The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-12-20


evil. An overflow of people of less in
telligence, less self-reliance and less
patriotism than our own, whether from
China. Poland. Africa or anywhere
else, it also an evil. If we choose ex-
ciusion acts as the lesser evil, we
should not make them offensive to
those we do not need to exclude We
must always let our neighbors save
their face
The whole matter of our relations
with China and Japan demands not
snap Judgment mass meetings and
emotionalism of one kind or another; it
is question which the United States
must decide, not the people of San
Francisco. Agitation can do little ex-
cept mischief. If our end in view is to
keep California d white mans coun,
try we must grant to men of other
nations certain exclusive privileges OF
their own. The open doors of world
politics swing both ways. We can not
grow rich with Asiatic trade unless we
do our part in enriching Asia.
I do not favor the admission of Jap
anese laborers, if we can arrange annie
ably TO keep them out But friction
than the presence of a few thousand
Industrious Japanese. Japanese off,
Gals have freely expressed willingness
TO do whatever we wish in this regard
if our wishes are made known diplo-
maticaliy and courteously. For about
five years emigration of japanese Ia
borers to the United States has been
rigidly prohibited by the Japanese
Government. That they come from
Hawaii is a matter over which Japan
has no control; nor does the small
number who come affect the situation
much
On the other hand, we have no
means of checking the entrance of the
japanese except by mutual agreement
with Japan. Japan is a nation of the
first class, and we can no more turn
the Chinese exclusion against her than
we could against France or Germany
a Japanese friend writes to me-
THE remedy against immigration of
lower class japanese is to be sought in
coming to a diplomatic understanding
in the matter and by eliminating the
features. The Japanese
Government, without doubt, would be
open to reason. But to pass law
the japanese wholesale,
for no other reason than that they are
Japanese, would be striking a blow az
Japan at her most sensitive point. The
Infriendly act would be felt mote
Aeenly than almost anything conceiv-
able. An open declaration of war
would not be resented as much. The
easOn is not far to seek. Japan has
lad a. long struggle in recovering her
lights as an independent state and of
obtaining a standing in the civilized
world. If now her old friend, almost
for having started her In
his career. should turn her back on
Ter and say she will no longer asso-
late with her on even terms, the re-
eminent must necessarily be very
litter.
THE entire loss of prestige in Japan
nay not seem much to the Americans.
n the Far East there will be stupen-
Gus commissions from which great ma
ions like America cannot keep them
elves clear. And with such crises
hose with community of interests
hould not misunderstood each other"
1t has been made sufficiently plain
hat Californians do not like IN Japa-
ese in numbers. 1t cannot be too
many times repeated that the foment
5 not the result of labor union senti-
nent. That idea prevails in the East,
nd its prevalence does more than any
hing else to blind the country at large
0 the true state of things here. The
acts are that the Japanese in large
numbers are viewed universally in Cal
fornia with dislike and suspicion. No
'ody here wants the coolie class, save
he fruit farmers. These want them
ecause cheap labor is scarce.
The chief employment of the japanese
a Californian cities is as house ser
ants. The honest schoolhoy," as he
ais himself, cooks, washes, scrubs and
weeps and generally makes himself
seful about the house. Good reports
+ his reliability are not common. 1t
; the universal complaint that you
ever know when you go out in the
lorning whether your Jap servant will
e there when you get back at night.
ing higher offer will induce him to
nit without a moments notice The
'hinaman, on the contrary, is faithful
f he agrees 10 stay a certain time he
sure to do ii.
Before the segregation rule was
dopted almost all the japanese house
arvants went TO school. Practically
Il of them were here to get an edu- ,
alton in our language and ways, in {
ending to return home when that was
cquired. The house servants thus in >
uded a far higher order Of japanese
nan could be found in other employ ;
tents. :
We had a japanese servant" said !
San Franciscan, who told us that