Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-06
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.
BRILLIANT SCENES AT MASONIC
TEMPLE LAST NIGHT.
RECEPTION AT THE CAPT r0L TO.
DAY.

RECEPTION AT The CAPITOL TO.
DAY.
The reception of the japanese Embassy at
Masonic Temple last evening wss an interesting
and brilliant affair. Gen. Myers, who hal
charge Of the entertainment, spared no pains or
expense in the decoration Of the hall, and the
result was all that could be desired. About q
quarter past O'Clock, Prince Iwakura and his
associates arrived at the hail, escorted by Mr..
Mort, the Japanese Minister, and Mr.. De Long
They were met Mt the threshold, and, under the
guidance of Mr.. De Long, conducted to an
upper room, where they removed their wrap
pings. A few minutes after they entered the
hall, Iwakara upon the arm of Vice Pres
ident Coifax, and his principal colleagues
well, Beiknap, and Governor Cooke. Following
these came other members of the Embassy. The
party were conducted to the west end of the
room. where, on the raised dais, waiting TO re-
ceive them, were Mrs. Secretary Fish, Mrs.yice
President Colfax, Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Blaine,
Madame Blacque Bey, and others. Upon reach
ter, with Secretary Fish and Vice President
Coifax on either side. To the right of
s spsat ;a the co is,t " vas MIS- De tsng
The ladies and gentlemen present then fell into
lire and promenaded in couples past the dais,
the members Of the Embassy receiving them
with a bow and pleasant smile. Secretaries
Belknap and Robson were among the first to
pay their respects. So large was the number OF
guests that nearly an hoDr was consumed in the
promenade, during which the Marine Band
played some OF their finest selections Several
sets for dancing were subsequently formed, the
members OF the Embassy being spectators and
seeming to greatly admire the "giddy mazes OF
the waltz" About half-pas ten the Embassy,
under the guidance Of Vice President Colfax
and the members Of the Cabinet, proceeded to
the refreshment room, and having partaken OF
the banquet wee escorted to their carriages and
proceeded to the Arlington. Nothing what ever
occurred to mar the pleasure OF the entertain
ment which scenes. Sc. to be highly enjoyed by the
thrown open this morning from O'Clock to
noon, for the purpose OF sfforang such of the
public as did not attend the reception last night
chance to view the decorations.
At the Capitol To. Day.
The House of Representatives assembled
this morning at IL o-clock, to receive the Japan
csc Embassy. Before that hour the galleries in
all parts OF the hall were much crowded. The
families OF members and senator's were on hand
early aud occupied their seats in the southeast
gallery, while the space in the other galleries
half-past ten o'clock, and by eleven O clock not
another person could crowd in. The passages
and corridors were then crowded, and men and
women pushed each other at the doorways, all
anxious to get glimpse OF the Japanese Am
bsssadors. Members OF the House were also
early in their seats, and senators and other dis
tingushed percentages also had places on the
floor. The diplomatic gallery was the only one
not occupied at an early hour.
By II o'clock the galleries were so densely
crowded that members brought their lady
friends in upon the floor. A few minutes after
IL the I'm bessy appeared, the Chief Ambassador
being escorted by Gen. Ba AXIS, Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, aud the other
chief members of the Embassy by Messrs
Wood, Amber and Robinson, members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
As the Embassy entered the hall the members
and clerks rose and received them standing, and
the visitors were escorted to the semi-circie in
fIont OF the Speakers desk, the Chief Ambassa-
doris taking position nearest the desk, and the
az aches in the rear of them. Amid profound
silence Gen. Banks then introduced the dis
tinguished visitors. and each name " as mem
TONED the person designated bowed low.
SPEAKER BLAINKs ADDRESS.
Speaker Blaine then addressed the Embassy
as follows:
Your excellencies, on behalf of the House of
representatives, l welcome your Imperial
Embassy to this hall.
The It ceptiOn which is thus extended to YOU
so unanimously and so cordially by the members
our whole people feel i'm the rapidly developing
relations between the japanese Empire and the
American puDlic. The course of migration for
the American race has for many centuries been
steadily westward-a course always marked bv
csnquesis and too often by Tapine. Reaching the
boundary OF our continent we encounter a re-
turning tide from your country se tting eastward,
seeking not the trophies OF war but the more
shining victories OF peace, and these two cur
rents OF population appropriately meet and
mingle on the shores of the great Pacific sea- 1t
the representatives of the people, and Ibey to
assure you for them and for myself that during
your stay at our capital you will be at all times
welcome to the privile ges and cOurtesies of this
floor.
PRINCE IwAKURA's RESPONSE
At the close OF the Speakers address, the
ately unrolling a parchment he proceeded to
read An address in his natiy We tongue, which was
subsequently spoken in English by Gen. Banks
Mr.. Speaker, and Honorable members of the
REPRESENTATIVES, III itoh tot
On behalf Of the Ambassadors of Japan, our
sovereign and the people whom we represent,
est friendship. We fully appreciate the dis
tinguished honor which places us face to face
IN presence of that mighty power which rules
the great American public. Governments are
strong when built upon the hearts of an eniight-
enedpeople. We came for enlightment, and glad
ly md it here. JOurneying eastward from the en-
pre- Oh sunrise toward the sun rising we behold
new sunrise beyond the one We before enjoyed.
New knowledge rises daily before us, and when
q completed trip shall have passed in review an
encircled globe we shall gather together our trea
sures OF knowledge, remembering that however
We have advanced towards the sources Of light,
each onward move has revealed a further step
beyond. The government of Japan already APP
preciates the value OF an enlightened policy to-
wards itself and all nations; but our mutual as
surances on our return will confirm to the peo-
pie at large the friendliness of feeling SO ire
quently expressed heretofore, and now so gen
erously exhibited to this Embassy In the future
an extended commerce will unite our national
interests In thousand forms as drops of water
Will commlngie, flowing from our several rivers
to that common ocean that divides onr conn
tries. Let US express the hope that our national
friendship may be as difficult to sunder or es-
TRANCE as to divide the once blended drops com
posing our common Pacific ocean
This concluded the Embassy faced the body
OF the Representatives, and the latter filed past
and were severally introduced. Vice President
Colfax was first introduced, and MI. Dawes was
next presented.
About half-past eleven the Embassy retired.
the members and those i'm the galleries APP
plaudng. At 20 minutes of IL the House adj
journed until ~ O'Clock.
MORE ABOUT THE REDEMPTION OF MUTT
LATED CURRENCY.-The Secretary of the
Treasury has decided that it is the duty of all
the national depositaries, wherever situated. to
receive At their full face value in PAYMENT of
currency dues to the United States and to re-
deem at their full face value, ON the terms set
Iorth In circular number one from the Treasu-