The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-05
WASHINGTON.
The Oldest and the Youngest of
Nations. - ~
RECEPTION OF THE JAPANESE EN-
BASSY BY THE PRESIDENT.
The Addresses, etc., etc.
Gen. Porter before the Investi-
sSs eating Committee.
INTERESTING STATEMENTS.


WASHINGTON, March 10.-At noon to-day
the principal members of the Japanese Embas-
sy, ten in number, were officially presented to
the President. Sometime before the hour for
reception, prominent officers of the government
invited to attend congregated in the east room
There were present here members of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations of the two Houses
of Congress, all the member of the Cabinet
number of Bureau officers of the Executive,
Navy and War Departments, Vice President
Colfax, Speaker Blaine aud Minister Dolang
Soon after IL o clock members of the Embassy
accompanied by Charge d. Affaires, Mort, arriv-
ed at the Executive Mansion. They were in
complete court costume, which consisted of
purple understands and rich black silk over
skirts reaching to the knee and finely decorat-
ed. There were some variations in costumes
according to rank, and the difference being
more particularly noticed in the style of hats.
Each carried heavy swords. They entered the
White House according to rank and were met
by Secretary Fish in the cred Parlor'' whence
after salutations were exchanged, they were es-
corted into the East room and the official cere-
mony of presenting their credentials commence
ed
Prince Iwakura said: ellis Majesty. the
Emperor of Japan, our August Sovereign, has
sought since the achievement of our national
reconstruction to obtain a more perfect organic
alton in the administrative power of his gov
eminent. He has studied with interest the re-
suits obtained by Western nations and having
sincere desire to establish friendly relations
with foreign powers on still closer footing, he
has commissioned us his ambassadors Extra
ordinary to the powers having treaties with
Japan. Upon the soil of your country we first
present our credentials delivering to you per-
sonally the letter of our August Sovereign at
the public official audience The objects of the
mission with which we were charged by our
government are somewhat set forth in this let
ter. We are authorized to consult with your
government on all international questions d.
recting our efforts to promote and develope
wider commercial relations and draw into closer
bonds the strong friendship already existing
between our respective people.
Thus we hope to gain fresh impulse in the
paths of progress, gaining good from every
form of civilization. This we shall strive to do
while in the exercise of strict integrity to our
own national interests, so trustingly provided
| by generous sovereign and shall earnestly
hope to receive your kind cooperation in facil-
| iating the task assigned us by our government.
| We gladly avail ourselves of this happy meet
| ing to convey personally to Your Exeellency
| our sincere wishes for your continued prosper
| ity and happiness AS national representatives
we extend the same wish to all the people of
the United States''
| The President then responded:
| ''GENTLEMEN, l am gratified that this coun-
| try and that my administration will be distin-
guished in history as the first which has receiv-
| ed the an embassy from the nation with which
| the United States were the first to establish di-
| plomatic and commercial intercourse. The OBJ
jects which you say have given rise to your
mission do honor to the intelligence and wis
dom of your sovereign and reflects credit on
you in having been chosen as the instruments
for carrying them into effect. The time must
be regarded as gone never to return when any
nation can keep apart from all others and ex-
pect to enjoy the prosperity and happiness
which depends more or less upon the mutual
adoption of improvements, not only in the
science of government, but in the other sciences
and arts which contribute to the dignity of
mankind and to national wealth and power.
Though Japan is one of the most ancient OF
organized communities, and the United States
rank among the most recent, we fiatter ourselves
that we have made some improvements upon
the political institutions of the nations from
whom we are descended
Our experience leads us to believe that the
wealth, the power and the happiness of the
people are advanced by their encouragement Of
trade and commercial intercoust with othel
powers by the elevation and dignity of LABOR by
the practical adoption of science to the manu-
features and arts by increased facilities of fire.
quent and rapid communication between differ
ent parts OF the country, by the discouragemen
of emigration which brings with 1t the varied
habits and divers genius and industry of othel
lands, by free press, by freedom of though
and conscience and liberal liberation in mat
tiers of religion not only to citizens but to al
foreigners resident among us. 1t will be
pleasure to enter upon that consultation upol
neutrality-suspicious. which you say you ar,