Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
GRANT IN JAPAN.
The Extraordinary HOn0rs Paid to
Him There Recalled.

nc tOnOFS IaIu 10
Him There Recalled.
From the Colorado Springs Coli Gazette.
In coy corner at the club the other day
the conversation turned on the grand re-
ceptions which have been given the hero.
Admiral Dewey. in New York, Chicago and
elsewhere. Especial reference was made to
the utter disregard shown Of either time.
trouble or expense by the entertainers so
long as the affairs were credit to those
in whose hands the management rested and
an honor to the man of the ocean.
The talk having subsidized little, Col H.
P. Lillibridge chimed in: ut recalls to
my memory" said he "a reception to Gen.
Grant in Japan which was on very grand
scale and for the successful accomplishment
OF which neither time, trouble nor expense
was allowed to be considered"
Tell us about it, colonel came chorus
of voices. and the listeners settled down
to hear the story.
well, it SEEMS continued the obliging
colonel, that centuries ago the Loochoo
belonged to Japan. About $50 years ago
China sent out a force strong enough to
take and hold these islands. About 1872
or 1873 Japan quietly fitted out an expedi-
ton which went down and recovered pos
session of these islands, since which time
they have remained a part of the japanese
empire.
I'm 1876 or 1877, when Gen. Grant took
his trip around the world he visited China
first, and the Chinese government not only
entertained him royalty, but detailed the
incidents connected with the Loochoo Is
lands matter to him, and requested him to
act as arbitrator in this island dispute
then quite warm between the Picking and
Toxic governments.
Japan, the mikado's government and peo-
pie spared no means or expense in their
efforts to Guido China in demonstrations of
respect for Gen. Grant whom the Japa-
npODI9
considered the 'Dai Tori great NAM of
America Their warships manned yards
and gave him the full imperial salute.
with an army Of officials, soldiers, serv-
ants, horses and carriages, for the service
of Gen. Grant and his suite. They deco
rated the great city of Toxic as it had
never before been decorated. They held
old-style tournaments of knights in an
Gent armor. showing severe tests of horse
manship with sword and spear. and exhi-
billions of falconry. all of which We're wit
messed by the mikado and Gen. Grant from
the imperial box and by hundreds Of thou
sands OF people, among whom was your
humble servant.
After every effort had been exhausted to
honor the general in Toxic, Gen. Grant
was invited to visit the shrines of To-
shoSu' Che post-obitum title of lyeyas, the
great lawgiver of JAPAN. These shrines
are located at Nikko, 1O5 miles northwest
from Sendai Gate of Toxic, which at that
time toefore railways We're bu:lU were
iC1SiSo Ny Tie ANlfAhO-htluO, d Wlue, nearly
straight avenue, between Crytomeria cedar
trees, standing about thirty feet apart on
each side the roadway. From the foot of
each OF these trees long, straight bamboo
pole leaned half way across the roadway,
where It's upper end was crossed by the
upper end of similar pole resting at the
foot OF tree on the opposite side of the
roadway, and at the point where the two
poles crossed each other they were tied
together, and from the upper ends of each
PAR OF poles American ana japanese flags
Were flying, and below the point where the
poles were tied together, japanese lanterns
rated with the japanese and the American
flag.
During the ten nights that Gen. Grant
remained at Nlkko, every one of these lam
terms along the entire lUJ miles was kept
Hgnted, and the avenue kept clean, smooth
and damp. AS he returned TO TOXIC by this
avenue, along which are many populous
villages, the demonstrations of respect
were continuous, not by noisy yelling, as
we do il, but By the deferential bow and
low murmured saiutation usual in Japan.
Upon his return to TOXIC, Gen Grant
told US that he was more deeply impressed
by the honors paid him in Japan than by
those OF any other country he had visited
during his trip around the world.
Nv lille at Nlkko 1t is supposed that the
Japanese high officials fully discussed their
side oI the LoocnCo Island dispute with
China; at any rate, Gen. Grant, as | under
stand the matter, decided in favor of japan
lntllndting that the incident was already
closed by possession acquired through war,
the court or last resort, leaving nothing
open TO arb!trate. This is the case, as |
remember Is, alter lapse OF twenty-three