New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-18

sntention 10 do something during my WISH "e''
toward enlightening the American people as 10 INC
importance Of country as a commercial "e
To some extent this is already KNOWN ou' "a"
majority Of the Americans are uniformed on the
subject 1ust as our people ignorant OF the true
conditions that prevail here There are still thou
sands of Japanese who are otherwise well In
formed who look upon the United States as Purl-
-anical country. which is behind European notions
.n the matter of business and still the American
trade Is growing wonderfully Four years ago We
imported from the United States $1,000 worth or
cotton and last year we imported N.5cO.VO worth
English steel and machinery used exclusively
in Japan until few years ago, but the imports
last year from the United States in these articles
amount TO upward Of 100000. American Hour 10
tina amount of 81 10000 came 10 Japan last year.
and 80 might name many other important items
of commerce. but this is only the beginning.
America and Japan coming closer and closer
into commercial contact, and the United States is
already the best customer for our raw SILK and
teas All this has taken place despite the TACT that
the nations strangers. and DO not understand
each other. The japanese. when he talks ABOUT
machinery. has Manchester, England In mino' ana
Germany is his model OF commercial matters; but
we shall endeavor 10 make the true conditions
known to our people and our conditions to the peo-
pie Of this country.
THE treaty OF 1858 ends this month and on July
II the new treaty with the United States and
Europe goes into effect By the conditions OF
this treaty japan will be admitted to the family
OF nations with sovereign power, and with former
restrictions removed she will stand on an equal
footing with the great Powers Of the world. AT
the threshold Of this transition l am glad to be.
here so that may tell the people Of this country
what we are doing. and TO take back with me IN
formation about the United States, which by the
occupation OF the Philippines have become our
close, neigh boris We should rbe friends, ana Dy
working tremendously there is no reason why the
two countries should not control the Aslatic com
rnerce within a few years. We want Americans
TO visit our country, want them 10 study our
resources and invest their money there. There are
large sums OF money locked up here which could
This will be understood better when travel 10
Japan increases. and why should 1t not increase!
Europe and America are so nearly alike that tney
are less interesting TO the traveller than our coun-
try True, the European has no Niagara Fails
and no East River Bridge, and America has no
ruined castles nor antique churches. but in neither
part of the world can see what Is presented
a twenty-five hundred-year sumber, grasping Will
.ngly the ideas and the customs Of the most en-
Nghtened peoples. Free schools religious liberty,
good government modern army regulations and
progressive commerce are some of the features or
japan Of to-day Whatever money can purchase,
no matter II IL Is armies ships or schools, Japan
may have, but the economic questions. thorough
tered only by investigation. This is true Of the
United States as II is of Japan, and ! hope that
our affairs will be investigated and studied by the
people OF this country 10 the end that they Will
appreciate the value of japan as a commercial
ally in the struggle for the Asatc trade"