Okay… It's 1853… Commodore Perry has delivered a letter from then-U.S. President Fillmore to the Emperor of Japan - or at least ensured that his envoys received it, having made the Japanese present him with an official receipt.
Published in the Worcester, Massachusetts-based National Aegis newspaper on November 9, 1853, let's get historical:
The Japan Expedition
The New York Tribune of last Saturday contains a long and interesting account of the arrival of the Japan Expedition on the coast, and interview of Commodore Perry with the Princes of Jedo, and the delivery of the communication from the President of the United States to the Government of Japan.
It was understood that the President's letter was favorably received, and it is expected that the result will be the opining of the way for further negotiations in trade and commerce, and official intercourse between that country and this.
The Commodore left the letter with the Prince of Idza an Prince of Iwami, and told them he would retune in a few months to get the reply—giving them time to deliberate upon the proposals—and then proceed to explore the Bay of Jedo.
The Americans were warned off when they first appeared in the Bay, and the Japanese in great numbers put off from the shore in boats, to intercept the exploring boats of the Americans, but were driven back when the Steamers moved towards them.
There seemed to be a disposition on the part of the Japanese to prevent the Americans making any survey, and they probably acted under authority.
The coolness, courage and straight-forward conduct of the American officers and men, intimidated the natives, and the survey was finally allowed to proceed without molestation.
Commodore Perry stopt in that vicinity as long as he wished, and then left for Loo Choo, a cluster of islands far South of Jedo and near the Eastern Sea.
So... after delivering the letter - perhaps the most famous mailman in American history, Perry told the Emperor of Japan that he would soon leave the country, but would return next Spring to await the official answer from the Emperor as to whether or not Japan would open its doors to trade with the U.S.
Jedo, sometimes spelled Yedo, is in fact 'Edo', now known as Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
Stopt is a great way to spell 'stopped'.
Loo Choo, sometimes spelt Lew Chew, is Okinawa.
I admit not much is going on in this op/ed piece, but it does provide a nice synopsis - and does acknowledge that:
a) the Japanese didn't want anyone coming into their land uninvited;
b) the U.S. didn't care, and bullied their way forward as part of their ongoing Manifest Destiny;
c) the U.S. did not cave to Japanese intimidation, and instead, gave back better than they received, bullying the Japanese until they could be allow to map the sea and land areas.
d) and that bullying is apparently all right if it is done by a stronger entity over another weaker entity if you believe your cause is just.
With Manifest Destiny, the United States developed a sense of entitlement.
I understand this.
For years, I was picked on and bullied. So too was the U.S. by Great Britain.
Then I grew a pair along with a 12 inches in height, carried a large pocket knife and started acting the big shot, making sure everyone knew that I was crazy and would gladly provide a little payback if you didn't give me what I want.
The U.S., in an effort to legitimize itself as not only a new country, but as a world power, sought to make inroads in Asia where other countries fared horribly… and marched into Japan with a load of weapons, swaggering about that they were crazy enough to use them if they didn't get what they wanted.
False bravado? I don't think so… but luckily in both cases, no one dared call the other's bluff. Who knows what the result would have been?
Thanks, as always to Vinny who sent me this information via the Newsbank/Readex database of Early American Newspapers (www.readex.com).
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
Published in the Worcester, Massachusetts-based National Aegis newspaper on November 9, 1853, let's get historical:
The Japan Expedition
The New York Tribune of last Saturday contains a long and interesting account of the arrival of the Japan Expedition on the coast, and interview of Commodore Perry with the Princes of Jedo, and the delivery of the communication from the President of the United States to the Government of Japan.
It was understood that the President's letter was favorably received, and it is expected that the result will be the opining of the way for further negotiations in trade and commerce, and official intercourse between that country and this.
The Commodore left the letter with the Prince of Idza an Prince of Iwami, and told them he would retune in a few months to get the reply—giving them time to deliberate upon the proposals—and then proceed to explore the Bay of Jedo.
The Americans were warned off when they first appeared in the Bay, and the Japanese in great numbers put off from the shore in boats, to intercept the exploring boats of the Americans, but were driven back when the Steamers moved towards them.
There seemed to be a disposition on the part of the Japanese to prevent the Americans making any survey, and they probably acted under authority.
The coolness, courage and straight-forward conduct of the American officers and men, intimidated the natives, and the survey was finally allowed to proceed without molestation.
Commodore Perry stopt in that vicinity as long as he wished, and then left for Loo Choo, a cluster of islands far South of Jedo and near the Eastern Sea.
So... after delivering the letter - perhaps the most famous mailman in American history, Perry told the Emperor of Japan that he would soon leave the country, but would return next Spring to await the official answer from the Emperor as to whether or not Japan would open its doors to trade with the U.S.
Jedo, sometimes spelled Yedo, is in fact 'Edo', now known as Tokyo, the capital of Japan.
Stopt is a great way to spell 'stopped'.
Loo Choo, sometimes spelt Lew Chew, is Okinawa.
I admit not much is going on in this op/ed piece, but it does provide a nice synopsis - and does acknowledge that:
a) the Japanese didn't want anyone coming into their land uninvited;
b) the U.S. didn't care, and bullied their way forward as part of their ongoing Manifest Destiny;
c) the U.S. did not cave to Japanese intimidation, and instead, gave back better than they received, bullying the Japanese until they could be allow to map the sea and land areas.
d) and that bullying is apparently all right if it is done by a stronger entity over another weaker entity if you believe your cause is just.
With Manifest Destiny, the United States developed a sense of entitlement.
I understand this.
For years, I was picked on and bullied. So too was the U.S. by Great Britain.
Then I grew a pair along with a 12 inches in height, carried a large pocket knife and started acting the big shot, making sure everyone knew that I was crazy and would gladly provide a little payback if you didn't give me what I want.
The U.S., in an effort to legitimize itself as not only a new country, but as a world power, sought to make inroads in Asia where other countries fared horribly… and marched into Japan with a load of weapons, swaggering about that they were crazy enough to use them if they didn't get what they wanted.
False bravado? I don't think so… but luckily in both cases, no one dared call the other's bluff. Who knows what the result would have been?
Thanks, as always to Vinny who sent me this information via the Newsbank/Readex database of Early American Newspapers (www.readex.com).
Cheers
Andrew Joseph
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