“It is now several years since we first came into contact with
the nations of the West. We were on the most friendly terms with
the Dutch, for whom we opened the port of Nagasaki as a trading
place. It was solely through our intimate relations with them
that we were enabled at that time to obtain an idea of the state
of the outer world, while as yet we were in a condition of the
most complete seclusion, a certain number of Japanese of the
higher classes being made acquainted through the Dutch books of
what other countries were like. Thirty-two years ago, however,
Commodore Perry entered the Bay of Yeddo, bearing a dispatch
from the United States Government, and accompanied by several
men-of-war; and he induced the Government of the Shogunate, then
in power, to sign a treaty of friendship and commerce. Since
then country after country has entered into treaty relations
with us. Several ports in addition to Nagasaki were opened for
foreign trade, and as our relations with foreign states became
more intimate, some of us, observing that we were beings similar
in most respects to our visitors, determined to go and see those
other countries. Impressed in the most powerful way by what we
saw in those distant lands, a desire to be like civilized
nations took shape in our minds. All attention was at once bent
on the work of preparation to set out on the new path. Since
then improvements and reforms have been effected in every
direction—in our political system, in our military organization,
in science, arts, commerce, and in our various industries, and
as the result of the arduous labors of thirty years ago the
Japan of to-day has been produced. No other country in the East
has been able to create, as the Japanese have done, a new
country on the lines of Western civilization. That this country
is advanced far beyond all the countries of the East is a fact
which none would attempt to dispute. More than that, there is no
country in the world, except some in Europe and America, to
which we must largely yield in point of enlightenment and
civilization. To the South American states even, peopled as they
are by emigrants from the continent of Europe, there is assigned
by universal consent a position in many respects below that
which Japan, much to her honor, now occupies. When we remember
that it is to the United States of America that we owe our
success and our advancement to our present proud position, we
cannot help entertaining for them sentiments of peculiarly deep
respect and esteem. But the people of the United States have
endeared themselves to us not merely by the circumstance that
they were our leaders and guides in the work of thirty years
ago, but also by the uniform mildness and justice of the
treatment that we have received at their hands since that
time—treatment which sufficiently convinces us that they are not
a nation which desires to profit by the misfortunes of others.
There has not come to our notice a single instance of the United
States betraying an unreasonable spirit in dealing with this
country. It is true that they had a share in the affair of the
Shimonoseki indemnity, but so soon as the Government of the
United States became aware of the injustice of the transaction,
they did not hesitate to correct their mistake by returning to
us their share of the indemnity, an action which did not fail to
effect the people of this country favorably towards them. We
cannot forget either that the United States is our nearest
civilized neighbor—a couple of weeks’ sail alone separating the
two countries. But in national intercourse it is not enough to
entertain amicable and friendly feelings towards one another; we
must mutually confer in one way or another solid and appreciable
benefits. Commerce is the chief means by which one country may
gain advantages from its relations to another. The trade between
Japan and the United States is represented by yen 15,600,000 per
annum. This, to be sure, is no contemptible sum, and is certain
to increase in the future. But even at the present time it would
not be at all a difficult matter to increase the figure by
two-fold, if a little more thought were employed. Of this total
the export from Japan amounts to yen 13, 100,000, nine-tenths of
which consists of two articles, silk and tea, in the proportion
of silk, yen 6,000,000, and tea, yen 5,800,000. The export from
the United States to this country is yen 2,500,000, of which
seven-tenths is represented by petroleum (yen 1,800,000). The
trade between the two countries is, therefore, made up at
present of the exchange of three articles, in the proportion of
13 from this country to 2½ from the United States. Besides tea
and silk, various articles are required in American markets,
such as minerals and manufactured goods, so that it should be
quite easy to increase the exports from Japan. Further, a great
many of our enterprising men have gone from Japan to the United
States, and this should also operate in increasing the demand
for Japanese goods. It is clear, therefore, that this trade has
a hopeful prospect before it. On the other hand the import to us
from the United States consists almost solely of petroleum, and
the total amount of this trade cannot be at all satisfactory to
Americans. We are told that in the markets of South America the
manufactured goods of the United States are to a very
considerable extent driving out English stuffs; how is it then
that Americans here do not think of entering into competition
with the English? [Page 560]
Again, we believe the Americans know that large quantities of
German beer are exported to Japan. Although the trade cannot
amount to a very large sum, it is still to be regretted that the
brewers of the United States should permit the Germans to
monopolize the trade. Then, taking railways, it is generally
admitted that the simple and convenient methods of railway
construction obtaining in the States would be well adapted to
Japan, but as yet no American has attempted to introduce the
system here. It seems as if it would be an easy matter for the
Americans to increase their exports, so as, at least, to balance
their imports from this country. Desirous of preserving and
perpetuating the friendship between the two nations, we call the
attention of the Americans to the highly unsatisfactory
condition of their commercial relations.”