The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-20

Minister Cooper naturally resents
the criticism Of the Advertiser upon
the conduct of the Government in
cruelty turning back 1,150 japanese
immigrants last year. AS the United
States will now pay the penalty, if one
is adjUdged by arbitration, the matter
is one that is now of historical interest
with d significant comment in it on
the morals of a Nation.
Minister Cooper does not state the
case frankly or correctly in his inter
view contained in the Star
The Governments of Japan and
Hawaii entered into a Convention Gin
force and effect a treaty. in 1886, which
embraced the emigration of the sub
jects of the japanese Emperor to Ha-
wall, not only those who had emigrat-
ed, but chose who may thereafter
emigrate thither"
Hawaii agreed to keep an agent
(Article I'D in Yokohama, who should
ask for laborers when they were need
ed, and Japan agreed to furnish them,
through an agent of it's own. All that
Hawaii had to do was to obey the rule
laid down in the Convention, and she
had an absolute grip over emigrant
laborers for the future. There could
be no emigration excepting through
the machinery provided by the Conven-
ton
That Convention was a living, legal,
and binding instrument until annexa-
ton terminated it last week with all
other treaties whatsoever.
But Hawaii deliberately and will
fully refused to keep an agent in Yoko-
hama; she refused to comply with this
treaty, because her planters found a
cheaper way of getting immigrants
than they could through the agent.
AS Mr.. Cooper says in his interview:
'The immigration of Japanese under
the Convention was abandoned prin-
cipally at the suggestion of the plan
ters." This is perfectly true. But the
Convention was left in full force, and
never terminated, as it might have
been, on six months notice. Because
the planters suggested it, the Govern
ment stopped the agency, and so
abandoned plan for absolutely con-
trolling all immigration.
But the Convention remained in full
force all the time, and the Govern
ment by simply sending an agent to
4
prevented an Invasion" or the de-
parture of lot of ignorant and indus
trious people who were doomed to
terrible disappointment.
So the planters got behind the Con-
vent1on, because they could do BETTER
and the Government failed to live up
to the terms of the Convention. When
the planters invasion" threatened
the life of the land, which is Right
eousness," the Government did not
forthwith put its agent in Yokohama
and control the invasion, but per-
mitted 1850 industrious peasants to
sell out their little holdings, borrow
money, and cross the ocean, only to be
driven back by the force of our dome
site laws of which they were ignorant.
If the Government had discharged it's
duty, under the Convention, all this
would not have happened. For this
reason, we have described the act of
turning back these immigrants as un-
just and cruel. The Advertiser has
never approved of it, and on the other
hand, has believed that the Arbitrator
would probably find judgment against
Hawaii We shall see.
We have sincerely believed in firmly
establishing American civilization
here, but have believed that it could
be done. while doing justice to all.
The error, if there has been one, is
not wholly that of the Government,
but as we'll of the community behind
the Government.
The language we use is much less
severe than that of the Supreme Court
of the United States in commenting up
on the action of Congress in the
Chinese Exclusion Act