The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-05
CANADA AND JAPAN.

Hawaii is not the only country that
has felt or is feeling, the pressure of
japanese immigration British Column
bia feels and foresees what will hap
pen i'm time. \ memorial has gone
forward from Vancouver to the Gov
ernor General of Canada urging that
If Canada joins in the British treaty
with Japan, there must be a clause
that Canada has restrictive power over
japanese immigration into British
Columbia. The people of that section
of the country have not only their
own knowledge of the effect of Jap
anese immigration, but they have had
an excellent object lesson in Hawaii,
and they evidently have taken it to
heart
In British Columbia itself the Jap
anese have seriously affected the work
of the white laborers in the fisheries
and lumber trade. and the country is
looking forward to a possible period
when the former nationality will COM
pletely GUST the latter from these
lines of labor. Mining is another
branch of industry that the pressure
has been felt in. and an act has been
passed forbidding the employment of
Chinese and Japanese in any mines.
Japan has a large surplus popula-
ton, wages are cheap and the people
are energetic and progressive. An
outlet for this surplus population must
be found, and naturally they flock
where good wages attract them. We
thus see Japanese fiocking to various
parts of the Pacific. They have gone
to Australia, to the PHILIPPINE ISL
ands, TO Mexico, to British Columbia
TO Corea, to Siberia, and to these ISL
ands. The Russian at once made a
restrictive law. and though he uses
the japanese TO build his railroad he
will not allow him to 90 anything but
what he is contracted to do. and he
will not allow him to re-contract in
Siberia. but insists on his return to
Japan after his term of work on the
railroad has expired.
a country in which, in order that
its inhabitants can gain living,
has to employ children even at the
age of seven, in work, is one which
needs expansion Thus, from the Jap
anese standpoint, immigration be-
comes in q GREAT meas Trp a npcaScitV
But the nations in and about the Pa
cifc are not disposed to acquiesce in
being Swamped by "A food of little
brown men and women. British
Columbia has walked up to the danger
very readily, and is expressing herself
in no uncertain tones Hawaii had to
take the bull by the horns and meet
the question in haste, to save herself
from being practically overwhelmed.
Apparently Mexico affords an outlet
and Japan has now gone yet further
atield and is going to try Brazil, 1t
is certainly "a far cry" from the Val
ley of the Amazon to Yokohama. and
a diplomatic imbroglo is not so likely
to take place as it would within the
sphere of Japan's activity, which
most spots in the Pacific are.
If other countries are warned by us,
we should take example from other
countries, and upon the conclusion of
the present dispute with Japan, which
it is to be hoped will take place soon,
our Government should at once pro-
coed to have such notifications made
in the Treaty as will obviate the dan
ger with which we have been not only
threatened, but from which many of
our mechanics and retail dealers are
really suffering.
We want here what British Column
bia demands, the right to restrict Jap
anese immigration and to regulated
to our needs The restrictions we may
set up are insufficient for our purpose
and can he evaded. \ glass of beer
may be a good tonic. but one does not
want to swim i'm it. A certain number
of japanese laborers my he a good
thing, but one does not want to be
swept out of existence by flood of
them.