native party by the
allied fleets in September 1854
Of the strange combination of authority
which makes up the Government of japan,
that alone which centres in the Tycoon or
political head of the Government has been ever
outwardly friendly to the opening up of the
country, or willing to be held amenabIe to the
rules which regulate the intercourse of civil
lized communities. The Spiritual Emperor
50 far as the secrets of Japanese diplomacy
have yet been penetrated steadily resisted
(from the time OF the treaty of 1858 down to
the forcible display of the fleets in the Inland
Sea at the close of 1869 all demands made
upon him for the ratification of the agreements
entered into by his Temporal Deputy or
Minister. And judging from the unfriendly
attitude which nine-tenths of the Daimios,
IN their separate prinoipalities, have always
borne towards foreigners, the conjecture is fair
that the Spiritual Head of the Empire got his
chief inspiration from them. They are not
only an active social and political power in the
bat they control separate military
which together make an army
nearly four times as large as that of the CEN
tral Government. Their weakness is their
mutual jealousy of each other in home politics.
But they have with few honorable excep-
tions, common bond (Which might become
one OF strength) in their antagonism towards
foreigners. ... ...
1t may be premature to reckon too hastily
upon the authority of this report from London.
If the opposition of the Daimos had assumed
a serious aspect; if it was likely to thwart the
objects secured by the treaty of Yeddo, and
the agreement for opening up foreign settle
ments, we should have expected to hear of it
by our own mail line direct from Yokohama.
1t is possible that by way of Hong Kong and
the Overland East India Telegraph lines, later
news might reach London than any we had by
the Colorado, on her last trip and, therefore,
we have to look at the possibilities of the re-
port being true. Fortunately, we are not
situated as we were when the Monitor was
driven ashore near Hakodadi, in 1864, and was
fired into by the mscreant officials of the place.
We have, to-day, respectable fleet in Chinese
and Japanese waters. We are iudiciously
by Mr.. Van Valkenburgh, our
Minister Resident at Yeddo. We are in a posi-
ton to get early and ample information of
events as they develop themselves. Our hands
are not tied as they were when we were
obliged to charter a small merchantman on
which to have our flag represented in the
engagement Of the Allied fleets at Simonosaki.
Our Minister has been able to act in thorough
accord with the representatives of England,
France, and Holland. And we shall be amply
prepared to do our part creditably in any
emergency that may arise. .I..