The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-14
FOR A MONARCH
Japan's Emperor and For
eign Residents of Kobe.
An Address Presented BY the Brit
ss-s-r. 49, - F--E3-
iSh Consul-1uler in Settlem ent.
With His Escort. aesz -

The following is given in the English
department of one of the prominent
administration papers of Japan, and is
Of worth, as showing the drift of rela-
lions in that country between the ma
tives and the foreigners:
KOBE FOREIGNERS WELCOME TO
THE EMPEROR.
We can not too highly appreciate the
beautiful sentiment the foreign resi-
dents in Kobe have exhibited on the
occasion of the Emperor's recent visit
TO that fiourishing port. As we have al
ready noted, they resolved to make the
occasion the opportunity of demonstra-
ting their respect to his majesty IN
particular and their goodwill towards
the Japanese at large. This resolution
was the rstult, we are assured by the
Kobe Chronicle, of absolutely spontan-
eous feeling, that they should take
some steps to welcome his majesty.
They appointed committee represen-
tative of the various nationalities to
draw up an address to his majesty and
another committee to undertake charge
of the decorations and the illumination
of the settlement. On the morning or
Saturday last, when the Emperor ar
rived by train at Kobe, the Municipal
Council welcomed his majesty at the
station, where they were granted an
audience in a body. Then Mr.. j. G.
Hall, British Consul, as president of the
council, presented an address to his
majesty, who expressed his pleasure at
the reception of it. 1t was worded as
follows:
May it Please Your Imperial Males
ty.-On the suspicious occasion of
Your Imperial Majesty's presence in
Kobe, the foreigners of all nationali-
ties residing at the port unanimously
rejoice to avail themselves of the OPP
portunity granted to them to manifest
their profound respect for Your I'm
perial Majesty's August Person, and
their hearty goodwill towards the
great nation, which has now for thirty
of the most eventful years of its long
history enjoyed the benefit of Your I'M
perial Majesty's benign and enlighten-
ed rule.
''They are deeply sensible of Your
Imperial Majesty's gracious condescen-
sion in honoring the foreign settlement
with a visit, and they confidently anti
cipate that when under the arrange
montS Of tho new treaties 81 shortly + n
come into force, the small allotment of
land which they were for a time per-
mitted to hold in trust, shall have
again become incorporated into the |
local municipal system there will be no
change but for the better in those ami |
cable and mutually advantageous rela- |
tons between the Japanese and foreign |
inhabitants which have marked the |
advance of Kobe to it's present high |
position amongst the great commercial |
ports of Your Imperial Majestys do
minions.
1--WE, the chairman and members of
the Municipal Council, whose proud |
duty it is to welcome Your Imperial
of the foreign community
at large in respectfully expressing our
sincere wishes for Your Imperial Maj
esty's welfare, and for the greatness
and prosperity of the Japanese empire.
Then after the naval review, the En-
peror drove slowly through the settle
ment, which was very deliberately dec
grated His Majesty showed his salts
faction at the cordially Of the recep-
ton given to him by riding in an open
carriage without any military escort-a
step his majesty has hitherto rarely
repeatedly acknowledged
the salutations of the foreigners, who,
in the desire of not hurting the Japan
csc sense of etiquette took care neither
to cheer loudly nor to look down upon
his majesty from an upper story. AL
together the reception accorded TO his
majesty was from first to last salts
factory.
We are convinced that the beautiful
action taken by the Kobe foreigners
has removed to a great extent that dis
agreeable barrier, which has existed
between foreigners and natives, result
ing from the misunderstanding Of each
other.