The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1906-12-07
stood throughout the Territory.
THE JAPANESE QUESTION

THE JAPANESE QUESTION.
MIR. sidney Ballou had long inter
view In the Washington Herald, soon
after his arrival here. in which he dis
cussed several Hawaiian questions.
The article was AS follows:
"Sldney Ballou lawyer OF .Hono-
lulu, is at the Shoreham He is in
tensely Interested In the development
of the Hawaiian Islands, and says in
passing that the heavy immigration of
Japanese il not menace. His atten-
tion was called to dispatch from Jap
an that 10000 Nipponese were In Yoko-
hama. waiting to be transported to Ho-
nolulu He said: 4 can hardly be-
lieve that is true. but, II so, It is good
news
But does not the Japanese popula-
ton OF Hawaii already outnumber that.
of all other nationalities combined? he
was asked.
why. yes, but what of that?' he
replied. If there is TO be trouble with
Japan, the mere fact OF u preponder-
anCe OF Japanese on the islands does
not mean anything. They might rise
and take the islands If they wished;
they are strong enough to do that
now, but that would settle nothing.
The real struggle for their possession
would be on the sea.
81 doubt that there will be any
trouble between Japan and the United
States, because l realize fully how
much Japan's prosperity, which is
growing, depends on the United States.
l don't know the exact proportion but
l should say that fully IS per cent of
her exports are purchased by this coun-
try, and you may be sure that the
Oriental merchant is too keen to per-
NIT any light matter to lead his coun-
try into war. Japan has not recovered
from the effects of her war with Rus |
STA, and she must devote years of eff
fort and her best energies to the devel- |
opment of her resources.
LAS to the trouble in San Francis
co over the Japanese school children.
1t comes, as all the anti-Japanese feel
ing on the Pacific Coast has come
primarily, from the labor unions. OF
course, they are a power, and they
have a right to seek redress for any
fancied grievances in any legitimate
way. but Ii is unfortunate that they
should have chosen the Japanese to
pick upon.
""rhe great question of today in Ha-
wall is the labor problem. and it is the
hardest we are called upon to solve. The
of japanese has done
much to help US. and recently we have
been encouraging Portuguese immigfa-
ton from the Azores. The Chinese
who make ideal laborers on the sugar
and banana plantations are barred, of
by the United states laws. I
1--WE need immigrants who will bring
their wives and families and settle
there make homes for themselves, and
become real citizens. The Portuguese
do this.
1--WE feel that we are pretty badly
off in Hawaii as regards protection
from the United States, and we are
hoping that our Delegate to Congress,
Jonah 1<uhio Kalanianaole 1--WE call him
II ince Cupid on the islands) will be able
TO call attention to our needs. Recent I
s. the Navy Department has recalled !
all battleships from the Pacific, con-
tent to have our interests guarded
there by armored cruisers.
NOT A FORT ON THE ISLANDS. '
we have not even single fort on
the Hawaiian Islands. The last Con-
gress made a small appropriation look
ing to Notifications, and, l believe,
and for the purpose has been condemn
ed at Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, and at
kaimuki back OF Diamond Head, but /
here the thing rests.
why, the government has not even
provided the islands with the neces
sorv IiphtbnuseS and buoys In insure
he safety of navigation, and this was
demonstrated in costly manner
,nough by the wrecking of the Man
'huria. and within a week the ground
ng of the Mongolia.
"'At Pearl Harbor there is supposed
% be a coaling station, but there is no
zeal there yet, for If there was and
war broke out, the first hostile ship
could come and take it, as far as any
protection we could give it is con-
&
In some ways we feel. of course
hat Hawaii has been little benefited
)y annexation to the United States. In
he old days the customs duties We're
Ised for the benefit of the islands To-
lay the great bulk goes into the United
states Treasury. After paying all the
expenses of the Territorial government
we send the rest to this country, and
his amounts, in round numbers, to
$50 900 annually. We feel that this
should be spent, at at least part of 1t,
N much-needed public improvements
-on lights and lighthouses, on forth
icatlons that will protect us, on Il
,reakwater for Pearl Harbor, and other