Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-04-11
IN HONOR O PERRY
Governor Shaw Receives an In
terestinf Letter From Z
japanese Baron.
IIowan. Given . Chance to Aid
in Building a Monument to
Commodore Perry.
Japan to Perpetuate His Memory
on Account Of Great Ser.
vice to Japan.

vice to Japan.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, April 11.-Governor Shaw
has received the following circular or
statement from Japan in reference to q
proposed monument in honor of Com
modore Perry and his epoch-making
journey to Japan nearly half century
ago:
Forty-eight years ago, on the 9th of
July, in the sixth year of Kayei. an
American envoy arrived in Japan, on a
mission which was destined to become
an epoch making event in the history
| of Japan. This envoy was none other
I than Commodore Perry, U. S. N, who.
by order of the president of the North
American republic, came to this coun-
try for the purpose of concluding a
treaty of commerce and friendly inter-
course between the two nations. On the
| 14th of the month above mentioned the
envoy landed at Kurihama, Miura gori,
in the province of Sagami, and there
held conferences repeatedly with the Of
ficials of the Tokugawa regency. The
object of his mission successfully ac-
Icomplished, the commodore sailed home
shortly after.
This visit OF Commodore Perry was in
word the turning of the key which.
lopened the doors of the Japanese en-
pire to friendly intercourse with the
United States, and subsequently, to the
rest of the nations of Europe on similar
Il md In Il
the most memorable event In our annals
Ian event which paved the way for and
accelerated the introduction of new
order of things, an event that enabled
the country to enter upon the unprece-
dented era of national ascendency in
which we are now living There lie a
reason then-a strong reason-that this
visit of Commodore Perry, no less than
1.-the spot where those memorable confer
|.ences took place Should be perpetnated
in the memory OF the Japanese people
4 True, Japan has not forgotten-nor
Twill she ever forget-that, next to her
4 ieignirg and most beloved sovereign,
whose high virtues and great wisdom
4 are above all praise. she owes, in no
small degree. her present prosperity to
\ the United States of America, In that
the latter rendered her the great and
lasting service already referred to. At
4 ter the lapse of these forty-eight years
& her people have, however, come to ems
4 tertain but an uncertain memory of
kurihama, and yet 1t was there that
8 Commodore Perry fret trod on the soil
J of Japan and for the first time awoke
the country from slumbrous seclus-
lion of three centuries-there it was
where first cleaned the light that has
ever since illumined Japan's way in her
new career of progress. Even Writers
4 seldom mention the place now, and the
spot where the American envoy landed
Land which should forever be remem-
bered in our history threatens to be for
gotten altogether.
Last fall we had the pleasure of meet
4 ing Rear Admiral Beardslee, u S. N,
who was naval cadet and a member
4 of the crew under Commodore Perry,
: which landed at Kurihama on the his-
torical occasion and who, after these
forty-eight years, once more came back
4 to pay a visit to this country. Beckoned
by the memories of the past the admiral
went to Kurihama Immediately after
his arrival in Japan, but he was only
able to ascertain the spot where the en-
voy and his party had landed half a
century ago by the help of an old sur
vivcr of those by-gone days. We were
greatly moved by his account of his sec
ond visit to ISurihama, and we immedi-
ately set on foot movement to erect a
fitting monument which may perpe,uate
the place in question in the memory OF
our posterity. We have since made such
progress with this movement that site
for the monument has already been Sc
Elected. 1t Is our determination to ac-
s complisk the end In view with all posi-
!. BILE promptitude and to hold the cere-
{ mony of unwilling the monument on the
l coming anniversary of the landing OF
l the American envoy at Kurihama, the
r 14rh of July this year. We hope thai
i those who are interested in the matter
i will favor us by endorsing our under.
taking in substantial manner
BARON KENTARO KANEKO.
President Bei-yu Kyo-kai (sAmerican
Association of Japan.
I Toxic. January. 1901
p. S.-Subscriptions should be sent "a
the office of Bei-yu Kyo-kai, IL Yama.
5 shiro-cho. kyobasi,i-ku, Toxic. Sub
i scription list will be closed on the 3otl
r | May 1901