The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-21
SEATTLE, SATURDAY, APRIL II.
An Unwise Agitation.


There seems to be as little reason in
the alarm with which some people are
inclined 10 regard the entrance Of
few hundred japanese immigrants as
there Is IN some OF the suggested meas
ures for meeting the situation. The
recollection Of what happened on this
coast during the days Of the Chinese
agitation is apt to revive unnecessary
fears In another way II should be an
effectual preventive Of any desire to re-
peat the experiences OF those days.
IT is needless to say that. II there were
apparent or possible any such menace
20 American labor az was contained in
the Chinese invasion. then the public
mind might well be occupied with the
steps necessary to protect our working
men. But no such danger can threaten
us again from any quarter. The com
ing Of a few Japanese laborers com
pietes the incident II is not the fore
runner OF an army of locusts. 1t would
not call for the slightest remark but
for an occasional endeavor to impart TO
II sensational aspect.
This country and this coast will never
have need for anxiety on that score
The Japanese are different sci TT of
newcomers from the Chinese. There
are not millions Of them waiting for a
chance to overrun the earth. They have
az home n progressive country. one
where industry is extraordinarily active,
wages rising and the outlook for labor
good. They are proud of that country
and 10th TO leave It. No wholesale emil
grafton is possible under these clrcum-
stances And such as reach this coun-
try are far less hurtful as competitors
of American labor than the immigrants
from eastern and southern Europe be-
cause they have a higher intelligence
and demand better employment and bet
ter wages The most observant eye win
fan 10 detect danger 10 labor or %
society in any probable immigration
from Japan
n would. on the other hand. be ex-
ceednglg disastrous TO the business in
terests OF the whole nation, but par
ticulnrly Go those Of the Pacific coast,
n any movement were attempted that
should destroy the cordial feeling be-
tween the United states and Japan. rs
discrimination against Japanese sub
iects would certainly do, In the Chi
ncse exclusion act we had 20 do with a
government that WAS itself hostile 20
the departure ~ les people ana there
fore friendly To- pur policy, with one tn Z
had always occupied separate and
distant place In International diplomacy,
with one whuse trade with us at the
tnp Was ineonslde' able Japan Is very
a,HcrpuL She Is NOT state that sends
out unlimited numbers or coolie labor
vrs she has Joined the family of enllgat.
eucd nations she Is proud % sensitive
ness. aad We arr building up a trad.
with her that promises e. bring great
future &c this cosst aud great benefits
70 an our people j. would bc worse
than unwlss to disturb such relations
unless some necessity now invisible
should appear clearly,
What should DE done Ia O. limit and
restrict all immigration into the United
states. We cannot make. without ma
tional offence. aud we ought NOT tu
make any distinction between the Jap
anese immigrants sna others But w.
ought long ago 20 have ser up barrier
against the rush Of other peoples g.
this country Within the last nf,eep
years more than 6ooo.Ooa immigrants
landed on our shores Many Of these
were substantial additions 10 our ma
ton. people % intelligence, honesty, i0-
austry. thrift ana all the qualities that
make Tor good citizenship. Bat Of late
wears the quality has steadily deterior-
ated. and now We set heavy percent
are of uiterates loafers. criminals and
1,aupers from the slums Of the cities 81
the old world.
II Is strange that the workingmen ~
tina country have not insisted ere this