Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-15
Reception of the japanese Embassy
by the President.

WASHINGTON, March4.
The Japanese Embassy were presented
to the President to-day, and q compli-
mentary speech was made by the japanese
Minister, introducing the Embassy, fol-
lowed by an address from Iwakura, and a
response by President Grant. Members
of the Cabinet were present, with all the
army and naval dignitaries in full uni
form, together with Yico-President Col
fax, Speaker Blaine, etc.
IwAKURAs ADDRESS.
The following is the address of the Am
bassadors to the President, delivered by
| Iwakura
His Majesty, the Emperor Of Japan, our
august sovereign, has sought, since the
achievement of our national reconstruction,
| to attain a more perfect organization in the
administrative power of his Government.
| He has studied with interest the results at
tanned by the Western nations. Having Q
| sincere desire to establish permanent ana
friendly relations with foreign Powers on
| still closer footing, he has commissioned us,
his Ambassadors Extraordinary to all the
| Powers having treaties with Japan.
| Upon the soil of your country we first
present our credentials, delivering to you,
personally, the letter of our august sovereign
| at this public official audience, The objects
of mission with which we are charged by our
| Government are somewhat set forth in this
letter We are authorized to consult with
| your Government on all international ques-
| lions, directing our efforts to promote and
| develop wide commercial relations, and
draw into closer bonds the strong friendship
already existing between our respective peo-
pie. Thus we hope to gain fresh impulse
| in the paths of progress, gaining good from
| every form of civilization. This we shall
aim to do while in the exercise OF strict in
tegrity to our own national interests, SO
| trustingly confided by generous sovereign,
| and shall earnestly hope to receive your kind
co-operation in facilitating the task assigned
us by our Government.
| We gladly avail ourselves of this happy
meeting to convey personally TO your EN-
| cellency our sincere wishes for your contin
ued prosperity and happiness, and as nation
al representatives we extend the same WISH
| to all the people of the United States.
THE PRESIDENTS RESPONSE.
The President then responded:
| GENTLEMEN: / am gratified that this coun
try. and that my administration, will be dis
| tinguished in history as the first which has
received an Embassy fran nation with
which the United States were the first to es
| tabllsh diplomatic and commercial inter
course. The objects which you say have
| given rise to your mission, do honor to the
| intelligence and wisdom of your sovereign
and reflect credit on you in having Deen
chosen as the instruments for carrying them
| into effect. A nation must be regarded as
| gone, never to return, when 1t can keep apart
| from all Others, and expect to enjoy the pros
perity and happiness which depend more Oh
| less upon the mutual adoption of improve
| ments, not only in the science OF government
| but In those other sciences and arts whlch
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 nat
| ter ourselves that we have made some I'M
provements on the political institutions OF
the nations from which we are descended
! Our experience leads us to believe tha'
the wealth, power and happiness OF
people are advanced by their encour-
| agement of trade and commercial in
| tercourse with other powers; by the elevation
and dignity of labor by the practical adapt
alton of science to manufactures and arts
| by increased facilities of frequent and rapid
| communication between different parts OF
| the country by the encouragement OF i'm
migration, which brings with 1t the varied
habits and diverse genius and industry OF
| other lands by free press by freedom OF
thought and conscience, and liberal tolera
tion in matters of religion, not only to citi
zens, but to all foreigners resident among
| us. 1t will be pleasure to us to enter OF
| that consultation of international questions
in which you say you are authorized TO en-
| gage The Improvement of the commercial
relations between our respective countries !:
important and desirable, and cannot fail tt
strengthen the bonds which unite us. vii
heartily cooperate in so desirable an object
-, Your kind wishes, for me personally, gen
tlemen, are cordially reciprocated. l trus
that your abode with us may be agreeable t.
you, and may contribute to more intimate
acquaintance and intercourse between oul
respective peoples.
The utmost interest was manifested BY
the large company present in these ex
ercises.