Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-21
Of Conflict With japan
Says President Taft,
Meets Japanese Commercial
Mission al Minneapolis.
Exchanges Words Of FeIicitation
and Cheers for Mikado.

of the Japanese Commercial Mission 20
the United States, babe them welcome
to the country, assured them of the
everlasting friendship of the Ameri-
can people, paid tribute to their quail
of industry and patriotism and IN con-
clusion drank a toast to the Emperor
of Japan as 1.-The Warm and Sincere
Friends of America" amid great en-
thusiasm among both his japanese ana
American hearers.
Before going to the Lafayette club
to meet the Japanese President Tart
attended services at the Westminster
Presbyterian church conducted by DR..
J. T.. Bushnell.
The President and party left for Des
Moines, Ia, over the Chicago & Great
Western Railroad at 8 p. M. Before
leaving the President sent the follow
ing letter to Governor johnson:
My Dear Governor Johnson:
Il am very much delighted to hear
Of your improvement today and earn
estly hope that your recovery will be
rapid. AS l leave the state I thank
you again for the cordial welcome to
this city and the people of Minnesota.
Very sincerely yours, tt,
civilian Fl. TAFT
President Taft scodted the idea that
there had ever been the slightest dan
ger of trouble between Japan and
America. He paid high compliment
70 the military valor of Japan wnen
the country was "Fighting in defence
of her rights ard the maintenance of
i.er prestige Oh the field of battle"
President Taft's address, which
Throughout was filled with expressions
of the Warnest admiration for the
Jal aneSe Emperor and the Japanese
people, followed a speech by Baron
Slibusiwa, prominent banker of To-
kio aud chairman OF the visiting CON-
mission, in which. sreaking in his IA
tive tongue, he referred to PrcSiden-
Taft as "One of the foremost ,ron of
the age and Il warm and true friend
ui japan
Preceding the luncheon the Presi-
dent was introduced to each member
of the Japanese commission. Baron
ShibusaWa, in the course of his adj
dress, said:
I'VE beg also to offer our sincere
thanks to your, our distinguished hosts,
the members or the Chamber of Gem
merce of Minneapolis. for your mag
nitlcent hospitality and for the valued
opportunity You have 50 kindly afford
ed us of meeting YOUR Chief Magis-
trate for whom we Japanese enter
tain the deepest respect as one OF the
foremost men of the age and more
especially as a warm and true friend
Of Japan.
"On the eve of our departure on the
present mission, His Majesty, the En-
pcror. hOnored us in way quite
unique in our history. He graciously
invited us to Il banquet at one OF his
palaces. an honor never before given
to a1y private individuals however
distinguished, going abroad without
any official capacity. On that memo
ratle occasion, the Emperor was
pleased to express to us through the
minister of his household his high a;,-
prevail Of our visit to America ana
gave us to understand that the sue
cess of our mission was matter OF
deep concern to him. Scarcely less
deep was the interest manifested in
our trip by the people at large. From
niihiStprS of state down to the very
man in the street. the whole nation.
united in giving us a sendcff such az
i& given only to the men going to the
frCnt in defence of home and country.
t1on tins you can easily infer how
strong and universal is the cnthusi-
asnl excited in Japan by our present
visit to your country
"This is only another manifestation
bf Il, 4,
friendship and good will which the
people OF japan have always felt anu
actually feel toward the people of this
enlightened republic.
May the strong ties of Friendship,
that now so happily bind together the
two nations grow still stronger as
years roll on and may their friend
snip ne Forever based on mutual re-
spect and common regard for justice
ard peace for the good Of humanity
at large"
In reply the President said:
Il say only what is in the heart Of
every one who hears me that we are
all delighted to welcome this innuen-
Iial, mighty intelligent and most charm
hg company of so men. business men
- "Nu'e iiiteiiectS, men OF lar seeing |
commercial experience, and | warn the
American merchant and the American |
that what they show to
-hese gentlemen, these gentlemen viii |
Well avail themselves Of in this friend |
Y controversy and friendly commercial
contest between the two nations.
1 am not one of those who believe
nat 1t is wise to keep back the prog
'ess of your neighbors in order that
'our own progress may be great, We
lave much to learn to Japan and they
lave much to learn from US. but as we
improve both lessons and as we grow
o be greater in commerce and in bust
less we shall grow to be greater Gus
omers each of the other.
This old colonial idea that it was
eeessary to keep dependencies in a state
I tuteiage so that their people did not
now the prices of the goods at which
hey ought to sell them in order that the
ONE governments might get things CHEAP
nd sell them high, is a bunco game that
'orks a little while. but in the end il
oes no good to either party. And so it is
etween nations.
The development of each is for tbe
nnpfit of thp he, 9 |