The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-07-15
The Official Paper of San Juan County
THURSDAY. JULY 18th, 1897.
JAPAN AND HAWAII.

It was evident from the outset that
the japanese protest against the Ha-
waiian annexation treaty must be re-
garded seriously. Any official COM
munication from SO important Gov
eminent must be so regarded. Espec-
tally is that the case when, as at pres
ent, the Government is that of friend
ly Power, and when, as also at present,
it has a valid and vital interest in the
matter concerning which the protest
is made. OF the existence of these con-
ditiOns in this instance there can be no
question. With no other nation has
Japan been on as friendly and init
mate terms as with this, ever since this
one albeit by somewhat ungentle pro-
cesses, first "opened" the Island EN-
pire to the world. No other nation,
after this one, has as great interests at
stake in Hawaii as Japan. No Won
der, then, that the proposed transfer of
Hawaii to United States owners hip
and control arouses in Japan the live
Hest concern, and impels the japanese
Government to make serious represen-
tations to the United States Govern
ment regarding it.
A protest, however, is not an in
junction nor an ultimatum. Japan
does not intend it as such. She GER
talnly has no notion of forbidding or
preventing by force of arms the annex
alton of Hawaii to this country. There
can be no hint of menace in her tone.
She is now, as ever, friendly to this
country. Nor can she regard the pro-
posed action of the United States as
hostile to herself. An act of rivalry it
may be. But rivalry is not essentially
unfriendly No American statesman
wishes evil to Japan, nor is it suppos-
able that any japanese statesman sus-
poets such motive. The case seems to
be simply this, that the japanese Gov
eminent fears that under the terms of
the annexation treaty as now drafted
the citizenship rights of Japanese set
tiers in Hawaii are in danger of being
forfeited, and that by such annexation
the balance of commercial interests in
the Northern Pacific will be disturbed
to the detriment of Japan. On those
grounds the protest is made. It is not,
On the face of it, unreasonable. It has
been received by this Government in
the spirit in which it was made, and
there is reason to suppose it will be
answered in a manner satisfactory to
Japan and COMFORTING with the digni-
ty and interests of the United States.
Concerning the status of the Japanese
colonists in Hawaii, it does not appear
that it would, after annexation, become
any less favorable than it is now.
There is no good ground for supposing
citizenship would be denied them by
the United States Government. 1t has
not been denied to those residing in the
United States. Some of the inferior
courts have declared them ineligible
for naturalization. The Supreme court
has not so decided, nor been called
upon to render decision in their case.
Until it does so decide-and it is prob
lematlc whether it ever WILT seems
premature for Japan to take for granted
that her colonists in Hawaii will be
DISTINGUISHED. Moreover, those Jap
anese who have become citizens of
Hawaii are, politically speaking, no
longer Japanese, but Hawaiians, and
in their case Japan can have no con-
Germ. Those who nave not thus be-
come citizens will certainly be as well
treated under United States as under
Hawaiian rule, and as well treated as
the many japanese now living in the
United Jtates, concerning whom no
complaint is made.