The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
MERCHANT D%IPL0MATIST.
TOWNSEND HARRIs's SERVICES IN
OPENING JAPAN.

Townsend HATTIE WIS " ENbW 1OTk ntTCnhnt
uhosc public services have not, perhaps, re-
ccivcd the recognition they deserve, although
hi, life has been written by his friend, w. Eliot
rritHs. From Mr.. Grinls's book the following
article Is condensed:
10 Townsend Harris Is due q large share Of the
credit Of opening Japan to American commerce.
He was m intensely patriotic American.
His frat name came from his grandmother,
whose maiden name was Thankful Townsend.
His grandfather, Gilbert Harris, q welshman,
and his grandmother's father fought together
at The battle of Saratoga In tho Continental
army. From such ancestors Townsend Harris
Inherited an intense patriotism, still remem-
bcrcd in the old American Ninth ward Of this
rtv. in which he resided long, which
throughout the forties he represented in the
Board of Education. He also had an intense
dislike Of England. for his grandmother taught
him to fear God, tell the truth, and hate the
British" Her homo was In Ticonderoga,
where she witnessed the ravages of Gen. Bur-
soync in 1777, and where in 1913 British forces
from Canada, accompanied by savage Indians,
burned her homestead; hence her hatred Of
England, Her son, Jonathan Harris, settled
nj Sandy Hill, not far from Saratoga, whore
Townsend Harris was born. In 1877 Jonathan
Harris removed to this city. aud embarked in
the china and carthenware, business. Tho
business prospered. and when tho father died
the firm OF John and Townsend Harris %.contin-
. ued 1t until lsl9.
Townsend Harris's a~nti.English proclivi-
ties were such that he declined even to use q
Sheffield knife or a elliott pen or to wear APP
parel Of English goods. In politics he became
enrolled as a Tsmmany Democrat. One Of his
first political appearances was at a hall in
Christopher street, where he made q strong
--.-h d. fo,nr ~ a1trn{nnttnr tha rrNnartv
qualification for voters. He was a great stu.
dent. especially OF lanGuagos. Because of pro-
fciency in French, Italian. and Spanish, the
firm selected him TO voyage to the far Orient to
extend its business. In a trading voyage In the
Pacific he added largely to his fortune, and
his knowledge of human nature and Oriental
customs.
In the Ninth ward he became one Of the foun-
ders Of the yet surviving Northern Dispensary,
and when enthusiastic surgeons sought to es-
tablish in it clinical lectures over the bodily
ailments of the poor patients. he prevented it
by an eloquent speech. in which he said:
Our constituents and patients, though poor
in pocket, are rich in sensibilities, and would
feel keenly to have their private sufferings be-
come the public stare and comment of medi.
cal students"
, He 1t was who prevented David Broderick-
lHtN NClo GIN" III VI u Uni Gu
CINE company in the Ninth ward from form
ing too c%onvivial habits and evil associations,
and he persuaded him to emigrate to Califor-
mia, where Broderick became Federal Senator
and was killed in a famous duel. His neigh.
bors elected him to the Board of Education,
and he was during 1916 and 1S47 its Presi-
dent. He was the first in tho board to advocate
the creation of the free'academy, and its edi6ce,
at the corner Of Lexington avenue and Twenty
third street, is one of his monuments. In pur.
suance of the project he visited Albany, where
he became intimate with Gov. Marcy. His idea
was to give an opportunity to poor boys to OBJ
tain an academic education that would 1t
them for professional, scientific, or business life.
In his later days he strenuously objected to
changing the academy into a college. and he al.
ways grieved over the change of idea and name.
When Gov. Marcy became Secretary of State
under President Pierce, he selected Townsend
Harris to continue the work done by Matthew
c. Perry in opening Japan to American COM
mercc and to forest all the crafty designs of tho
British Government, which was trying to OBJ
tain from the Mikado exclusive treaty and COM
mercial privileges. Secretary Marcy knew
Mr.. Harris's Inherited, as we'll as educated. dis
trust Of the English, and his experience in ORR
entail travel and his knowledge of languages,
and he therefore suggested him to the President
for appointment as a special commissioner to
negotiate a treaty with Japan. Mr.. Harris was
then in China on a commercial errand and ca
bles were stin far In the future. Time, there
fore, was lost in communicating with the Ninth
warder at Hong Kong and requesting him to re-
turn as soon as possible. Meantime a letter
was in the homewa bound mail from Mr..
Harris to Secretary Marcy recommending the
purchase of the island Of Formosa as u coaling
station. for. said Mr.. Harris, Great Britain Will
else try to steal 1t. This was in 1855.
To show how extensive were his trading voy-
ages and travels his journals can be quoted to
show that he passed the Christmas of 1850 at
Manila, that of 1851 at Penang, that of 1852
at Singapore, that of 1853 at Hong Kong, and
that of 1854 at Calcutta. His homeward jour-
ney took him first to India, then through the sui
mediterranean to Gibraltar. and SO by steamer
To London and to Boston. Upon arriving at
the date Of Of July Hf 'G 4, 1881 al' f T&e ofiiee had SSsrb5 eess
advanced from special commissioner to the
newly created one of Consul. General for Japan,
Slssi0ner TO negotiate a treaty with Siam.
soon his Ninth ward neighbors found him IN
person. purchasing presents to take to both
countries to which he was bound, and he did not
tBErgei his tradesmen friends in Hudson and
b btesGxcr po, stree IT, Whenever chsffed about
sges IN the East: mo one should 60 to Siam
al. N ~ Shlpo- OHc U INC mcTCDul-
uloc you want to carry away, another with a
largo OF patience, and a third loaded with pres
ents Tor rulers and diplomatists." Siam had n
.wo.hcaded Government, and for 1t a double |
supply OF presents was obtained. Mr.. Harris's
Sia n Ninth ward constituents gave him a fare.
wei dinner, at which Alderman Silas G. Her
TT,ng made the merriinent. while Congressman
nnTrIggs. noted for having brought the branch
nnlmt 70 " all street against the opposition OF
rhiladelphia, which wished a MONOPOLY of coin
making, %eulogized Mr.. Harris, although a poIit.
boar boa. d9P % ,sa The presents were placed on
nitpt Harris at Penang In the Malacca Straits, |
pelI route.
no 1G9hsMi'ieneral Harris embarked for Liver.
hp9l on one of the new steamers of tho
nttiatCd Collins line, and from u Ninth ward
III %H"Ii was hidden godsDoGd by "a crowd OF his
H. .heiehhors., His secretary and interpreter
,,nutell was then the diplomatic Language OF
W. H. court OF Japan sailed on the San Jacinto.
Ssse notable thcn-of twelve days, on Oct. z, |
,n''' ana on the next day was consulting at
t ,nc american Legation in London with Minis.
~ lanes buchanan and his Secretary OF Lega-
sickle. Taking brief views OF the Paris Ex-
fE1 ry"t he vent by way of Marseilles TO
is.pt ana so on to Ceylon and P~enang-his
t'Ncnlh Visit there, Here ne waited two