The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-02-05
TO HONOR
COMMODORE PERRY

TOXIC, Jan. 20.-The Bei-yu Kyo-kai.
which is at the head OF the movement
to erect Perry monument" at Kuri-
hama, has issued in the name OF Its
president, Baron Kentaro Kancko. a
circular. a translation OF which follows
and IL self-explanatory:
Forty-seven years ago on the Sth OF
July, In the sixth year of Kayei. an
American envoy arrived In Japan on
mission which was destined to become
an epoch making event In the history
of Japan. This envoy was none other
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, Miurd-
gori, in the province of SaEami, AMI
there held conferences repeatedly with
the officials of the Tokugawa Regency.
The object of his mission successfully
accomplished, the Commodore sailed
home shortly after
This visit of Commodore Perry was
in a word the turning of the key which
opened 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 simi-
lar terms, and may in the truth be re-
garded as the most memorable event
in our annals-an event which paved
the way for and accelerated the intro
duction of a new order of things--an
event that enabled the country to enter
upon the unprecedented era of national
ascendency in which we are now living.
There is a reason then-a strong rea-
this visit OF Commodore Per-
ry, no less than the spot where those
conferences took place,
should be perpetuated In the memory
or the Japanese people.
True, Japan has not forgotten-ror
will she ever forget-that next to her
and most beloved sovereign,
whose high virtues and great wisdom
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-
After the lapse of these forty-seven
years her people have, however, come .
10 entertain but an uncertain memory
IF Kurhama, and yet II was there that
Perry first trod on the soil |
If Japan and for the first time awoke !
he country from a slumberous seclu- /
sion of three centuries-there 1t was |
where first cleaned the light that has |
,ver since Illuminated Japan's way in /
Ter new career of progress. Even writ
RS seldom mention the place now that !
he spot where the American envoy /
anded and which should forever be re-
nembered in our history threatens to
% FORGOTTEN altopether.
Last fall we had the pleasure Of meet
ng Rear Admiral Reardslee, u s. NJ. |
who as a naval cadet and member of |
he crew under Commodore Perry
anded at Kurihama on the historical
,ccas sion, and who after these forty
even years once more came back to
Jay a visit to this country. Beckoned
" the memories OF the past. the Ad-
niral went to Kurihama Immediately
lfter his arrival in Japan but he was
My able to ascertain the spot where
he envoy and his party had landed
lalf a century ago Nv the help Of m
Id survivor OF those bv-gone days. We
we're greatly moved nv lis account of
lis second visit to Kurihama and we
set on foot n movement to
rect fitting monument which may
,erpetuate the place IN question In the
memory OF our posterity. We have
ince made such PROGRESS with this
1ovement that a site for the monument
las already been selected II IL our
determination to accomplish the end IN
lew with all possible promptltude and
o hold the ceremony of unwilling the