The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-23
CONSUL Mkt SAIT0.
japanese Residents Of Seattle
Give Him Hearty Welcome.
FoRMosAM PEACE CELEBRATED
A Night Of Patriotic Enthusiasm-Se-
attic the Best Terminus for Japan
ese-American Steamship Line.

II was indeed a royal welcome that the
japanese Of Seattle extended last night 10
their consul, Mkt Saito, and they were
repaid by an address that male then all
proud OF their country and OF rs accredited
representative. The interest Of The coca
sion was deepened by the fact thar it cele-
brated the subsection OF Fornosa 10 Japan.
every alllsion to which last night called
forth a storm OF applause and aroused
the patriotic fervor Of he japanese TO
the highest pitch.
Olympic hall, in which the exercises Of
the evening were held. had beer decorated
with lavish profusion, and with all the
striking effects of color and grouping <or
which japanese art has become famous
A double row Of colored lanterns, hung In
graceful festoons, guarded the entrance.
Inside the building the electric lights play
ed over a mass of rich 1raDery AID buIt-
ing. Flags OF the japanese army and navy
were hung throughout tne Rail. inter-
spersed with lanterns and lovely designs
IN coored paper. Eversresas and roited
plants abounded on all sides. At the rear
OF the platform, in the place OF homer,
were suspended pictures OF the japanese
emperor empress and crown prince. and
stretching across the entire width CT the
rostrum. twined in appropriate harmony.
were the national standards of japan and
the United States.
As the evening wore on. II became evil
dent that the reception was 10 be no mat
ter OF perfunctory formality. Everywhere
there an air Of suppressed excitement IL
glanced from every japanese eye; II was
evident in each 1.-the motion of the suave
and agile ushers. as they seated the as
sembiing audience with hospiiable polite
ness. II was reflected from the faces OF
the committee OF arrangements, as they
ccnTulted from time to time.
The audience grew Till IL filed the room.
More than a hundred japanese men were
there 10 pay their respects 10 their ma
ticrai representative. ard each one seem
ed imbued with the spirit of national
pride. A few japanese ladies were pres
en-. and here and there a tiny Jap boy or
girl. the pet of the colony. smiled up at
its fathers face. or nestled at his knee.
To sympathize with the occasion the
American reader must imagine himself In
q foreign land. sharing IN a reception TO
an American consul. and at the same
time celebrating a recent triumph Of
American arms
When Consul Saito entered the hall. ac-
eomranied by his secretary. NJ. Somaya.
he was greeted with enthusiastic ap-
plause. and the entire assembly rose and
remained standing until he was seated
With the courtesy for which the Japan
csc have become famous. the consul adj
vsnced TO the only American in the room.
shook hands with him warmly, saving
pleasantly: II wish you a good evening.
SIR and then stepped gracefully upon
thu rcstrum
But each japanese in the room was TO be
made 10 feel that In the man his govern
ment had sent to protect his business in
terests he had also a personal friend. Ac-
cordingly. before delivering his address the
consul came down from the rostrum and
passed fbTDliIrh 70 hal Inn, p1r
with every man. woman and child In the
large crowd. Secretary Somaya did the
same. The handshaking was cordial here
and there accompanied by few words of
personal greeting. and in every case by
courtly bow
The consurs address showed him to be
well qualified for the responsible position
he holds. He spoke a length of the COM
mercfai relations between Japan and the
United States. and of the possibilities
which those relations promise for the flu
ture, showing with every utterance that
he had given careful study to the subject
He spoke in warm praise of Seattle her
business interests and her treatment of the
japanese who have made this city their
home. He expressed his high appreciation
OF the reception rendered him, and said
that while he realized IL was given to him
as a representative of Japan. ii touched
him none the less. and he could find no
preston of his thanks. He gave a humor-
Gus account of how when appointed to his
present consulate he had tried to find Ia
coma on the map and failed
At the close of bis address number of
young men advanced to the platform and
to an organ accompaniment sang Japan
csc national anthem. This was followed by
series of cheers from the entire assembly
for the consul and his secretary. and then
the consul proposed three cheers for the
emperor of japan. and they were given
with a will.
II must not be supposed that this was the
entire programme. for a number of other
addresses were made: but as all the exer-
cises of the evening We're in the Japanese
language a verbatim report of them would
scarcely be ineligible TO the Post-Intein-
gencer's readers. Before Consul Saifo's
entrance Mr. Moreto introduced the pre-
siding officer of the evening T. Shabate
who made an appropriate response. and
executed his duties most acceptabiy Mr.
Namaguchi gave an interesting sketch of
early japanese movements in the North
west, Mr.. kurasowa told of the progress
OF the Christian religion among the japan
csc. and Mr.. Shikata captured his audi
e1ce ny n comparison between the prog
ress 81 japanese business interests in Sc
attic with that made by them in other
cities
Mir. Sh.hayama spoke urgently in behalf
Of the establishment of A steamship line
between Japan and Puget sound and his
auditors checred him when he named Seat
Tie as the best possible terminus for such
lire. He proceeded tn give a reason for
the fa;h that was in him. saying that Sc
attic was the nearest Pacific coast port on
3 direct line To Chicago and the East, a
vital point since most Of The japanese trade
goes 30 Eastern states: and thar Seattle is
PECULIARLY well situated TO command both
imports and exports. both of which are
necessary TO maintain such a tire He
spoke % the rumors connected with San
Diego and other southern points. but con-
tended that they are too far toward the
equator, and thai 10 great commercial
port has ever been located so far south.
Several ~ the speakers alluded % the
ceremonies ~ the evening as celebrating
thu complete sab lection o. Farrnosa "a
japan When that large island was cedeI
"a japan 70 the close Of the late war with
Coma. 10 seems th8i Japan found some ar
neu'iy ir taking possession n her new ter
rfiaTl. AM on" % ner statesmen Went .,
far a. - say that japan haf rno-, ;rou-
n" IN con9ueuug F1-m "a thar shc las IN
hcatlrs Crins. RHt after 4 s.rie~ 81 stiih-
. born rrhts. ana a laug Duration hy mill
tsrS force. th' isArd a. last. only q few
weeks aso FaVe BIZ its alleCian-e. a Maori
I ~ o' me an1lorts formally slsuifNir- their
s1twiss on to ~. Iauan~se crown f,,e-,r
aliasion o. -nis peace Was hailei as nigh,
Nirh TIRE va ilies' erf nuSiasrn. ard no Amen
can ever ens-ret MOTE ilstii,. or the Foy--h
of Juls faan iid rhe Jaoancss e. the,
sN~iiti VITO aride 30 she mention - their
nation. gr'eesS
A. OBJ. cio~r q these exercises a aass