The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-25
STAND BY.

Japanese demand for compensation
for those immigrants from Japan
who had been returned to their coun-
try, as not complying with our immi-
grafton laws, and that reply had to
be a decided negative. The position
of the Hawaiian Government was
taken in calm and deliberate man
ner. Every precaution was taken III
examining the immigrants, even TO
the actual personal presence of the
Minister at the investigation. How
ever physically weak this country may
be, it cannot, at the bidding OF
stronger, withdraw from position
which it has taken up with all due
care and forethought and in accord
ance with the laws passed by the
Legislature to prevent the country be-
ing swamped by food of immigra-
ton that it could stem in no other
way.
Moreover, the Hawaiian Government
could not follow any other course than
that of saying that if any other i'm
migrants come here under similar CIR
cumstances they will be examined as
carefully and be turned back as rigid
", if they do not come up to the re-
ouirements of our law, as those that
have been turned back already.
Every Government has the right of
self protection. We do not employ
against Japanese any law which we
would not apply against people Of
other nations. Not so very long ago
the country seemed n harbor of refuge
to the tramp, and almost every steam
er had its quota of stowaways. who
hoped to land here. Under the law
of insufficient funds, every one of
those gentlemen were returned to the
United States at the expense of the
vessel that brought them. Had there
been hundreds instead of isolated
cases. the action of the Government
would have been the same. Indeed,
we have had passengers who have paid
their fare turned back.
Neither Article II of the Treaty, nor
Article " give special privileges of
immigration. Article II gives permits
sion for Japanese subjects to "have
the liberty freely and securely to come
with all their ships and cargoes to all
places, ports and rivers in the terri
tories of the other. where trade with
other nations is permitted; they may
remain and reside in any such ports,
and places respectively, and hire and
occupy houses and warehouses. and
may trade in all kinds of produce,
manufactures and merchandise of
lawful commerce, enjoying at all times
the same privileges as may have been
or may hereafter be, granted to the
ton, paying at all times such duties
and taxes as may be eXacted from the
citizens or subjects of other nations
doing business or residing within the
territories of each of the high con,
tracing parties"
This certainly gives no special i'm
munities to Japanese immigrants. nor
can Article Four be construed to give
special immunities. Careful consid-
eration has been given by the Ha.
waiian Government to the interpreted
ton of the Treaty clauses, and as care
full consideration has been given by
the most acute of our lawyers. Logi
cally, the position taken is legal ant
strong.
Under such circumstances the Gov
eminent merits the support of ever
its opponents. The position which
has been taken is one which i!
for the benefit of every race
on the islands. At the rate the Jap
anese immigrants We're coming in
and at the rate that they might have
pushed in, these islands could very
readily have been swamped in year
or so. Something had to be done
Whatever was done had to be forci
BILE and unmistakeable. 1t was a mat
ter that effected the business man, ant
the laboring man, and every business
,man and every laboring man should
stand firmly by the Government in thi
crisis.
What is especially to be admired il
the action of the Government is it
frmness. The slight shew of fore,
and the heated expressions of Japan
csc papers might have made the mem
bers slightly weakened; but Their,
has been no shaking of the knees, ant