The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-04
JAPANESE QUESTION.

ed instructions published in the YER
nacular Press of Japan there is wide
margin. According to the various
Japanese journals the instructions
vary as to subject matter according to
the political stripe of the particular
sheet.
The japanese Government has not
known exactly what to do On the
first arrival of the news that certain
emigrants from Japan had not been
permitted to land there was general
yell from the whole press of the coun-
try. Japan had been insulted: Japan's
treaty had been wontonly violated;
the United States were behind the af
fair; they were acting in an unfriend-
ly manner to Japan, and so forth. Be
fore such a storm the Government
bowed and ordered a squadron for
Hawaiian waters; but as the storm
Gained down the squadron was
countermanded and further develop
ments were awaited.
Then the opposition Press had its
innings and set to work upon Count
Okuma, the new Minister of Foreign
Affairs. Count Okuma did not know
how to manage an affair touching the
national honor, said they. This was
the first occasion when he could use
his skill as a Foreign Minister, when
he had an opportunity for showing his
ability, and ne was doing nothing.
The Emigration Companies and the
steamer people began to make up
their accounts and figure how much
more profit they might make out of
damages than they could possibly
make out of their legitimate trade,
and stirred the political pot still
more.
Finally a plan was fixed upon and
the Naniwa was dispatched for Homo
lulu, and may be expected any day.
In speaking of the Naniwa, the Jap
anese Press speak of her prowess at
the battle off the Yolo river, and also
call attention to her sinking of the
transport 10 Chung with number of
Chinese troops aboard. However, all
this prowess will be lost here, for
there are no war vessels to fight, no
forts to shell and no transports to run
down. In this case the Naniwa comes
on peaceful mission, to investigate
a purely commercial transaction, and
its former deeds of battle cut no ice
in the present argument.
Meantime, some glimmerings of the
truth have begun to appear in the
later japanese papers. 1t has dawned
upon some of them that it is possible
the emigration companies are not
immaculate. That where the gain is
to be made solely out of the carrying
men from Japan to another country,
it is quite possible that -..e desire of
gain on the part of the companies may
make them Obvious to the regula-
tions involved in this particular class
of commerce. The tone of the articles
during the four days after the sailing
of the Naniwa, is very different from
that published a fortnight or three
weeks before. The number of laborers
required on the islands begins to be
considered, and the question whether
japanese were not being run in in toe
great numbers occupies some atten.
ton, and one paper in commenting
In;, In
grafton companies, which included eX
penses of travelling, outfit, etc, says:
"It sounds good deal"
About this time the Press will have
awakened to the fact that there is 6
gave discrepancy in the statement thai
each rejected immigrant had fifty golt
yen in his pocket, and the further
statement that the same people land
ed in Japan in state of restitution
In fact, one paper was struck will
this idea and offered as an explanation
that the men, being disappointed, Sc
to work to gamble on their way bacl
and lost every cent they had. Some
one must, on this theory, have landed
quite small millionaire but ever
a rabid stickler for Japanese homo,
cannot blame the Government fol-
people gambling away their coin. Al
a fact, they had no money to gamble
for.
The position of the Government o.
Hawaii on this matter is strong one
The utmost care was taken in investi
eating whether the passengers. by qtht