The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03


speak, Mr.. Harris political spon-
ssors, and his subsequent performances
IN Japan vindicated his fitness for the deli
cate tasks assigned him. The Consul-Gen-
eral, with his secretary, young Holland
lsh gentleman named Heusken, were taken
to Japan on the United States frigate San
iaclnto. The consular residence was to be
at Shimoda-- pretty place, but for COM
merclal development a cheat and sham.
From the beginning his reception by the
japanese was fraught with embarrassment
and difficulty. The Governor at Shimoda
endeavored at first even to eVade receiving
the new envoy. Commodore Armstrong
CT the San Jacinto being Ill and unable to
pay the customary visit of respect to the
Governor, the latter, from day to day, post
poned his reception of Mr.. Harris until
such time as the commodore could
also be present. This Mr.. Harris
bore until he found that the plan was
dore was well enough. so that the
japanese officers might afterward deny
having received him on his individual ac-
count or in any other capacity than as
one OF the commodore's suite. When the
Consul, therefore, insisted upon being re-
celved with the respect due the represen-
tatlve OF so important Government as
the United States of America. the Cover
nor became very i'll, and an awkward ex-
change or ceremonies, occupying some
days, was had before, upon his strenuous
lnsistence, Mr.. Harris was at length re-
celYed by the Governor and Vice-Gover-
nor. After that there were long and re-
peated unsatisfactory interviews before
any sort OF understanding could be ar
rived at. The japanese protested that
they did not expect the arrival of Con-
sui. (This in the face of the treaty con-
cluded by Perry.) A Consul was
only to be sent when some difficulty
place. Shimoda was poor place and had
been recently desolated by an earthquake.
They had no residence prepared for him.
He had better go away and return in
about year, when they would have
house ready. They even besought him to
60 away, or merely to land at Kakizaki
and live in the temple there, leaving his
official residence to be settled by future
negotiations. They protested vigorously
against the idea that they refused to re-
ceive him, although their subsequent acts
amounted to very nearly this. 1t was only
after repeated threats, backed up by inti-
nations of American vengeance, that he
would proceed at once to Yeddo, If not re-
ceived at Shimoda, that at last brought
the authorities to time. He was allowed
TO land at last and assigned residence,
but every concession he gained was the
result OF wearisome, reiterated, humiliating
lnslstence upon treaty rights.
He was under constant police espionage.
1t was months before he could even pro-
cure servants, and then only by threaten
ing that his Government would call the
japanese to accounting was he able to
secure the privilege of hiring two native
boys. Local marketmen refused to sell
tood to him or his servants, and he was
subject to a thousand little annoyances
and personal dangers, OF which, upon
every occasion of com plant, the authori-
ties protested their entire innocence. He
had communication from the President
to the Tycoon, which, when he saw the de-
termination of the Japanese to prevent
any real intercourse or exchange of civili-
ties between the two countries, he was de-
termined to deliver in person. In his Off
clal capacity he addressed a communica-
ton to the tycoon at Yedo, to which a
mere verbal reply was returned, and he
was instructed to deal with minor officials,
This in matters relating to a treaty be-
tween the two Governments.
In Mr.. Harris journal he frequently
characterizes the Japanese officials as "the
greatest liars on earth" and he certainly
gives extraordinary instances OF their men
daciIy.
One of his greatest battles was over the
currency question. American coin was
only received by the Japanese at about
one-fourth its value by weight and this
with an air of immense condescension.
For months Mr.. Harris was in conflict
with the powers over this, and endured
yeXatlons lnnumerable ere he succeeded in
gaining concession by which our cur
rency passed at per cent discount, only.
The question of his being permitted to
90 10 Yeddo and deliver the Presidents let
ter to the Tycoon was still under uneasy
and eyaSlve debate when the first wear OF
his official residence had elapsed At that
time, however, he received an answer to
his two letters, written as a representative
rNf+ ta1c
was conveyed to him with elaborate gifts
and ceremonials, and proved, upon trans
latlon, to be the simple announcement
that all business was to be transacted with
the Governors of Shimoda or Hakodate
and contained not one word in reference
to the Presidents letter to the En- peror of
Japan, of which Mr. Harris had told them
he was the bearer. The record of his resi-
dence at Shimoda, as told by the journals,
is story or lonely exile among a people
who perslstently refused to comprehend
or, If they comprenended, to recognize his
position. He early learned that the Gov
ern ors, to whom he was referred. had no
real power TO transact business with him.
Everything had TO be referred to Yeddo,
and once referred there was allowed to
slumber until the Americans persistence
aroused it again. Not until September,
1857, two years after his appointment and
few days after the arrival in harbor for a
lew hOurS OF the American frlgate Ports
mouth, was he informed that he was al
lowed to go to YedGo; to have an audience
with the Shotgun (Tycoon) and to present
the Presidents letter. Preparations were
at once in order, for he was to make the
journey sin the most honorable manner"
and the time OF his departure was fixed for
November % of that year. The inter
vening weeks were spent in getting to-
gether a great retinue. About this time
occurs the following significant passage in
Mr.. Harris journal:
To-day I am told that Shotgun is not the
proper appellation of their ruler, but that it is
Tai-Kun (Tykoon, now obsolete). Shotgun is
literally 'generalissimo," while Tai-Kun means
great ruler" The genius OF this people shines
out in this. For more than year 1 have
spoken aud written Shotgun when referring 10
their ruler, and they never gave me any ex-
PLANTATION; but now, when am on the eve of
starting for Yeddo they give me the real word.
The journey to Yeddo was triumphal
procession, and the account of the recep-
ton and audience before the Tai-Kun
reads like the account of an Arabian
Nights entertainment. Mr.. Harris sturd-
lily resisted all hints on the part of the
Japanese that he would do well to
PROSTATE himself in the presence
and went through with the elaborate