The Washington herald., 1906-12-02
japanese Question One for the Courts.

japanese Question One for the Courts
We trust II is true, as asserted in sew
eral welI-informed newspapers. that the
very serious question Of japanese rights
of residence in the United States will be
permitted 10 reach a pacific settlement
through the arbitrament of the courts,
thus removing it. temporarily, at least,
from the arena Of diplomatic discussion,
if not of political agitation. The ques-
ton is one belonging properly to the
courts. It involves the Interpretation Of
a treaty, which under the Constitution
IS the supreme law Of the land. and Il
involves, also, the relation Of the treaty
making power to the reserved powers Of
the States. Differing views prevail as to
the meaning and purpose of our treaty
with Japan. and as to the extent to which
the Federal power should go in supersed-
ing State legislation by international
agreement. These views may be pre-
scnted to a court without arousing racial
antagonism or calling out the militia It
viii be time enough 20 beat the tom-toms
when a decision has been rendered.
In the meanwhile. talk Of war with ia
pan. on any pretext. whether INDUCED in
here or in Europe. OF Asia. or the islands
Of the sea, is a foolish and regrettable
diversion. japan has no present cause
for war with US and it is incOnceivable
that her statesmen have the smallest
ambition TO cross arms with the might
est power on the face of the globe. Her
problems in the Orient are of the most
pressing nature, and her military power
VIII be entirely absorbed for many years
to come in maintaining the supremacy
in the far East gained by the defeat of
Russia. Her financial resources were
exhausted by the late war, and have not
yet been repaired. Should she go to
war with a depleted treasury, national
bankruptcy would be her portion within
six months. A military or naval reverse
would hurl her from the eminence she
now holds in the imagination Of the peo-
pies Of the Orient American victories
over japanese feets-and no other contin-
gency is thinkabe-would make the
United States the dominant power in the
Pacific from Seattle to Vladivostok. and
from Panama to Hongkong and Singa-
pore.
Has the alluring dream of the mastery
of the Pacific bedazzled our jingo states
men. that we hear mysterious b.nts OF
the possibility of war with Japan, if not
now then at some time in the not dis
tant future? We may be sure that the
Japanese have not failed TO calculate the
terrible chances they would undergo in a
no japanese statesman in his senses en-
tertains any notion of war with this
country over so trivial a matter as the
school question But there IS a certain
danger in stirring up strife in interna-
tional tale-bearing, and in tall talk about
supremacy and domination and mastery.
Causes Of friction may be needlessIy null
tiplied and unduly magnified. Irresponsi-
bic utterances like those now flying about
can but annoy and embarrass the State
Department and irritate the japanese.
We should exercise a seIf-restraint com
mensurate with our recutude Of purpose
and with our confidence in our national
destiny.
When peace was declared between ia
pan and Russia, it was known that the
conduct of the war was costing Japan
something over one million dollars a day,
heavy burden for a nation of only 45,-
000,e00 people. She had raised to their
limit. internal loans, mortgaging therefor
her customs duties, the tobacco monopoly.
and her railways. She had raised loans
abroad and had found European nations, as
well as the United States, ready TO supply
her with money on the security she had to
offer. The loans then made are being