Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

The japanese embassy, for the reception
Of which great preparations had been
made. reached Washing
Japanese ton about noon on the
14th of May. 1850. and The
"ii'e. Star Of that date contains
full page of matter devoted to the voy-
age Of the oriental visitors from their
native country to the capital OF the United
States. concluding with q description OF
the arrival at the navy yard on the
steamer Philadelphia. The Stars report
says:
ION the arrival Of the Philadelphia at
the wharf Capt. DahIgreen caused to be
fired a salute Of seventeen guns. The
battery from which the salute was fred
are all English pieces captured by the
United States during the late war with
Great. Britain, and mounted on this bat
terry during the administration Of Com
modore Patterson. The japanese flag
used on this occasion is twenty-four feet
long by twelve wide, made of white bunt-
ing, in the center Of which is red globe.
Of ten feet In diameter.
The navy yard was thronged with people
with many foreign ministers and cabinet
oflcers in carriages. The ceremonies OF
welcome at the navy yard Included the
transfer to the shore or the treaty pro-
posed by the Japanese government TOT
ratification by the United states. the iol-
lowing paragraph deals with this pictur-
esQue feature:
The treaty which the embassy brought
with them was brought out Enclosed IN an
oblong box come three feet In length and
of proportionate width and depth. ano
rn1 r1of1
in a framework Of bamboo wood. through
the top of which a pole some ten feet In
length was thrust, folding cover OF
wood was laid over the top, and with TINS
novel arrangement borne In advance Dy
two policemen the procession then marched
up the plank way to the commandment
Office, where carriages were in waiting to
receive them, the several bands playing
QUIZ national airs the while"
Naturally, the novelty Of the japanese
embassy impressed the public at large,
and great curiosity was
Public evinced by all the
cur;os;4v people REGARDING these
ouIlosity. strange visitors. The Star
felt ii necessary to print the following
admonition in the issue Of May Is. 1880:
ut is proper that We should call the
attention Of those gentlemen who have
the Japanese ambassadors in charge to
the fact that they have to deal with a
very polite and exceedingly ceremonious
people, more so perhaps than any other
people in the world. Even small. insig-
nifcant things, inoffensive in this coun-
try but In opposition to their sentiments
Of decorum and dignity. may spoil more
or less all the benefits this country is ex-
pecting from their visit We noticed with
no small regret that yesterday while the
procession was coming UP from the navy
yard squads of half grown dirty and
ragged boys were surrounding their car
riages extending their hands to the am
bassadors as they are used to do to our
Indians, and most likely placing those
gentlemen in a very embarrassing posi-
ton and entirely in want Of harmony
with their character az ambassadors and
with the dignity of treatment which this
country owes to them as its invited
guests. We saw even little ragged ne
gro boy, following the example Of his
white compeers, stretching out his paw
to shake hands with the Japanese chief
officials. We learned from gentlemen who
have been living in Japan that our OIL
GERS, soldiers and so forth have been
always treated there with the most scru-
pulous politeness and attention. When
ever they paraded the streets Of a Japa-
nese city the people would stand politely
would they press upon the strangers or
obtrude in their strolling and marching.
We should do everything in our power
to impress our guests with favorable
opinion of our country, but we must stop
all such proceedings il we desire to be
successful Some may ascribe such scenes
to our republican independence, but the
violation Of the dignity Of the position Of
the strangers and the rude behavior on
the part Of our 'gamins' do not consti-
tute elements Of our national character
and much less Of our republican indie
pendence.
The republican national convention met
at Chicago May 10. 1860. On the eve of
the convention Seward of
Lincoln New York was in the
w.. lead. with Chase OF Ohio
@'o''soo' closely pressing. Only at
the eleventh hour was Lincoln's name
then rather as "favorite SON. than as
an actual prospect. The balloting began
on the third day. May Is, and was quick
ly concluded. In The Star of May 10. 1850,
the brief Geographic dispatches tell Of
Lincoln's nomination as follows:
1.-The convention now proceeded to bal
lot for a candidate for President. The
first ballot resulted as follows: Seward,
113: Lincoln. 1902: Bates, 81; Cameron, 50:
Mclean, IL; Wade, 3; Dayton. 4. There
being no choice a second ballot was had
as follows: Seward. 1914: Lincoln. 1914;
scattering SO. Whole number of votes.
4O4, necessary to choice Of 308. The
third ballot then took place and gen.
eral stampede Of all the forces opposed
to Seward took place In favor of Lin
coin. 1t resulted as follows: Lincoln. rs;
Seward. ISL. Mr.. Lincoln was therefore
declared the nominee. The result is said
to have been brought about by the Penh-
sylvarlia friends OF Mr.. Cameron. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Evans of New York the
nomination of Mr.. Lincoln was made
unanimous"