New-York tribune., 1886-05-23
GOV. HUBBARD IN JAPAN.
AN IrNCOuTu AMERICAN MINISTER.

AN UNCOUTH AMERICAN MINISTER.
lrRoN AN OCCASIONAL coRREsroNDENr OF TIE Thin0ss'
TOXIC, Japan, Aprll ~.
The japanese speak in tho highest terms Of our
former Minister here They say he was accessible
at all times, and he respected and honored Dy
the representatives of all other naionalites here.
Sometimes American residents in Asia have reason
to fear that the Administration is not so careful 10
send representative men ont here 1t is to find
place for somebody for solne reason best known 10
itself
| went to the American Legation tho other day.to
procure passport to go into the interior. "A
japanese nobleman stood at the door awaiting
admittancc A largo, portly, broad-sbouldered
man in his shirt sleeves opened the door and curty
asked what was wanted.
"Tv see the Ar crican Minister" was the reply.
"Well,r said he in tho shirt sleeves, d" I'm the
manD TO appreciate fully this scenc one must be
somewhat familiar with the propricties of the
cercmonious East The japanese are great
sticklers for tho proprctes. You buy railway
ticket-it is punched you pass out of the narrow
gate to enter the cars, but you must convey that
ticket to the end of your journey and give 1T up
before you can pass out Of the gate there and enter
the free world again. When you visit the museum
or art exhibition you buy ticket at a little stan
outside of the park You enter the park through
gateway your blue paper ticket is there exchanged
for wooden ticket which you must carry till you
pass out of the park by another gate whero yon
must deliver it up. No public entertainment, no
conference, is held by the japanese without cards
They are necessity, and you cannot enter without
one even though the meeting be free to all. This
ceremonial system extends all through the domestic
and social fabric II naturally results that courty
men and graceful women who can yield trlie to
the demands of a position and maintain their
dignity by little ceremony ill be more accept
able to this polite people than those who are
brusquc, uncouth cold and seishly careless
Governor Hubbard recei,ec considerable crit
cism on the steamer coming from San Francisco,
but it was, | understand, more on account of a
general manner than any specific act. On the
steamer Mr. Hubbard and Consul-General Green
discussed private Government affairs so loudly
that they were heard by representatives of every
other nationality on board. Tho Minister made a
speefh In San Francisco inst before starting. which
was taken verbatim by reporter. In it he spoke
of the japanese as the little brown people over the
way" lie forgot that the japanese read English
and would be preudced against him. The ship !
that brought him hero also brought report OF his
speech and intelligent japanese still speak OF his
slurs and will not soon forget his address. When |
he invited to occupy pew III the Union |
Church ne drew himself up and said
" am not a church:going man, but maybe my |
family will occupy it,"
lie had only been mere month or so when he |
gave lis first reception to the japanese, and he |
chose Sunday for the day. He said to British |
representative here in boastful manner that he
had been Governor of Texas, territory many
times larger than England" The japanese con-
plain that he j. Inaccessible. They say that they
can see him only one day in the week, and they are
not pleased -
The Minister'S wife brought down upon herself
cons lerabic native criticism by an attempt to
reform the domestic economy at the legation. She
began by diScharging some necessary appendages
OF the establishment Like methods have never
vet succeeded in any Eastern land The remaining
servants rebel at beng loaded down with duties
that they never have performed and never will. In
this instance when the rebellion broke ont Gov
error Hubbard ordered his Interpreter to discharge
the entire posse OF servants. 10 preserve the
reputation Of the Legation the interpreter refused
TO comply with the unjust demand. and for his
wisdom all true hearted Americans who love their
country were grateful.
Europeans are only too glad when Americans
give occasion for criticism.
An appointee his way out to China spent
n week in scandalous carouSas IN Yokohama.
Nobody will deny that the temptations here are
peculiarly great and OverpOv erlng TO the weak.
I he restraints of home society are 3 II removed
when one touches shore on this side But lt must
be admitted that a man selected to represent
great nation ought TO be able to stand even without
his accustomed holsters. Gossip has been busy
with his name which he only left legacy of
amentation Gll of his tollOw-countrymen at that
port SO great was the Indignation felt toward him
that when his wife came out little later she was
quite neglected. Her husbands senseless debauch-
cries had disgusted the pepole they could not
call upon her. Is he IA representative American -