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On the
24th of September, 1908, a party representing various chambers of
commerce, went to Japan. We sailed from San Francisco on the steamer "Tenyo
Maru." The party was composed of twenty-eight men and twenty ladies from
Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles
and San Diego. On our arrival at Honolulu we were met by a large
delegation from the Chamber of Commerce of that port, and were taken in
automobiles to Pearl Harbor where we had lunch served under the trees.
There was some speech making, and we had a very enjoyable tune.
We
were then shown around the harbor and an explanation was given by the
admiral in charge as to what the Government proposed to do in the way of
developing a naval base on the Hawaiian Islands at this place.
A tug
was in readiness and the party was taken around the lochs so we could
see what a fine harbor it was. Any who desired to go outside on the tug
to see the entrance to the harbor took this opportunity. I was
especially interested to see how the harbor could be protected and what
the entrance was like. It was still in quite a natural state and
somewhat crooked although very well protected. A ship entering would be
immediately hidden from view from the ocean. In the afternoon and
evening the party was driven around the city and its suburbs in
automobiles.
After
leaving Honolulu our time was variously taken up with meetings.
Following is an address I made to the members of the Honorary
Commissioners of the Chambers of Commerce to Japan on board the steamer
"Tenyo Maru":
Address
This
Commission is styled
Honorary. I wish to lay particular emphasis
on this word, showing the great responsibility that is placed on every
member to do his best to make it honorable in every sense of the word.
The invitation reads that the object in inviting us was to promote
friendship and good will. You all know it is necessary to be on friendly
terms with those with whom you do business, otherwise it would not
continue; so in our dealings with foreign nations it is of far greater
importance that we should have perfect harmony and a good understanding,
as I would say, that just as sure as the center of activity moved from
the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, so sure will that center be
transferred to this Pacific Ocean.
This
I believe will come during the lifetime of you young men, and the three
nations having the frontage on this ocean, namely, the United States,
Japan and China, will be the beneficiaries provided that they prepare
for it. The nation that has the best and most steamers will be the one
that will reap the greatest benefit. Japan is doing her duty in this
respect, as evidenced by this fine new modern steamer we are now
traveling on, and the two new sister ships not yet completed, and by
owning a large fleet of tramp steamers to do the freight earning.
What
is the United States doing to keep up with Japan? I answer, "Nothing."
Our merchant marine is disappearing from the ocean as fast as it can go.
No new steamer to engage in the foreign trade has been built in the past
five years, and there is not an American tramp steamer afloat engaged in
the foreign trade. We are now reduced on this ocean to six mail
steamers, which is about half as many as we had a year ago, so I would
urge on you when you return home to assist in every way possible to get
laws passed to permit us to rebuild our merchant marine, so that we may
take our proper place amongst nations.
BUDDHA
Lett Hand Figure
in a Group of Three, Temple of Alendoet
We
have the richest country in the world, our natural
resources are unlimited,
and up to the present time we have been taken up with internal
developments. Now the time has arrived for us to reach out for the
foreign markets of the world, and in my estimation there is no country
offering us such inducements as the Orient.
The
mastery of the Pacific is a subject that the great nations are
discussing. If we get a merchant marine, the commerce will be divided
between our country and Japan, but if we decline to take advantage of
our opportunity, then the trade will be divided between Great Britain
and Japan and our great nation will have to take third place. The Yellow
Peril scare was started by Emperor William at the time he gobbled up
Tsingtau, when Germany was fortunate enough to get two priests murdered
which served as an excuse to seize that part of the Shan Tung Peninsula.
Now there is in China a White Peril which is ably described by a Chinese
author.
It
came about in this way: About three days after the treaty of peace, was
signed by China and Japan in Shimonoseki, France, Germany and Russia
demanded that the Lia Tung Peninsula, including Port Arthur, must be
ceded back to China. Japan having taken it by conquest. The Great Powers
stated they could not allow a foreign nation to occupy that part of
China. Japan was weakened by the war and could not resist so was forced
to give in, but from that day she began preparations to recover what was
hers by right of conquest. What was the result? Russia immediately took
possession of this part of China. Germany for her share got Tsingtau and
France got another slice of Tonquin, while Great Britain, to her
everlasting disgrace be it said, stood with folded hands and saw this
injustice perpetrated, when she was the only nation that could have
prevented it. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Russia got her deserts.
Next it will be Germany and France. Germany has taken the hint, as she
has withdrawn her troops from two hundred mrles of railroad and
concentrated them ail in Tsingtau.
The
Japanese have the name of being tricky. In my brief experience with
them, I have done business of over a million dollars, and can
conscientiously say I have never been wronged out of one cent. On the
other hand, let us see what is the reputation of the American in the
Orient. In trying to start new business relations, whenever a Japanese
or Chinese learns that you are an American, he is immediately on his
guard, and we have to prove to him that we are honest before confidence
is established.
When
we got possession of the Philippines a great number of camp followers
and adventurers went to Manila, and when Judge Wilfey was
Attorney-General he started to clean up the town of Manila of
disreputable characters. They nearly all found their way to Canton and
Shanghai, where they were welcomed by our representatives. American
morality got so bad that the other nations appealed to President
Roosevelt. He got Congress to establish an American court in China, and
Judge Wilfey was sent to clean up the towns, which he did in such an
efficient manner that the bad element had to move again.*
For
details of his work I would refer you to the article published ;n
the September number of the "Cosmopolitan" for 1916, entitled, "The
Worst Hated Man in China."
