New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-28
THE JAPANESE MISSION
Morris POWERS-JAPANESE RANK.
rppon orr OWN CORRESPONDENTS

YEDDo, Jan 22.-The young officer, MOri, of
whose mission 10 the United States you have
been advised, sails by this steamer for san
Francisco lie is hardly expected 10 exercise
dipomafic functions. al least 40 present, but
will chiefly occupy himself with examining the condition
OF the Japauese students residing at various American
institutions and ~ observation and investigation will
gradually qualify himself for duties OF higher political
character and possibly in time for the difficult task OF
persuadiDg the United states Government to pay its
various small debts In Yedo and elsewhere. Some sort
OF supcry sson young Japanese abroad appears TO
Dee very desirable. Almost without exception they are
sent ont and supported by the Government hch allows
them the price OF their passage across the Pacific ana
tI 600 fgol year during their residence in the United
states The great majority of these distant seekers for
foreign emil .itenncnt turn out WE'LL but "a few fall
IA realize ther own expectations, or those 81
their friends. and Mori u therefore invested
y ith discretionary power 10 send back 10 japan
ny whom he ma, consider unworthy remain, and to
tupply their places with others. You VIII ma MN
gentleman of great intelligence and many accomplish
pents Although he has never been abroad he speaks
English e1 trcmoly we'll Insmuch as there seems to DO
lust now disposition in America 10 ee' ate every japan
csc visitor TO az imaginary attitudes may DC
I'll to ay that Mori holds no hgh rank ehfr p'rSoh
ally or officially He Is here known ~ IN" ben hushi'
ar officer of the lower ar secondary class To read the
California new papers, upon The sTfIVtl OF tdch suo'c's
i've OF Japanese idNelerr, one womb 'hlPon' "s
the enr imperial family turning ITSELF loose by IN
,tgllunt4 upon American soil. Each i called upon 10
stand and oliver his Identity AZ The Cnstouiliouse, ana
T. straichtwav invested with sort op ite when he
not only never dreamed OF possessing but The existence
Of which D.. ,uite unknown Ia japan. or individuals
holding ANYTHING corresponding TO what ~ understand
hy the rank of A" Prince" no foreign h'uoh has
ever .een more than iva ar three. Iht-r are
thr Nla Saua,," iacmher~ OF the MAhdos
ftp,ii, one OF nom is IN England, Jud another,
have inst heard b, comfortably AMI quietly established
IN Rrookiyn n y \ third ~ whom special word
presently trts for Amorc1 on HE way Ia russia by
MS steamer These arr all unclrs Of the Mksdo, and
auite young The relative grades OF rank In Japan
are y.r, easi, understood, but are seldom correctly
6ted First ~ course are the personal relations
u th sovereign or prucrs you choose Ia call them
"a Wins. dlsnty ~ sufficiently elevated and awful hut
Who's. worldly p0ssesHons ore extremely limited Next
stnd M. HnSe hereditary nobility attached 10 and IN
f,,t nmuoning tbs Mkados court Of which there
nm. ls0 All very lofty In station but the richest Of
whom il poorer than the poorest dilmo. The danio-
follow inferior In degree though possessing
the real wealth aud power OF The land OF these, l
hsleye not single has ever left his native country
m IL Iii IN modosn times. The various retainers Of the
danios oonstutA the greater part u the gentry and
soIdlerY In days " the Tyeoont thai potesates
folio wsr, sep.e hundreds " tsonssnds we're kp$wp