Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-28
ANTEJAPANEsE AGITATION.

on the 7th of next month am anti
japanese convention ~ to be held I'm
San Francisco, II the anti.Japanese
coast parers can carry their plans
through The proposition is to gather
delegates Of labor organizations, and
other societies supposed 10 be inter-
cstod I'm the exclusion Of Japanese and
it is hoped that the agitation viii re-
suit IN the adoption by Congress OF
reid exclusion laws.
II is a pity that this agitation should
have been commenced at this time. Not
because the Japanese government has
any desire 10 encourage the exodus Of
workingmen to the United States; no
government on earth regards emigra-
ton with pleasure; but because the
/ proposed discrimination If carried out
by congressional enactment would
undoubtedly be resented az an insult to
| Japan, aud II would be, to say the
least, impoltic in the highest degree to
adopt an offensive policy toward that
country at present.
Japan has been swinging forward and
! back between its ancient traditions and
modern western institutions, When
the country fiust became known 70 the
western world, 1t was hospitable and
open to all foreigners. But in the be-
ginning Of the 18th century It was
closed owing to political complications.
From 1853, Japan has again been an
open country, but with the general
tendency not always, in the same direc-
tion. with the revolution in 1867 and
the following imperial edlct. the
! country was nOderni2ed II was deCld-
ed to adopt everything good that could
! be found I'm the world. The reform
| movement affected the clothing, the
habits In eating, the halrcuttng-eve
thing. Christian schools and churches
grew ana spread. In order to secure
recognition by the Western nations OF
Japan's equality eminent Japanese
openly advocated the formal adoption
Of the Christian religion Tor the en-
plre Railrods, steamships and all Other
mechanical appliances were sought out
from the West 1t was a period OF
blind adoption, so much so that toward
the end Of the eighties it looked as Il
Japan would become a Christian ma
ton.
After this came period Of reaction
Western nations did not agree abou
their religion. Japanese students re-
turned from the west and reported baC
moral conditions Western inhdelIty
too, had It's influence The unwilling
ness OF the Western nations to strtk
out the extra territorial" clauses II
their treaties with Japan; the unJus
criticism by Western newspaper CORES
uoudents of japanese methods IN tn
war with china the requirement b,
Russia, Germany and France tina
Japan give mp Port Arthur aud tn
prompt acquisition Of that port am
Mauchuria by Russia; Emperor WI
lam's mailed hst' speoch-theso will
Ike things hastenod ANA increased tn
reaction,
At present however Japan feels bet
, ter. She has proved her military su
porlorty and the alliance with Grea
Britain has given her much appreciate
standing among the powers. H. how
ever, western nations again commeuc
to agituto for discriminating law
against her people such treatment Wi
be resented, what form the resent
ment will take, is difficult to prognosti
cate, but If Japan Is to be the eadin
power OF Asia, It cannot be good polio
TO adopt uufrcndly measures agalns
, her people,