The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-02-16
JAPs LIKE US NOW.
Uncle Sam Met Them in 1881 and
Again In 1868.

Stdle ana navy departments al wash /
ington, date back to the early thirties, |
says Rudolph Dezapp in the Washing /
ton Times In 1881 the attention of
our government was directed to the |
Japanese islands, and it was thought |
at that time that a good opportuni
had offered itself for introducing
America to the notice of the japanese
in a friendly way by returning to their
native land a number of shipwrecked |
Japanese sailors.
The Asiatics, however, miscon- |
strueo ,ut mission, and jid not re
ceive our advances in the same
friendly spirit in which they were
rendered The American ship Morri- !
sun, upon arrival in the Land of the
Rising Sun" was repelled with yio- Z
lence. Our government thereupon
deemed it advisable. in order to Sc
cure the proper respect of Japan, to
dispatch two larger ships, and the
Columbus and Vincennes were sent
On this occasion polite but decisive |
language was used on the part of the
Americans The government of the
United States wanted intercourse for |
commercial and political purposes |
with Japan, as well as recognition for
the return Of her shipwrecked sub
iects. Japan, however, obstinately re-
fused no rade except with Bol-
land" was the Japanese motto. Our
government being in no hurry, dis
played patience and watchfulness.
In 1S49 the Japanese detained some
American seamen, who were ship.
wrecked upon Jap2n's coast. The
sloop Preble, Captain Glynn, forth
with dropped in and gave the Japa.
nese authorities such a convincing
argument that they gladly liberated
the Americans.
Previous to 1863 the ports of Japan
were closed TO foreign vessels. In
1854 Commodore Perry of the United
States squadron opened negotiations
with the Tycoon of Japan and a treaty
was entered into according to which
the ports of Simoda and Hakodadi
were opened TO the United States
Previous to this Japan had practical
ly remained sealed book Russia
followed with a treaty in 1855.
In 1857 Mr. Harris. consul general
of the United States, made a new
treaty by which the port Of Nagasalti
WAS opened to the United states, the
friendly power" as the United States
was always styled in the diplomatic
correspondence with Japan Then
came Great Britain with a treaty by
which the ports of Neegata and Hiogo
were opened France and the Neither
lands also obtained treaty ports III
was these treaties which caused the
trouble that led up to the battle in
1863. The treaty making powers did
not understand the internal political
divisions of Japan.
These treaties were negotiated with
the Tycoon, supposed to be the SOW
ereign ruler of the empire, ana such
was the supposi.ion for ten years
As a matter Of fact the government
of Japan at that time was feudal in
its character First there was the
Mikado, the titular ruler of the en-
pire; then the Tycoon, exercising eX-
ecdtive power. ani last. but not least,
petty princes, styled Daimios, who
ruled over thirty-seven provinces had
their retinues. and were really the
bone and sinew of the military power
! of the empire. Some of these princes
sided with the Mikado against the pro-
gressiye policy of the Tycoon Others
sided with the Tycoon. and Japan was
in commotion, for ten years or more
Iciyil war ragged. In the excitement OF
the times the United States legation
was burned, the British legation was
assailed and several Of the British
were assassinated
For This Great Britain demanded
100000 indemnity ana ii was paid
France and the Netherlands also had
trouble with be daimios The re-
markable thing was that through en-
these struggles not one of these
treaties was valid or binding. not hav-
ing been signed 10y the Mikado the
real sovereign of the empire lt turn.
ed out the Tycoon was using his befi
endeavors 10 act in good faith with ON
the treaty making powers, while they
in turn, supposed he was practicipg
duplciiy and stirring up strife in orl-|
er TO avoid the treaty o9igauons He
was finally assassina ed by those op-
posed to opening Of Japan lo foreign
trade. One Of the most powerful