The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-02

under circumstances evideneing a rad
zeal departure from all court prece
dents in honor to do favor to the
Americans. That it was the most bril-
liant 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 assumed most cordial man
ner, and the Empress shook hands with
every officer.
Reply to the Emperor.
To the message from President
Roosevelt, delivered by Admiral Sperry,
the Emperor responded as follows:
admiral Sperry, it affords me a
special pleasure to welcome your party
as the Representatives of the American
navy and to receive through you from
your respected President his very
friendly message. 1t is my request that
you assure the President of the United
States that I most sincerely appreciate
aud most cordially reciprocate his sem
timents of friendship and good will
cit is to me a source of profound
satisfaction that the most cordial reIa-
tions exist between Japan and the
United States, and my thanks are due
the President for affording- my sub
jects by your visit the opportunity to
give new proof of their sincere attach
ment for your countrymen.
"'I also wish you to convey to the
President this message: THE historic
relations, the good understanding and
the genuine friendship of the United
States l count as valued heritage of
my reign and it shall be in the future
as it has been in the past my constant
aim and desire to weld ties of amity
uniting the two countries in indis-
soluble bonds of good neighborhood and
perfect accord
ct trust the same success that has so
far attended your voyage may still be
with you to the end. -
The exchange of messages between
President Roosevelt and the Emperor
was evidently planned as surprise.
When the President IS message was re-
ceived it's 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
lished here, was understood Immediately
as indicating that the entente between
America and Japan, although unwritten,
was most sincere and real
Cheers Greet Americans.
The procession of carriages conveying
the officers of the fleet to the palace,
through the streets lined with cheer
ing multitudes, was most imposing
When the spacious grounds opposite the
approach to the palace, what is known
as the "double BRIDGE was reached
the enthusiasm reached its height. Thou
sands 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 En-
peror. Only a selected few japanese
have ever visited these grounds, and
few, indeed, have ever been given an
audience by the Empror.
The children cheered continuously
and presented a beautiful scene 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 Admirals were intro
duced by the American Ambassador,
Thomas J. o 'Brien, who, with Admiral
Sperry, was invited to enter the En-
peror S room, where the message from
President Roosevelt, which. of course,
had already been submitted to the En-
peror, was read. This was translated,
and the Emperor then replied.
Emperor Receives Officers
The Emperor and Admiral Sperry
then reentered the audience hall, the
Emperor standing at one end with
Rear Admiral Sperry on his left and
an interpreter on the right. Rear
Admiral Emory then approached and
presented the officers of his squadron.
The same program was followed by
Rear Admirals Schroeder and Vain
wright, each Admiral taking his place
by the side of the commander-in-ch chief
of the American feet. The whole
scene was repeated in another mag
Dificent room where the Empress stood
and received the Admirals and other
officers of the fleet.