The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-31

| was continued day after day, notw1th-
standing demonstrations more or less
threatening by the government otlclais
and soldiers. But, as / have said, no
attention whatever was paid to protests
on this or any other subj ect, and mean
while negotiations were beginning. Dig
: nitaries of various degrees came 10 visit
the ships, but were not permitted IN
most instances to board us-untll finally
the governor of the province arrived IN
mucn magnihcence, seated on mats IN a
state barge He was treated with polite
ness and condescension, the privilege OF
an interview not with the commander
in-chief, but with a couple OF subor-
dinate officers, being granted 70 him.
He was informed that the commodore
bore letter from the President OF the
United States to the Emperor, and that
it could be delivered only into the
hands of a person duly authorized by
the latter as his ambassador.
Naturally, the governor went away
mucn impressed. There was some more
delay. but at length the official returned
with an AUTOGRAPH communication from
the Emperor, enclosed in a beautiful
sandalwood box, stating that he had ap
pointed a prince of the realm one of
his high counsellors, to receive the
missive of President Fillmore. A date
two or three days later, | think-was
set for the reception of the letter, the
place appointed for the ceremony being
on shore not far away. where, the gov
ernor explained, temporary building
would be Immediately erected for the
purpose.
Thus was accomplished the first great
step in the series of events which Gull
minated in the opening of Japan to
modern civilization. 1t was quite
wonderful thing, indeed when one
comes to think of it-considering the
fact that, up to that time. the Island
Kingdom had absolutely refused to en-
ter into any relations with other ma
tions, save for the scanty trading priv
ileges aforementioned. We had enter
ed the Bay of Yeddo in defiance of the.
laws of the country: we were staying
there against the orders of the authori-
ties, and we had persisted in commu-
nicating with the Emperor, notwith-
standing the determined opposition of
the government The commodore had
even gone so far as to say that, if no
body would carry his letter to the En-
peror, he himself, with an armed force,
would take it to the city of Yeddo.
As matter of fact, however, the
commodore's policy, seemingly so inn
pudent, was the only one that could
have ACCOMPLISHED the purpose he had
in view Bluff was what was required.
Up to that period foreigners coming to
Japan had invariably assumed an at
titude of humility soliciting favors
which, when accorded, were haughtily
and contemptuously granted. In many
instances they were thrown into prison
and otherwise mistreated. Perry, on the
other hand, presented. his request in the
form of demand, ignoring all opposi-
ton, and. while expressing intentions
wholly friendly, showed a willingness
to use force in case anybody interfered
with him.
The ceremony attending the transfer
of the Presidents letter was a dazzling
affair. The day, remember, was love-
ly, and on shore the scene was made
gay by multitudes of flags, while regi-
nents of Japanese soldiers, in their
quaint costumes, were drawn UP in pic
turesque array On our side no pains
were spared to contribute gorgeousness
to the occasion. the commodore, as he
landed, being accompanied by consid-