You
will hear the missionaries abused. If you trace those accusations down
you will find they emanate from the vicious classes—dishonest and
disreputable Americans. I have been told by both Japanese and Chinese
gentlemen, "if those (meaning the ones described) are a sample of
Christianity we want none of it." They all admit, however, that most of
the merchants and missionaries are good men. Now, in closing, I have
something to say of the men who stir up class hatred at home, and
especially those who do their best to stir animosity between our nation
and the Orientals. They are vipers, and like rattlesnakes, should be
extenuated. A great source of irritation has been engendered by our
immigration officials. Their acts brought on the boycott of American
goods, which starting in Canton, spread over nearly all China, paralyzed
our trade, and we have never been able to fully recover it. At that time
our flour trade to Southern China went to Australia, and has been
retained there ever since.
This
was brought on by the tyranny and brutality with which our immigration
laws were enforced. At that time all the officials below the Secretary
of Commerce and Labor were recruited from the labor unions. When the
matter was fully explained to our President, a circular was sent to all
the officials notifying them that if any one ill-treated or abused an
Oriental he would be instantly dismissed. On this being made known to
the merchants in China the boycott was declared off. The law is the
same, only the unjust administration of it was changed.
Chinese merchants and gentlemen of high class were ignominously thrown
into detention sheds amongst the lowest classes of their countrymen.
Trachoma is another favorite method for refusing to allow those to land
who are otherwise entitled to land. The officials declare the eyes of
the immigrant are affected and this decision is final, no matter how
many experts or specialists declare the eyes are not affected. Take this
matter home to yourselves. How would you like on your arrival in Japan
to be thrown into a filthy detention pen because some ignorant,
designing immigration officer declared you had trachoma, when, if you
were allowed, you could easily prove you had no disease. I mention these
matters so that on your return home you will see to it that no foreigner
will receive injustice at our hands.
Another matter, and I am done. I have learned by long intercourse and
dealings with men of all nations that because a man has a yellow skin he
is not, as many of our countrymen suppose, a man you cannot trust,
dishonest or disreputable. Some of the finest and best gentlemen I have
ever met are Japanese and Chinese. I am also pleased to be able to say
the same for a great many Americans, but if you wanted some of the worst
men imaginable you need not leave your own country to find them. So, to
sum the matter up. there is good and bad in every nation under the sun
and I would ask of you to judge all men fairly and let every one of us
do his utmost to establish friendly relations with the Japanese nation,
and as a result, trade will surely follow.
On
October 12,
1908, we arrived in Yokohama, where we were given a reception on the
hatoba (landing). We were received by a deputation from the principal
Chambers of Commerce of Japan and also by the Governor of Kanagawa and
the Mayor of Yokohama. They presented us with an aluminated address and
each of our party received a gold chrysanthemum pin.
At
this time the relations between the two nations were very much strained
on account of the school question in San Francisco, and it was
considered very uncertain what kind of a reception we would receive on
this account. Our Ambassador, Mr. O'Brien, was extremely anxious that we
should be most discreet in what we said. He sent for me immediately on
my arrival and requested me to come to Tokio. He fully explained the
condition of affairs and I assured him we would be extremely careful,
and also told him that on the way over addresses had been preparer! and
a censor committee appointed, of which I was chairman, and that no
addresses would be delivered without first being passed on by the
committee.
The
crucial point was reached next day when we were given a great reception
in the Stock Exchange, where were assembled the business men, not only
of Yokohama, but of the adjoining cities. Addresses were made by
officials of the exchange and other dignitaries, and it fell to my lot
to make the reply on which would depend very largely the kind of
reception we would get.
It so
happened that what I said was very favorably received and was
immediately published in all the Japanese papers, the effect being that
the Japanese decided that we had come on a peaceable errand and there
was no doubt but that our nation was extremely friendly. By exercising
great care in subsequent addresses this opinion was confirmed.
That
evening we were entertained by the Chitose Club and given a real
Japanese banquet followed by a theatrical performance.
BUDDHA
The Central Figure in a Group of Three, Temple of Jtendoet, Java This
Colossal Statue was Carved in 750 Anno Domini
The
city was magnificently decorated, and surpassed anything we had ever
seen in our own country. There were scores of arches built across the
streets, each beautifully decorated with flags, flowers and lights.
Thousands and thousands of flags decorated the arches, and many were
given to us. Each member of the party was presented by the Minister of
Railroads with a case containing a silk pass, good on all the railroads
in Japan.
Tokio
We
then proceeded to Tokio. Every city on the way was gorgeously decorated.
Tokio was ablaze with color. The great Mitsukoshi department store was
closed to the public when our party visited it. No goods were sold, but
it was beautifully decorated and several bands were in attendance. To
show to what extreme they went to entertain us, near the store a covered
pavilion was erected where a number of potters made plates and bowls of
pottery and asked us to place our monograms on them. Later they baked
these and sent them to us at our hotel.
The
climax was probably reached here at a luncheon given by Baron Komura,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was by far the most magnificent
function we ever attended.
When
the party proceeded to the banquet hall Baron Komura took Mrs. Dollar in
and the rest followed, each lady escorted by a Japanese gentleman. The
banquet room was in the garden where a pavilion had been erected for the
occasion. In the center of the garden was a large growing tree
wonderfully decorated with artificial cherry blossoms which gave the
appearance of a cherry tree in spring. The room was lit with electric
lights of different colors representing the many brilliant flowers of
Japan. The whole effect was so unique that it is impossible to describe
it, suffice it to say that it was the most wonderful thing of the kind
any of us had ever seen. It was said to have cost $2,500.00 to light it,
and all this great expense was gone to just for this one entertainment.
The
proceedings of the luncheon were quite formal. Baron Komura offered a
toast to the American nation and the President, when all the guests rose
and stood while the band played the "Star Spangled Banner." Mr. O'Brien
then offered a toast to His Majesty, the Emperor, and we remained
standing while the band played the Japanese national anthem. |
