Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-03-07


velop wide commercial relations, and
draw into closer bonds the strong friend
ship already existing between our re-
spective people Thus we hope to gain
fresh impulse in the paths of progress,
gaining good from every form of civil
cation. This we shall aim to do while
in the exercise of strict integrity to our
own national interests, confided by
a gen erous sovereign, and shall earn
estly hope to receive your kind cooper
alton in facilitating the task assigned us
by our government. We gladly avail
ourselves of this happy meeting to con-
yey personally to your Excellency our
sincere wishes for your continued pros
perity and happiness, and, as national
representatives, we extend the same wish
to all the people of the United States.
REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT.
The President then responded as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Il am gratitied that this
country and my administration will be
distinguished in history as the first which
has received an Embassy from the ma
ton with which the United States were
the first to establish diplomatic and
commercial intercourse. 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 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 happi-
ness which depend more or less upon the
mutual adoption of improvements not
only in the science of government, but
in those 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 In
tied States rank among the most recent,
we tiatter ourselves that we have made
some improvements upon the political
institutions of nations from whom we
have descended. Our experience leads
us to believe that the wealth, power and
happiness of a people are advanced by
their encouragement of trade and COM
mcrcial intercourse with other powers;
by the elevation and dignity of labor,
by the practical adoption of sci
enCc to manufactures and art, by in
creased facilities Of frequent and
rapid communication between the
different parts of the country, by en-
cOuraging immigration, which brings
with it the varied characteristics and
diverse genius and industry OF other
lands; by a free press, by freedom of
thought and of conscience, and liberal
liberation in matters of religion, not
only to citizens, but to all foreign resi-
dents among us 1t will be pleasure
to us to enter upon that consultation
upon international questions in which
YOU say YOU are authorized to engage.
The Improvement Of the commercial rc~
latiOns between our respective countries
is important and desirable, and cannot
fail to strengthen the bonds which unite
us | will heartily cooperate in 50 de
sirablc an object Your kind wishes for
me- personally, gentlemen, are cordially
rccipr0Catcd. ] trust your abode with
lis may be agreeable to you, and may
contribute to more intimate aCquain-
lance and intercourse between our re-
Spcctirc people.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies a
formal introduction was given to all the
officials present. after which exchange
of courtesics the members of the embaS-
~ were escorted into the Blue Parlors
and introduced to the ladies. At 3 p.
m. the principal ambassadors held a re-
ccption at the hotel, lasting one hour.
The visitors consisted of nearly all the
foreign legations, and Vice President
ColfaN and other distinguished persons.
. The embassy will visit the House of