The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-20
SEES THE MIX ADO
Admiral Sperry and His Off
GERS Received Today.
Ceremony Most Brilliant Of the
Weeks Celebration.
MESSAGE DELIVERED.
President Roosevelt Assures
Emperor of Friendship.
Streets of Toxic ThrOnged With
Cordial People.
MESSAGE DELIVERED.


cant event of the visit of the Amer
lean fleet to Japan took place today
when Rear Admiral Sperry, his flag
officers and captains and commander
of the Is battleships were presented to
the emperor and empress under cir
cumstances evidencing a departure
from all court precedents in order to
do favor to the Americans. That it
was the most brilliant function that
the palace has ever known, is vouched
for by those who have been attached
to the court of the emperor of Japan
for many years. The emperor as
sumed a most cordial manner and the
empress shook hands with every
officer
To the message from President
Roosevelt delivered by Admiral
Sperry, the emperor responded as fol-
lows:
Admiral Sperry: 1t affords me a
special pleasure to welcome your
party as the representatives of the
American navy and to receive
through you from your respected
preside ent, his friendly message. 1t is
my request that you assure the presi-
dent of the United States that 1 most
sincerely appreciate and most cor
daily reciprocate his sentiment Of
friendship and good will.
1T is to me a source of profound
satisfaction that the most cordial
relations exist between Japan and the
United States and my thanks are due
the president for affording my subjects
by your visit the opportunity to give
new proof of the sincere attachment
for your countrymen.
''I also wish you to convey to the
president this messagee: The his
toric relations, the good understand
ing and the genuine friendship of the
United States, I count as a valued
heritage of my reign and It shall be in
the future as it has been in past my
constant aim and desire to weld ties
of amity uniting the two countries in
indissoluble bonds of good neighbor-
hood and perfect accord
trust the same success that has
so far attended your voyage may still
be with you to the end >"
Planned as a Surprise.
The exchange of messages between
President Roosevelt and the emperor
was evidently planned as a surprise.
When the presidents message was re-
ceived its evident cordial tone was at
once accepted as the highest official
endorsement of the peaceful mission
and friendly spirit with which the fleet
left the Atlantic and is now visiting
Japan, hence the unusual tone of the
emperor's reply which has been pub
Hshed here, was understood immedi-
ately as indicating that the entente be-
tween America and Japan, although
unwritten, was most sincere and real.
The procession of carriages convey
ing the officers of the fleet to the pal
ace through the streets lined with
cheering multitudes, was most impos-
ing. When the spacious grounds op-
pOsite the approach the palace, what is
known as the double bridge" was
reached the enthusiasm reached its
height. Thousands of children were
again massed in order to impress them
with the idea that the Americans were
about to pay a friendly visit within the
grounds of the palace wherein lived the
great emperor. Only a select few Japa-
nese have ever visited these grounds
and few indeed have ever been given
an audience by the emperor.
The children cheered continuously
and presented beautiful sight in their
picturesque costumes as they waved
flags and bowed low as the carriages
passed. The cheers continued even long
after the carriages disappeared within
the gates. Arriving at the palace the
visitors were ushered into the great
audience hall, where the audience was
addressed by the American ambassa-
dor, T. ]. O'Brien, who with Admiral
Sperry was invited to enter the emper-
or's room where the message from
President Roosevelt. which of course,
had already been submitted to the en-
peror, was read.
re-entered the audience hail. the emper-
or standing at one end with Rear Ad-
miral Sperry on his left and an inter-
prefer on the right. Rear Admiral EN-
ory then approached and presented the
officers OF his squadron. The same pro-
gramme was followed by Rear Admirals
Schroeder and Wainwright, each ad-
miral taking his place by the side of
the commander-in-chief of the fleet
The whole was repeated in another
magnificent room where the empress
stood and received the admirals and
other officers of the fleet. The presen-
tation was followed by an elaborate
luncheon at which 45 persons were
present. the emperor occupying a posi-
tion at the center of the table with
Rear Admiral Sperry sitting opposite
him, the officers on both sides being
graded down according to rank with
the Japanese and American officers in
termixed. The table was magnifcent-
ly decorated and the menu service was
most elaborate.
MiIxado Says Goodbye.
At the end of the meal, the enperor
retired, meeting Rear Admiral Sperry
at the door and bade himself a most
cordial farewell and presented him with
a magnificent silver vase. As the en-
peror retired the American and Japa-
nese officers also left.
This afternoon the officers of the
American and japanese fleet, the visit
ing delegation Of Pacific coast business
men and their ladies and many of the
most prominent citizens of Toxic, num-
bering in all about 1000, were entertain
ed at a garden party at Azano. Tonight
the naval officers were the guests of
the naval clubs at a reception given by
Vice Admiral Saito. the Japanese min
lister of marine and at which the scenes
of yesterday evening were reproduced.
Only officers of the American and Japa-
nese navies and the foreign embassa-
dors and ministers were invited.
Admiral Saito spoke at considerable
length thanking the American officers