The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-10-20
THE MENACING SHADOW.

that this government need fear; it is
danger from without. And the dan
ger from without is danger from ia
pan and nowhere else. That we shall
have an aggressive act from Japan
there is little fear of at present. The
time for aggressive action has passed.
and as long as the United States flag
flies in the harbor there will not be
even the semblance of menace. But
it might come again.
Japan has learned one lesson dur
ing the past few months, and that
was the utter mistake made when
she started out to bully this country
and sent the Naniwa here, to be
countered by the guns of the Phila
delphia. She has withdrawn her ship
upon the first decent plea that she
could find, without making it appear
that she had withdrawn her because
of a change of policy. But as a mat
ter of fact she maintains that policy.
though apparently she has abandon
ed it.
With all the honeyed words. the po-
lite phrases, and the denials that Ja-
pan has the slightest ambition in the
direction of the Islands. the purpose
remains. Japan is in an uncomfort-
able state. Her population is grow
ing too large for its borders, and an
outlet is sought. 1t might be found
in the islands to the north. but they
are cold and inhospitable. and any
one going there would have hard work
to wrest a bare living from the grudg-
ing soil. Formosa forms somewhat OF
an outlet. but in Formosa the scale of
wages is little higher than the scale
in Japan, and there are chances of
being picked up by the head hunters
of the interior of the Island, which
are by no means inviting. There
is work to be got in Brazil, and many
have gone there: others have gone to
Australia. and have succeeded so well
that they have practically taken pos
session of Thursday Island and driv-
en- the white man out of the pearl fish
ing business and every other line on
the place.
But Hawaii is the Mecca of the Ia
boring japanese. At home he had, in
order to make but bare living. to
work from daylight to dark and even
after dark. His remuneration was
anywhere from 10 to Is cents day.
In Hawaii the japanese has a ten
hour day, with time for meals, and
receives az wages $3.50 a month, and
ter and medical attendance free. 1t
is no wonder that the Islands are pop
ular with the japanese laborers.
With such popular outlet, it was
control of the spot to which her la
boring classes were going. And the
Japanese government was only too
eager that the Islands should be fill
ed with japanese as speedily as pos
sible. When the rush was stopped by
the action of our government, an ac-
tion for which the European and the
American element can never be thank
full for sufficiently, the japanese gov
eminent tried the bullying course,
which has failed, and is now trying
the softer course, which will fail as
long as we have the power of the Unit
ed States behind us and ready to take
us into its fold.
But though willing for the present
TO discuss and diplomatic, and even
to procrastinate, take away the back
ing of the United States, or let it be
definitely known that these Islands
will not become part of the Union,
and how long would Japan be before
she was enforcing her demands? And
practically considered, her demands
are summed up somewhat as follows.
The treaty between Hawaii and Japan
gives the same rights politically and
otherwise to Japanese as to Hawaii
ans. The treaty is irrevocable and
no laws that you can make can ever
alter it, and if your laws clash with
tut TREATY. youi laws NhdISt,
the treaty cannot. Under such treaty
rights which are interpreted to apply
not only to merchants and traders,
but to all japanese, there is nothing
to prevent a million or so of japanese
going into the country and enjoying
political and residential rights.
In a few words that iS tho acSanca
of the japanese question, and if that
is not menacing shadow on the
threshold of Hawaii, one would like
to know what is. Practically that
contention if enforced. would place
the Islands at the mercy of Japan.
Not a shot need be fired in anger.