The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-23
THE JAPANESE QUESTION.

Once more the customs authorities
have faced the japanese question, and
have done their duty by their country.
1t seems that the peaceful invasion is
to continue. Another vessel is to TO-.
low the one now in port, and before
the news of the action of the Hawaiian
Government reaches Japan there may
still be another. This shows how nee
essary was the cry of halt, which was
sounded in these columns some zine
ago.
Whatever the result may De with ia
pan, it is plain that a country of lin
tied area such as this cannot afford to
have an unlimited immigration pour-
ing into it without using some means
to protect itself If the United States,
with vast territories, feel the pressure
of immigration and have to adopt laws
to try and fend off the evil, much more
must we do so. The Australian Col
onies have felt the same evils and nave
set up barriers against the common
foe.
Though many japanese state that
they merely come here to make money
and then propose to return 10 their
island Empire to spend it, there is UNI
doubtedly a political meance in the
constant influx of these people. The
Anglo Saxon civilization 50 carAfully
built up is menaced.
A story of Baron Monchausen comes
in rather pat to the argument. The
Baron tells of an adventure he had
upon the Plains of Tartary. He was
pursued by wolves. He got ahead Of
the main pack, but one interchangeable
old wolf kept creeping up and finally
made a spring at his horses tail. From
thence he kept eating his way EDWARDS
until finally he found himself skim
ming over the snow, drawn by a wolf
instead of horse, the former having
eaten his way into the harness of the
latter.
So it is likely to be with the Hawaii
an Islands if things are not stopped.
ult Suppos'u W pS ing " soo->ch
in thought and civilization, but one of
these days it will be found that, while
the harness remains the same, the an
imal drawing the Hawaiian sledge is
entirely different and that the Japan
csc wolf has replaced the Anglo Saxon
horse.
We may have to meet difficulties in
the near future, but it is better to
meet them now than some time hence.
We have a large population of Japan
csc now, six months hence their num-
bers would be infinitely larger. but
for the determined action of the Col
lector General of Customs, who may
be regarded as the man who gave the
first cry of alarm and showed the
frauds that were being practiced. And
for this he deserves the highest COM
mendation.
In this matter every worker on the
islands is interested. 1t is no use
throwing ridicule upon the expressions
of men who feel that their means of
livelihood are threatened. 1t is a vital
question with them and they have to
think of their homes and of their little
ones.
\ contemporary suggests that the
advocacy of a change of policy with
regard to japanese immigration would
be more discreet in calm moments"
The present moments are perfectly
calm moments. 1t is only question
of whether we shall tackle the prob
lem now, or whether we shall tackle
it when we have a few thousand more
japanese students" landed here. At
present The Star is voicing the com
plant of the laboring man and the
mechanic, year or so hence the bank
er and the plantation owner and the
highest class of merchants will begin
to feel the pinch. Now" is a great
deal better card than "then." The
question is vital one. Those of the
poorer class of the community feel the
pinch first, but there are others who
think themselves safe now, who will
find that their stability is by no means
so great as they think. What we need
is an Anglo Saxon League that can
talk authoritatively. Il