Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-13
OPENING OF JAPAN
FIFTY YEARS AFTER COMMODORE
PERRY's EXPEDITION.
Sent Out to Open the Ports to American
Products-Establishe Relations
Which Led to Modern Ideas.

| Which Led to Modern Ideas.
Tomorrow. July ii, 1903, is the fiftieth
| anniversary Of the welcome OF Commodore
Perrys fleet by Japan and marks the first
| half century OF Japan's membership in the
| family of nations. Prior to 1853 that coun-
| try had been a hermit. After that date
she awoke to new life Her ports were
| opened to trade and all the results OF in
| ternational commerce followed in time
a standing army, a great navy. reform
| ed government. advance in letters. turis-
prudence and observation-disclosures prog
ress in fifty years has been the wonder OF
| the century.
The object Of Commodore Matthew c.
| Perry's expedition to cultivate friend
| ship with the Japanese and ultimately find
| markets for our goods. Beyond few ship
| wrecked sailors no strangers had had any
intercourse with the people of the howery
| kingdom who were forbidden on pain of
| death from leaving their country. The
! laws of the land regulated the size and
construction of their vessels so that long
| voyages were practically impossible. The
f! people too were timid mariners and afraid
to venture out of sight OF land. The re
| suit that the country WAS hermit
| land. Many of the trading nations of Eu-
| rope had earnestly desired TO form COM
| mercial ties with the Japanese. but II
| remained for the Americans to open the
| door through which in time all others en-
| tered.
To Gain Trade With the Orient.
| The acquisition of California and the con-
sequent change in the Geographical position
| of the United States the step that led
| to the cultivation of oriental amty. Our
| country had become the middle kingdom
between Europe and Asia. and We had be
come neighbors to the japanese. American
| enterprise was eager to dispense the OBJ
| security which shut out Japan from the
view of the world and darkened the direct
| passage to the east.
| Commodore Perry had urged upon the
| government the advantage of sending
embassy to Japan to establish commercial
| relations between that country and the
United States The project widely dis
cussed and received attention in a presi-
| Dental message to Congress. Ample pro-
vision was made and Commodore Perry
sailed the Mississippi from Norfolk
| November ~, 1852. on his memorable Noy-
| age. 1t was understood that he should be
reinforced by the steamer SusIuehanna.
the sloops of Plymouth and Saratoga.
on the East Indian station. and other
sells and storeshps. During the voyage
| general orders were read which directed
that all amicable means were to be used
before resorting to force to obtain the OBJ
| jeCt of the expedition each one in his rela-
tons with the Japanese should be as
friendly as possible. II was evidently the
| purpose of the commodore to open Japan
| to American intercourse at all hazards
| The crews We're kept thoroughly drilled
| and reached a high state of discipline On
the way to Japan a stop was made at the
Loo Choo Islands. dependent on Japan. and
| friendly relations were established after
| considerable reluctance on the part of the
orientals. The arrival of the fleet in the
Bay of Yeddo produced the liveliest
| SternatiOn The steam vessels easily
| brushed aside the throng of sailing vessels
that clustered about them. but the com
modore sent word to the authorities that
unless they would remove their boats he
would dispense them by force. They were
| thereupOn ordered away.
Excitement of the Natives.
There was great excitement on shore
| Guns were frequently fired, signal rock
cts We're shot into the air. soldiers were
paraded about the batteries on the head
lands and at night beacon fires blazed and
| illumined the long stretch of shore. Te-
| dious negotiations followed with the au-
thorities Of the city Of Uraga. opposite
which the fleet had anchored. Every oh
Stacle was offered to the commodores de-
mand that proper parsonage be sent to
whom he might deliver the Presidents let
ter. But finally the commodore's perse-
verance was rewarded. The government
of Japan reluctantly decided to yield.
The Great Interview.
| Thursday, the 18th Of July was ap-
pointed for the interview This concession
was granted only after the commodore had
| threatened that he would carry the Prcsi-
dents letter to Yeddo the capital and de-
liver it in person. Il will wait until Tues
day. the 10Th Of July and no longer" de-
clared the commodore.
| On that day the answer of the emperor
| came appointing the subsequent Thurs
| day for the reception. small village
| called Gorihama. or Kurihamo, was select
ed for the interview. When the day ar
rived the steamers We're moved down the
| bay, opposite the place. and anchored
| that their guns could command the land
ing. The Japanese had put up tempo
rary building of wood, with lofty. peaked
| roof. White canvas painted in squares.
with black stripes covered the building
and stretched long distance to each side
| Nine tall standards of rich crimson cloth.
surrounded by number OF colored flags,
were distributed along the beach in front.
| while 5000 Japanese troops We're arrayed
| In line behind. The hills in the neighbor-
hood were thronged with people. Two jap
| aneSe boats were Sculled out to the Sus-
| quehanna, bearing the governor and vice
governor. and on their arrival preparations
were made for the landing. About fifteen
| boats laden with officers. marines and sail
ors now left the ships for the shore. One
| of the captains led the way in his barge
| fianked by the Japanese boats bearing
the governor and vice governor OF
Uraga and their suites. The others fol-
| lowed accompanied by two bands that
played lively airs. The marines and sailors
| landed and formed on the beach to await
| the coming Of the commodore. who was
| the last to leave. AS he approached the
shore thirteen guns from his flagship
saluted him. On landing he was escorted
! by the American forces. numbering nearly
400 to the building. The United States
flag was borne by two tall fine looking
| sailors. who had been picked out OF the
| whole fleet for their stalwart proportions.
| They were Immediately followed by two
| fancifuly dressed boys. who bore. wrapped
| in a scarlet cloth covering. the box con-
tanning the commOdore's credentials and
| the Presidents letter These documents
were inscribed on vellum and bound in blue
silk velvet. The seals were attached by
silken and gold cords. terminating in gold
tasseIs and incased in circular boxes beau
| tifully wrought. of solid gold. The box
containing the documents was of rosewood,
with gold mountingS. Then came the COM
modore in full uniform. He had most
| impressive appearance, and was fianked on
each side by a tall negro. armed 10 the
teeth The various officers of the fleet
followed