Year: 1872

ad upon money borrowed for the construction Of this
road amounts TO than $4,000 week. 1t appears
probable that q few experiences Of this kind aided by
tolerably thorough, though ardy acquaintance with
the liabilities incurred by other Governments for similar
public works. taught the japanese the proprety OF
not cOnfding more Of their enterprises to English
agents. and the expedency Of not melting English coop
GRAFTON in the conduct Of any of their great departments


OUR COUSINS ANNOYED.


This view. believe. is pretty generally held by the
foreign public of japan. Everybody seems to admit
that the japanese justified In desiring TO look else
where for assistance, and sensible Engshmen, while
feeling natural disncnation TO sec others taking that
part the direction Of affairs which they supposed
was TO continue uninteruptedy at their own disposal
understand acknowledge that there is but way
OF restoring their waning influence. They know, too


that it done only by slow and steady works, and
by hasty words. Others who not sensible, and
whom nobody Of being but who nevertheless
constitute very noisy and demonstratve minority here,
undertake readiust affairs TO their own satisfaction
by eruptions and explosions Of anti-Amerlcan
spleen, which might be amusing enough IN
large place, but which. in contracted
community like this do certainly become extremely
fatigung. You can have no idea how wearyinga nul-
sance this gets to be when you are 80 confined
that there is escape from it, To be told, whenever
report Of appointment from the United states Is
received, that the Japanese have again fallen victims


to republican wiles and snares that the corruption OF
American politics is once more casting its sinister
shadow over this fair land and that the perneious in
trigues Of the Washington Cabinet continue TO parayze
the progress the East ia enough after time to ex
haust the patience of any public. Yet the Americans
endure it with great good nature partly no doubt be-
cause they are at present the winning side, and
narty because the violence Of the onslaughts robs them
of all real force II certainly that great major
ity of the higher public Offices either advised or d
recy administered by citizens Of the United states, put
it is notorious fact that hardly single one of the
numerous engagements either solicited or prompted
by Americans. On TIE contrary, Americans were di-
recty applied by the japanese themselves In this
way the Commissioners for the exploration and deve-
opment of Yezo the legal counselor the assistants IN
internal and customs ADMINISTRATOR ana 'he
teachers the leading schools were obtained cannot
fully account for this marked preference any more than


can explain how happens that in ninetenths OF the
cases of murderOus assault committed upon foreigners
since Japan opened Englishmen have been the vic
TINS while can learn, no natVe-born Amerl-
can has ever suffered the slightest injury. feelng
favorable to Americans obviously exists, and we nave
only to cultivate and encourage it with moderate dis
cretion to gain almost undivided influence III heip
ing forward the destnies Of the Empire


WHAT THE JAPANESE CLAIM.


In the exercise Of this discretion there several
things to be considered The goodwill and generosity


of the people and Government of the United States may
be taken for granted There seems TO be disposition 10
heartily admire the energy and enterprise OF this old
nation, which has suddenly lnaue lscH young again.
and taken new start in existence with all the vgor OF
enthusiasm and many Of the errors of impetuosity
which belong to youth In every form Of demonstTatve
encoura cement and exuberant riendness we are for
ward enough. 1t pleasant to see the ehusion with
which an embassy is propelled over our Continent ana
the relinQushment Of a claim like that Of the simono
se indemnity ia not only act of graceful consdera
ton but also one material value to the Japanese CON
siderng the sracned condition Of their finances. But
there are other matters, altogether more essential to
be taken into account First OF ALL higher IN import
ance than any other detail Of our political rela-
tlonshp, il the necessity Of clear and explicit
understanding of international obligations. At present
this does exist The japanese far willing
TO trust TO than to any other Power, are anxious to
rely upon and ready TO invite our friendly counsel
and even such protection are able 10 offer them
But they are totally ignorant of how far they are
warranted in advancing, or to what extent we viii
meet them Recent diplomatic intercourse has confused
rather than enlightened this point Upon one or two
grave occasions they have approached the United states
Government with confidence that has not been in any
sense recprocatcd do not to that the United
states have failed any direct Obligation but It certainly
has not been made clear the japanese how far we are
willing TO identify ourselves wth their concerns.
They think that they can claim good deal from
MS on the strength of the memorable article
in the Harris Treaty Of 1853 by which the
President of the United States pledged himself TO


act as friendly mediator in such matters OF difference


as may arise between the Government OF Japan ana any
European power" They declare that they were chiefly
persuaded to grant the important and at that time eN
elusive privileges treaty by the hope and pros
meet which this clause held out to them II the United
States Government are disposed TO cOnstrue 1t differ
emily and now look upon II as mere expression OF
formal courtesy the japanese ought to be so instructed
Inst before the absorption island of Saghalen by
Russia they made very strong appeal for the nterces
sion of the United States This appeal was certainly


T.stt TpT rod "
earnestness A communication was made TO Russia,


as received with an nsolent disdain which may pos
siy have contributed to the aceTbty which aferward
dsplayed itself in the Catacazy affair." and there the
matter dropped excepting that we were made the me-
dum of transmitting proposition IN repy rom hussa
0uite as humating the Japanese as the subsequent
seizure of the disputed territory D0uDuul questions
like this should be settled by some SPECIES Oh mutual m
understanding Just now, from japanese point OF
view, we are in the position OF constantIy holdng OUT
Elusive hopes 70 he Iaey regaau 1 caraS nuot Of
practical aid and assistance SO far as may be done
Without breach of neutraity" and they not at all
sure that they will get it for the asking II is only fair
prepared to stand ty the the event Of their being
ppnipstlV treated by European nations. If not
prepared stand ny them at all, then hey ought 10
ANU" '"''' A GREAT WRONG POSSIBLE.


Another subject which needs the same critical atten-
ton at home that 1t certain TO receive mere the man.
ner in which the applications for American assistance
have been and to be met by the United states Gov
erpment should be happy TO believe that II Is not


to suggest extreme watchfulness this point
INT there are Obvious indications that the selections may
not always be guided by the s0undest Judgment VI
those which have been already made nothing needs now
10 he said The japanese have uttered no complaint
concerning them. and in one or two cases they are m
doubtedly as good as required. They not how
ever altogether Of class which will give satisfaction In
futnre In these matters the japanese throw themselves
Sn S tor the services Which they require and
they leave selection OF the officers 10 fnh them en-
tirey to us. Precisely in proportion to the ness OF
their confidence will be their disappointment, II they md