The Portland daily press., 1897-07-28
JAPAN AND HAWAII.

JAPAN AND HAWAII.
A violent protest by Japan against the
| annexation of Hawaii would be likely to
stimulate the annexation sentiment in
| this country, rather than check it. Our
national pride would be touched by such
q protest, and we should probably feel
that we must annex the islands to show
that we were not scared of the Eastern
Power. But such protest as Japan has
made is not violent, but exceedingly calm.
Indeed it can hardly be regarded as pro-
test against annexation at all, unless such
annexation is to be accompanied by what
she regards as an injustice. to her subjects,
who are now residents of Hawaii. The
Japanese case as stated by Minister Hoshi,
fully recognizes the predominance of
American influence in the island, and the
rightfulness of it, Nor does it strenuous
ly object to annexation per Sc. The
most that can be said of it in this partic-
ular is that it is a protest against annex
alton only on the assumption that annex
| alton will deprive Japanese residents of
the island of rights and privileges which
they now possess by virtue of treaty
made with the Hawaiian government.
The japanese minister emphatically neg
atives the idea which has been cultivated
assiduously in some quarters, that Japan
has designs upon Hawaii either in the
way of actually Selling it or bringing it
more completely within the sphere of her
influence If this letter of her minister
represents fairly her position, she is sol
icitous simply as to the future of her SUBJ
jects who are now domiciled by right in
the Sandwich Islands.
In voicing this solicitude in letter to
our Secretary of State, and inquiring as
to our intentions SO far as they may
affect the welfare of Japanse residents of
the island, she is simply doing her duty
to her citizens. It, is well known that
the United States some years ago by treaty
gained the consent of Japan to exclude
Japanese from this country. But our ter
ritory did not then include the Sandwich
Islands, and at the time of the treaty no
such extension was contemplated. If,
however, we annex the Sandwich Islands
they come within the provisions of the
treaty and we have the legal right un-
doubtedly to exclude the Japanese from
them as well as from the territory
now under our control. Such an exclusion
under the circumstances would be great
| hardship to Japanese residents of those
| islands, of which Japan would have good
ground to complain. The Japanese are in
yroii NV Of tho T.
eminent solelnnly given in the shape of a
treaty, and to exclude them because the
islands passed under new dominion,
though it might be legally right, would
be a moral injustice under the circum-
| stances. If the case were reversed, and an
island containing large number of
Americans who were there by right, were
to be annexed to country which had a
treaty with us in which we had given our
consent to the exclusion of Americans
from its territory, We should regard it as
a hardship if this power of exclusion
should be extended by the process Of an
nexation to territory not affected, or ex-
pected to be affected, when our consent
was obtained. That it is another nation
| and not ourselves, that is threatened with
this hardship is no reason. why we should
ignore it or regard it lightly. The golden
rule of doing unto others as you would
be done by is quite as applicable to ma
tions as to individuals.
The question: which the letter of the
Japanese minister raises does not derive
its Importance from the fact that Japan
is powerful nation, and has displayed a
good deal Of military skill, but from its
intrinsic merit. One cannot read the jap
anese ministers calm and dignified letter
without seeing that there is good deal
of justice in the ground he takes. 1t
cannot be dismissed as threat, for it is
nothing of the kind. 1t is a plea for JUS
tice to japanese subjects, and it is little
difficult to see what answer can be made
to it that does not admit the soundnesS of
it's contention. Yet we can hardly annex
Hawaii and suspend the laws applicable
to the rest of the country SO far as that
island is concerned.
The fact is at the very threshold of
this business we are confronted with a
very serious problem raised by this pro-
test of Japan.