familiar thought; the agency of steam was, of course, involved, and fuel for
its production was indispensable. Hence arose inquiries for that great mineral
agent of civilization, coal. Where was it to he obtained on the long
route from California to Asia ? Another inquiry presented itself: With
what far distant eastern nations should we trade ? China was in some
measure opened to us; but there was, beside, a terra incognita in Japan,
which, while it stimulated curiosity, held out also temptations which invited
commercial enterprise. True, we knew not much about its internal regulations
; we knew that it had, for centuries, isolated itself, as it were, from
the world, and persisted in a system of excluding foreigners from intercourse
; that hut one European nation was allowed to approach for purposes
of trade, and that repeated efforts made by others for a s im ila r privilege
had uniformly failed of success. But we knew, too, that it possessed
valuable productions, and ought to be brought into communication with
the rest of the world. By some, indeed, the proposition was boldly avowed
that Japan had no right thus to cut herself off from the community of
nations; and that what she would not yield to national comity should be
wrested from her by force.
I t was, perhaps, bdt natural that the minds of our naval officers should
be drawn strongly to a consideration of the subject of intercourse with
Japan. Not simply to the desirableness or probable advantages of such
intercourse, for on those points all men’s minds readily reached the same
conclusion; but on the means by which the wished for end might be best
attained. And this part of the subject required some study and calm reflection,
aided by such experience and knowledge of men of all latitudes as a naval
officer would be apt to acquire in many years of active service on shipboard.
Commodore Perry, in common with other members of his profession and
with the rest of his countrymen, had his thoughts directed to the subject,
with especial reference to the probabilities of accomplishing the end in view.
He knew that there must be causes for a state of things so singular as was
presented in the complete voluntary isolation of a whole people; and his
first object was, therefore, to obtain a correct history of the past career of
Japan. For this purpose he mastered all that he could derive from books,
and found that the exclusive system of Japan was not the result of any
national idiosyncrasy, but was caused by peculiar circumstances, long since
passed, and was, in fact, in direct opposition to what history proved to be
the natural temperament and disposition of the Japanese people. He also
found, in a careful examination of the repeated'efforts of other nations to
break down the barrier that shut them out, what he supposed to be the
secret of their failures. Peculiar circumstances in the then political condition
of the power seeking admission; the rivalry of different nations striving
to thwart each other; the indiscretion, not to say arrogance, of some of
those entrusted with the mission, who sought to bully a brave people into
acquiescence with their wishes; a misconception of the true character of the
Japanese, who readily distinguish between obsequious servility and a manly
spirit of conciliation, founded on the principle of doing what is kind and
just, but submitting, not for an instant, to what is insulting or wrong; all
these seemed to him to be elements of failure clearly to be traced, in a
greater or less degree, in the efforts that had been made. Beside, a disadvantage
under which the European nations labored, was, that Japan had
known something concerning all of them for many years, and, indeed, had
been more or less brought into contact with them. Thus Portugal had
given early and unpardonable offence in encouraging domestic treason;
England (who once had foothold) had abandoned it; one of her kings had
married a Portuguese princess; one of her officers (Pellew) had committed
what the Japanese deemed an insolent outrage in their waters; Russia had
taken possession of some of her islands, had excited suspicions of ulterior
designs by fortifying on another i£ annexed ” territory, at the mouth of the
Amoor, and, as the Japanese Emperor said, “ had an inclination for Japan;”
while Holland had so quietly submitted to degradation, imprisonment and
insult for two hundred years, that the Japanese unquestionably formed their
opinion of European foreigners, in some measure, from the Butch.
The United States occupied a different position from all the above named
powers, for they had not been brought into such contact with Japan as
awakened unpleasant associations. The only effort we had made toward
opening friendly relations, (and it scarcely deserves the name,) was in sending
two ships under Commodore Biddle, which remained at anchor some
eight or ten days, accomplished nothing, and quietly left when the Japanese
desired it.
Commodore Perry, after careful examination, believed that, under all the
circumstances, there was a favorable opportunity for our country to establish
commercial relations with Japan, and avowed his belief to several of his
brother officers, as well as to some of the dignitaries of the government, and
eminent citizens, long before the subject was publicly discussed, and the expedition
resolved on. There were doubtless others (and among them probably
some of high station in the government) whose minds had been led to
a similar conclusion, and who, like Commodore Perry, anticipated popular
opinion on the subject of an expedition. Indeed, instructions had been sent
out to Commodore Auliok, then on the East India station, directing him to
proceed to Japan; and the State Department, then under the charge of Mr.
Webster, had sought information concerning Japan from the officer who commanded
the Preble on her visit, Commander G-lynn, who very strongly felt and
urged the importance of establishing, if possible, a friendly communication
between that Kingdom and our own country. We believe, however, we do
no wrong to any one, when we say that the thought of making an immediate
effort was urged by Commodore Perry ; and at all events, on the recall of
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