The times., 1901-04-04

the Way for Modern Pr0gress-To
Place the Memorial at hurihama.
The United States Consul at Yokohama,
Japan, has sent To the State Icpart-
ment a circular issued by Baron keutaro
Kaneko, the President Of the American
Association of Japan, and the japanese
Minister of Justice, relative to ropo-
sition to erect a monument to the memory
of Commodore Perry, L. 5. N, at kuri-
hama. 1t is suggested that the monument
should commemorate the arrival of Com
modore Perry at that place forty-eight
years ago, when he came as the American
envoy, for the purpose of conducting the
first treaty of commerce and friendly in
! tercourse between the United States and
Japan.
The circular is as follows:
Forty eight years ago, on the Sth of
July, i'll the 9th year of Kayei. an Amer-
can 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 than Commo-
dore Perry, L. S. N. who. by order of the
President of the North American RePub-
lie. came to this country for the purpose
of concluding a treaty of commerce and
friendly intercourse between the two ma
tions, on the 18th of the month above
mentioned. the envoy landed at Kuri-
hama, Miura gOri. in the province of Sag
ami and there held conferences repeated
~ with the officials of the Tollugawa Re-
gency. The object of his mission success
fully accomplished, the commodore sailed
home shortly after.
This visit of Commodore Perry was, in
word, the turning of the key which
81 of 1aa fa,A TruNrAf
to friendly intercourse with the United
States, and subsequently to the rest of
the nations of Europe on similar terms,
and may in truth be regarded as the
most memorable event in our annals-an
event which paved the way for and ac
CELEBRATED the introduction of "a new order
of things: an event that enabled the coun-
try to enter upon the unprecedented era
of national ascendency in which we are
now living. There is a reason then-a
strong reason-that this visit of fJC0mmo-
dore Perry, no less than the spot where
those memorable conferences took place,
should be perDetuated in the memory of
the Japanese people.
True. Japan has not forgotten-nor will
she ever forget-that next to her reigning
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 for
ty-eight years her people have, however
come to entertain but an uncertain mem
ory of Kurihama, and yet it was there
that Commodore Perry first trod on the
soil of Japan and for the first time awoke
the country from a sumberous seclusion
of three centuries-there it was where
first cleaned the light that has ever since
ilIumined Japan's way in her new career
of progress. Even writer's seldom men
tiOn the place now, and the spot where
the American envoy landed and which
should forever be remembered in our his
tory threatens to be forgotten altogether.
Last fall we had the pleasure of meet
ing Rear Admiral Beardslee. United
States Navy. who, as a naval cadet and
q member of the crew under Commodore
Perry landed at Kurihama on the his
torical occasion, and who, after these
foTty-eight years, once more came back
to pay visit to TINS 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 envoy
and his party had landed almost half a
century ago, by the help of an old sur
viVor of those by-gone days. We were
greatly moved by his account of his sec
ately set on foot movement to erect a
fitting monument which may perpetlIate
the place in question in the memory of
our poSterfty. We have since made such
progress with this movement that site
for the monument hes already been Sc
lected II is our determination TO accom-
pllsh the end in view with all possible
promptitude and to hold the ceremony
OF unveiIing the monument on the COM
ing anniversary of the landing of the
American envoy at Kurihama, the 18th of
ITIf hl @ hat ySypn
are interested in the matter VIII favor
us by endorsing our undertaking in a
substantial manner.
Baron KENTARO KANEKO,
President, Bei-yu Kyo-kai.
"(American Association of Japan.)
Tokyo, January, 1901.
''P. S.-Subscriptons should be sent to
the office OF Bei-yu Kyo-kai II Yama-
shiro-cho Kyobashi-ku, Tokyo. Subscrip-
ton list will be closed on the Goth OF
April, 1901