「シカゴ商業協会」徽章
（「紀念牌及徽章」 （『渡米実業団誌』巻頭折込）掲載）
『竜門雑誌』 第266号 （1910.07） p.38-44
○青渊先生米国紀行（続）
随行員 増田明六
九月二十七日 晴 （月曜日）
青渊先生には、朝食後午前九時案内者の先導にて美術館に至り、シカゴ市区改正設計案を一覧の上帰宿せらる、午後六時半コングレス・ホテルのゴールド・ルームに於て、シカゴ商業協会の催に係る大晩餐会に出席せらる、此ルームはゴールドと名付くる如く、四壁及天井に彫刻せる様々の美術は、金色燦爛として目を眩する許なるに、尚其上に意匠を凝したる装飾を施したる事なれば、美観驚嘆する計なり、主人側は当市第一流の紳士百余名手に小形の日章旗を持ち、一行は之に反して星章旗を手にして日米人交互に席に就く、饗宴酣なる頃、氷にて造りたる日本人の等身座像を先頭に、次いて米国の鷲其他種々の形十数個を、正装のウヱーター担きて食卓の間を行列する様、嘗て見ざる饗応なりし、軈て三鞭の注き廻はらるゝに及、先つ交互に元首の万歳を三唱したる後、司会者たる同協会の会頭スキンナー氏起ちて挨拶を為し、イリノイズ大学校長ゼームス博士・同協会副会頭ホヰラー氏の演説あり、右に対し青渊先生の一行代表演説に次きて、神田男爵・松方幸次郎氏の演説あり、十二時に抵りて解散す。
此夕青渊先生令夫人は、一行夫人共に同ホテル、イングリツシユ・ルームに於て同様晩餐の饗を受けられたり。
明朝午前三時三十分サウスベンドに向て発車する予定なれば、急ぎ行李を引纏めて、午前一時半ラサール停車場に待合せ居る列車に乗込みたり。
○スキンナーノ挨拶次掲ノ如シ。
エドワード・スキンナー演説草稿
（エドワード・スキンナー氏所蔵）
Baron Shibusawa and other Friends from Japan :
By favor of the enterprise and patriotism of the foremost cities of the Pacific coast, with the cooperation of the great railways, Chicago welcomes tonight, from the hand of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan himself, the most distinguished representatives of a masterful people ever yet offered the hospitality of the world's youngest great city. This city and association has had the good fortune to have as our guests, in April 1908, the party of Japanese making a tour of the world, and in April of this year, in this very room, a dinner was given in honor of your able, distinguished and charming countrymen, Mr. Wada, Director General, and Mr. Sakai, Commissioner General, of the Japanese Exposition to be held in Tokyo in 1917.
In your comprehensive tour of the United States you have been able to devote four days to the study of the resources in commerce, manufacture, education, art and science of a city which, almost in the life of living citizens, has grown from a frontier trading post to the American continent's central commercial capital, and which, with a population of two and a quarter million, has multiplied nearly forty-fold since 1854, when Japan, after a period of seclusion and isolation, was opened to the world.
You, sirs, believe in your advantages of race and geography; and we of Chicago, too, believe that we have peculiar strength in the character of our people and our natural situation, while we both believe that we are to be of world importance in the progress of civilization; and it is because we have for our city, as you have for your nation, ambitions in common, and with like characteristics to justify them, that we are profoundly and sincerely interested in your country and your people.
A modern writer aptly remarks: "In the Japan of today the world has a unique example of an Eastern people displaying the power to assimilate and to adopt the civilization of the West, while preserving its own national identity unimpared."
In its power of assimilation and adaptation, Japan evokes the admiration and even the apprehension of the world. History records no such wonderful transformation from the archaic to the modern as is offered by Japan's renunciation of medievalism, and the institutions of feudalism, with one stroke of the pen. In the edict authorizing the constitution in 1868, the Emperor of Japan thus laid down the lines on which he and his advisers had determined Japan should be thenceforth governed:
"The old uncivilized way shall be replaced by the eternal principles of the universe.
The best knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to promote the imperial welfare."
What Japan has done with earnestness, enthusiasm and self-sacrifice, industrious in peace and terrible in battle, to carry out his lofty principle of reform, the world with amazement confesses.
In the creation of a new national character the educational and cultured classes are intent upon cutting out everything which is indefensible, unserviceable, and are intent on adopting and adapting from every nation such qualities as will better enable Japan to progress and be free. Men of the highest rank and culture are engaging in commerce, once a lowly and almost discredited activity. Japan is striving for a high moral standing, and her thirst for knowledge of all kinds is one of the most pleasing features of her aggressive and interesting genius.
We believe that the power of Japan will be exercised for the good of the world, that her strength will never be used in disregard of international welfare, that she cherishes no policies of aggression, and that her aspiration is the preservation of national independence in the broadest sense consistent with her status in the family of nations.
We recognize in you gentlemen not only representatives of commerce, industry and education, but representatives of the Japanese people, and as such ambassadors of peace and good will, and you will find here, as you have found to the North and West, and will find to the East and South, a cordial welcome, a desire to be helpful and a willingness to co-operate with you in everthing that will advance the interest and welfare of your country and your people.
"May we, to whom Japan opened the door in 1853 never be found remiss in sympathy and trust, whether in the field of diplomacy or of commerce.
Every American who visits Japan and truly knows its people, returns with the sweet saying of St. Francis Xavier, 300 years ago: 'This nation is the delight of my soul.'"
（『渋沢栄一伝記資料』第32巻p.163-165掲載）
『渡米実業団誌』 （巌谷季雄, 1910.10） p.191-247
○第一編 第五章 回覧日誌 東部の上
第一節 シカゴ市九月二十七日 （月） 晴
午前九時半一同は自働車に分乗し、美術館及びシカゴ市区改正設計案等を参観す。同計画は二億余弗を費す案にして、未だ実行に至ざるものなり。此日渋沢男は、市区改正の設計案一見の後、シカゴ銀行者の会同に列して、銀行事業に付談話を交換す。午後は各自随意に工場・学校・病院・慈善事業・商店・銀行・其他の建築等を参観し、夜はホテル内ゴールドルームにて、商業会議所主催にかゝる、盛大なる晩餐会に列す、席上会頭スキンナー氏の挨拶、次でイリノイス大学総長ゼームス博士・シカゴ大学教授ウィゾモア博士（慶応義塾に教鞭を執りし事ある人）等の趣味ある演説あり。渋沢・神田両男、及松方氏答辞を述ぶ。食堂の装飾華美を極め、氷細工の人形を担ぎ廻るなど、盛況稀に見る所なりとす、宴後一同列車に帰る。
婦人の部 午前は市の慈善事業なる、養育院・少年裁判所、等を参観し、師範学校にて歓迎を受け、午餐を食堂内に饗せらる、夜はホテル別席に於て、歓迎委員夫人側の招待を受く。
松方・紫藤二氏は取調の為め数日間当市に残留し、紐育市にて再び一行と会する事と成る。
欧洲より御帰朝の途に在らせらるゝ、 久邇宮王妃両殿下に御機嫌伺の為め拝謁願度旨、かねて電報を以て申請せしに、両殿下には喜んで御引見相成旨御返電を賜はる。
（『渋沢栄一伝記資料』第32巻p.188掲載）
