Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-03
The japanese Embassy in Boston.
banquet nj the Revere HOuse-spccehcs
by Prominent Wen.

BosToN, August 2-One of the most elegant
banquetS ever given in this city, and riyalling
that to the Grand Duke Alexis, was tins even
ing rendered to the Japanese embassy now VS.
iting Boston, by the board of trade of this city.
Plates for one hundred and fifty guests were
laid in the large dining hall of the Revere
house, where the orientals are quartered The
Hon. Alexander IL. Rice, president OF the board
of trade, presided.
At the conclusion of the repaSt Mr.. Rice in-
augnrated the intellectual entertainment in an
opening speech of welcome TO the distinguished
guests OF the evening, congratulating, through
them, the great oriental empire OF which they
were the official representatives on the progress
1t mad made III the past, and the promise it gave
of the future, concluding his speech by bidding
them thrice welcome to our shores, and pro-
posing the health of his imperial majesty, the
tennO of Japan. He then introduced to the
company the chief of the embassy, SiOnii Tiwa-
kura, junior prime minister, who, speaking
through an interpreter, heartily thanked the
company and through them the whole people of
the United States for the kind and courteous
welcome which they had everywhere received
and hoping for the continuance of the friendly
relations which existed between his country and
the people of the United States, closing with
a complimentary auson to President Grant
who, as the official representative of America,
had extended a welcome to the embassy.
SOogiwoora, one of the secretaries of the en-
basoy, who speaks English, made an address as
follows, in behalf of the embassy:
81 have often heard people say that Boston is
the brain of the American Union; by this |
understand that your city is the point where the
human mind has received the greatest attention
aud culture in the different departments Of SCI
ence aud OF learning. 1t is indeed great honor
and sincere pleasure for all connected with this
embassy to meet you here as the representatives of
people whose fame has gone around the world,
everywhere known as Il community who have
reached very high degree of distinction in the
literary, the scientific, the mechanic, and the
educational branches of civilization. 1t seems
needless to remind you that our country is
much indebted to yours for having induced us
to open our ports to the external world, the re-
suit OF which we feared at first; but now we
fully appreciate it as a blessing which has al
ready brought us much advantage, and from
which we now nope for greater good. Under
the wise advice Of your country, we now find
ourselves moving in the right direction,
taking steps to elevate and instruct
our people when otherwise we might
have remained in ignorance of the actual
condition of the world we live in, and never
have realized the thousand good things we are
now acquiring. Since opening our country to
foreign nations, commodities OF every variety
have been exchanged in the interest of COM
merce, and our people have been actively Gu
gagged in developing our industrial resources
benefits has been the commerce of ideas, no
longer inactive. New thoughts, heretofore I'M
known to our people, are constantly imported by
our travellers and students who have been abroad.
Our beloved country, old in years, is now emery
ing with all the freshness aud ardor of youth.
Old systems Of administration and primatiye
modes of education are gradually changing
and being largely replaced by those adopted by
this noble land. still more important result
than any other is the steady removal of preju-
dice which is fading from the minds Of the
great masses OF our people towards foreigners,
and which was formerly chief obstacle 10 free
and friendly intercourse with foreign nations
My last observation leads me to be-
lieve that to-day our people at large
are beginning TO understand their relations
to the world, and our greatest national wish is
to gain and preserve the sincere friendship OF
your people and that of all progressive nations.
All this favorable change and progress is due
entirely to what have called commerce of ideas,
to the development of which America has SO
largely contributed. The friendly sentiments
so universally expressed in this country to-
wards our people appears to us strong guar
antec that our nations are designed to be the
best friends forever. We rejoice in the constant
steam communication you have already estab'
lished across the Pacific and shall eagerly wei
come an ocean submarine cable, wherever laid
TO unite us with our nearest neighbor, whose
shores are washed by the waters of the great
Pacific ocean. We deeply regret that the time
remaining at our disposal is SO limited that We
cannot longer enjoy your kind inequalities
but we are deeply impressed with all we have
seen, and shall, we assure you, carry full tidingS
OF this splendid reception and these cordial greet
ings to our sovereign, through whom it will BE-
made known to our people, giving them uni
Versal joy"
Jussammi T. Kido one of the ambassadors
extraordinary and minister of finance, also made
speech, returning thanks for his kind reception
in tins country, and hoping for more intimate
relations between the two great nations.
Other speeches were made: BY Collector Rus.
SELL in response to lwakura's alluslon to the
president of the United States; by his excelen.
cy, Governor Washburn, Judge Hoar, Mayor
Castor, who in his official capacity welcomed
them to the city of Boston. Ralph Waldo En-
erson was also called and made characteristic
speech.
DR., G. W. Holmes read a witty poem, written
especially for the occasion, which was received
with shouts Of applause.
Concluding speeches were made by the Jap
aneSe minister resident at Washington, Secre-
taIy Boutwell,, Hon. Charles WocOtt Brooks,
Hon. Marshal p. Wilder, and others. The fes-
tiviieS closed at about ten O'Clock, after which,
i'll order to give the visitors an idea of the efii-
cheney of the fire department, lwakura was al
lowed to strike the alarm which called the
engines and apparatus of department TO Bow
uOlu square IN an almost incredibly snort lime,
and for half hour or more the square was filed
with curious crowd drawn together by the
alarm.
On Saturday, the Japanese embassy will visit
Lawrence, gong at nine O'Clock by way OF
the Maine road, and returning by the Eastern
and Lowell, accompanied by committee of the
board Of trade. Sunday will probably be
quietly spent On Monday some will visit
the shoe manufactures at Marlboro, and some
the Gorham silver works, and the American
screw company's works, at Providence. On
their return they will inspect some of the large
ready made clothing and boot and shoe eStab-
lishments Of this city. On Thursday they de-
part for Europe, from this port, in the Cunard
steamer Olympus.