Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-22
Americans and Japanese.

To the extent that there has been any
actual outbreak of anti-Japanese feeling
anywhere in this country the people or
the United States have occasion to be
ashamed of themselves. To the extent, on
the other hand. that the Japanese people
are holding the whole American people
responsible for a few incidents. chiefly the
result of disturbed conditions on the IA
cific coast. they are unjust to this country.
Some of the incidents cited in the dis
patch from Toxic describing the growth
of an anti-American sentiment In that
country do not in themselves justify the
feeling alleged in Japan. The killing of
the japanese poachers in the Alaskan
waters was totally devoid of significance
save as it indicated the purpose of this
country to enforce its laws. against all
violators. whatever their nationality. The
murder of a japanese bank president in
San Francisco was simply the act of thugs
who took no note of race, but struck for
plumber.
In other respects however, the people
of San Francisco and other parts of the
Pacific coast are guilty of race prejudice
which calls for emphatic rebuke and a
prompt disavowal by the government
OF the United States and by the people of
the other parts of the country. War
threats by a representative in Congress
and the exclusion of Japanese children
from the public school system are calcu-
lated to irritate the Japanese with reason.
Coupled with the unfortunate happening
in Alaska and the crime In San Fran
cisco they might possibly be considered as
indicating a reaction from the pronounced
pro-Japanese sentiment of the United
States of a few months ago.
There has been, however, no such reac-
ton. 1t is true that this government has
had occasion to remind Japan of certain
American commercial interests in Asia
which have been neglected in the adjust
ments following the war with Russia. But
there has been no lapse of friendship or
admiration. The people of this country are
stanchly the partisans of the Japanese, sim
cerely their admirers. They admire the
Japanese because they are intelligent, pro-
gressive and pucky. They feel certain
responsibility for them as members of the
family of nations. for it was the United
States that took Japan by the hand and
led it out from it's seclusion. They regard
with wonder the performances of Japan
during the war against Russia, and they
have none but the highest praise for the
manner in which the victorious nation has
1t is absurd for any portion of the Amer
lean people to attempt now to draw race
distinctions against the Japanese, or to
class them with the Chinese. There are
no circumstances to warrant the segrega-
tion of the Japanese residents of the coast
from the greater body of the people They
are cleanly moral, decent and law abiding.
They make good citizens when they natur-
alze, and peaceful sojourners when they
do not. If the people of the coast are in
truth engaged in any form of anti-Japa-
nese crusade, or are showing a prejudice
against the Japanese. they are open to the
emphatic condemnation of the whole peo-
pie of this country.
Our interests in the far east. to speak
commercially, are too heavy and important
to be placed In jeopardy by wanton in
suit of the dominant power. Our good
faith as nation is pledged to the observ-
ance of certain international proprieties.
Let proper representations be made to the
japanese people that will repudiate the
mistakes and follies of those who are now
engaged in this foolish. dangerous propa-
ganda.