The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
.tlr1x NO Drs1sxs ON HARx1E
pu,u,-ssr ls..hi en- the DsnEer sf sspane.s
msw,pnttsn IN the Islands.

Nonfnntten ~ US hntanoh.
WARRINGTON. Dec. Is.-Tho views attributed
to ex-Secretary Foster, in q recent press inter
view, In relation to the alleged danger Of jap
anese domination in Hawaii In the event Of the
failure of annexation, are regarded as surpris-
ing by japanese officials In this city. Minister
Hoshi said to-day that, in his opinion. 1t was
hardly fair to attempt to draw Japan into the
annexation controversy in this manner. Every
wei. Informed person. he said. knows that Japan
is holding strictly aloof from tho controversy,
and that her Government has given conclusive
proof Of tho fact that II has no designs, immedi-
ate or remote. upon tho Hawaiian Islands. The
friends of annexation might therefore we'll af-
ford to allow tho question to be settled upon its
merits, without constantly ondoavorinR to uso
Japan as q cntspaw.
Tho alleged danger of Japanese domination
has always been o stock argument with some Of
the overzealous friends OF annexation. but 1t
has been repeatedly ~refuted, and its repetition
now can servo no good purpose. Japanese i'm.
migration to Hawaii involves no other question
than that Of demand and supply. As quickly
rs tho demand for Japanese labor in Hawaii
ceases Japanese immigration will end. Tho
statistics of tho immigration itself show that
this is tho case. Last spring the Hawaiian
Government, for reasons which 1t Is not diff
f nSs turn to SpaSrs ! nnmss sev Of Sap. hts P9% 9IloE
grants, and the cry was raised that Hawaii was
In danger of boing flooded with Japanese. Yet
the records show that since the time when tho
question OF annexation was first raised there
has boon far less immigration proportionately
than in previous years. The Hawaiian census
IN 1893 it was over 81, 600. Between 1890 and
1898 there was an increase in the number Of
japanese residents In. Hawaii Of nearly
100 per cent, while the increase between
1898 and 1897 was only Is per cent.
This hardly seems to. be an Alarming
state of affairs. and 1t would appear to
be even less so whom 1t is known that. notwith-
Hawaiian Government is at this very time
sanctioning the immigration of n comparatively
large number of japanese labor rs. The Board
OF immigration approved tho admission of S22
last month alone. and 1t is estimated that 1000
persons will DO thus admitted to meet the in
tations during the present season.
Whether RnncNation succeeds or fails, the
Hawaiian Government has IT. in its own. power
to guard ag inst any possible danger OF Japa-
ncse domination. the immigration treaty Is re-
vocRblo upon six months notice, and any part
of the general treaty which endanRers Hawaiian
interests cnn be modified by negotintions con-
asks for herself and for her people in Hawaii is
that rights lawfully acquired. and hitherto en-
ioyed without cavil, shall not DO arbitrarily with
drawn. She has no purpose OF dominating
Hawaii and since tho facts clearly indicate
that the presence of Japanese laborers in the
thing which depends. entirely upon natural
causes, notably upon the ~volition of Hawaiian
employers themselves, her friends foel that they
are justified In strongly deprecating the irritat-
ing repetition Of this discredited argument
about the danger Of Japanese domination.