The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-25
IMMIGRANTS FROM JAPAN
NEW YORK TRIBUNE REVIEWS
THE SITUATION.
A Careful Exposition of Affairs in
Hawaii Based on an Interview with
Minister Shimamura.

The New York Tribune has the fol-
lowing from Hawaii, dated from Hon
olulu, Auguts 10. 1t is the first among
Il series of letters which are being
written by the ,Tribunc's correspond
ent. After speaking of a visit TO the
Japanese legation this lady sums up
the situation, and though since the
writing of the letter the Naniwa has
been withdrawn, the view expressed
is well worthy of consideration and
shows a quick and keen insight into
Hawaiian affairs. The letter says:
The settlement of the immigration
question, even if satisfactory to the
Japanese Government, would in no
sense dispose of or alter Japan's pro-
test against annexation. From the ia
panese point of view the annexation
measure is quite apart from and in
dependent of the pending immigration
question between Japan and Hawaii.
The minister declined to discuss it
to deny or affirm-but his face eX-
pressed surprise that there could be
a doubt of Japan's power to hold to
her protest and ability to deal with
the annexation question later on. The
certain conditions" made bv the Ja-
panese Government are, primarily,
the absolute right under her treaty
with Hawaii to continue immigration
without limit. and. secondly, to en-
force indemnity by presenting the
claim after this treaty right has been
established for arbitration. 1t was
Hawaii which proposed arbitration
but it is Japan which makes the
| terms. 1t is the vital point with Ha-
waii-it involves the sovereignty of
the Islands. and cannot be entertain
ed by the. little republic. To comply
with Japan's certain conditions" now
means unrestricted immigration-the
pouring in of Japanese-and in six
months there might be fifty thousand
japanese on the Islands. No other
nationality could stand against them,
and Japanese gunboats would be be-
hind them. Japan has been far see
I ing from the very beginning and yet
people in the United States scout at
the idea of Japan's designs on the Ha-
! waiian Islands. Were Great Britain
in the United States place under pre-
| cisely the same circumstances how
long would Japan bully Hawaii and
| defy Great Britain?-for that is just
what Japan's certain conditions"
| for arbitration on the one hand. and
protest again annexation on the 9TH
er, mean. Japan's present attitude, if
| Great Britain were the United States.
would not continue twenty-four hours
indeed Japan would never have as
sumed such an attitude.
Every Japanese on the Islands now
| knows for fact that the man of war
sent here by his Government is great
" the superior of the Philadelrh''. q.
Every officer and man on the Ame''i-
can man of war knows it, too-adrNits
it. with feelings an American can ap-
| preciate. The Naniwa's big guns are
new, of the latest manufacture, and
of the most effective power-the whole
cruiser from stem to stern is in splen-
did fighting order. This is the situa-
tion. Every Japanese house servant,
every japanese on the plantations, un-
derstands it. Many of the Japanese
men have seen military service in ia
pan. Hawaii would be absolutely al
most helpless in the event of an up
rising of the Japanese. The moral in
j fluence of couple of the best gun
boats in the United States navy, would
inspire Japan with respect for not on
ly the United States, but even for Ha-
wall which she now bullies and pat
ronizes. and would accomplish more
in the settlement of the Japanese
than any diplomacy.
That the Republic of Hawaii held its
own through the Hawaiian policy" OF
President Cleveland's administration
would of itself entitle it to respect. II
is clean government, and watching
it at close range ones admiration and
respect grow more and more for the
men who have borne the burden and
; strain four and a half wears. hopeful
; ly, bravely and honestly"
The Star stands fearless and fore.