The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-21
JAP EXCLUSION ADVOCATED.
Sentiment In the West Is Forming
Problem Particularly Ve2a6ous In
Hawaii.

Sentiment In the West rs EOfFn1HSS-
Problem Particularly Ve2abous In
Hawaii.
Washington, Nov. 12.-Agitation Of
the japanese school question is ap-
preaching the acute stage and is rap
idly crystalizing into sentiment in
Pacific coast and Western States not
only against the admission Of Japa-
nese children into the schools with
American children, but also against
their admission into our borders.
Some even go so far as to say openly
that 40 distinction should be made
between the Chinese and the Japanse,
so far as the question Of allowing
them t enter this country is con-
cerned, and they contend that be-
tween the two races the Chinese are
vastly more to be desired for many
reasons.
AS the result of investigation re-
Gently made by the bureau of labor
into the public school question Of
Hawaii. where at present the Asiatic
pupils largely outnumber those Of any
other race, the bureau is uncertain,
whether under existing circumstances
the final result in the schools will be
the Americanizing Of the Oriental or
the or:entsiizing Of the American
schools.
The swa,npirlg of the American
schools with orientals, it is believe
Viii not be compatible With tie
American school system, on account
of the fact that the latter outnumber
all other nations combined. The ex-
elusive use of the English language il
the schools, where japanese children
largely predominant, is not thought
to be possible. The result, it is be-
lieved, will be found in the same pro-
cess Of displacement that has been
shown in wage-earning and mercan-
tile pursuits, and that white pupils
will be crowded out of the schools,
established for their special benefit.
The American pupil brought up
among children Of all races and at
tending school in district where
majority Of his schoolmates are jap
anese, never acquires perfect mas
terry of his own language and speaks
pigeon English often with for
eign accent. His process in all studies
has to be retarded by the progress
Of classes composed in great part Of
young people whose knowledge OF
English is imperfect at best. In other
ways, too, he is at a disadvantage. IN
personal habits and customs and So
cial and ethical ideas he is strongly
inclined to grow much like those
with whom he is thrown IN school
life.
There is little or no analogy be-
tween tho situation in Hawaii in this
respect and that in an American city
having a large foreign school popu-
lation. Most European immigrants
have a certain basis of Christian cul-
ture, taken as an clement Of civili-
zation, which is a powerful aid IN as
similation, and they are for the most
part permanent settlers, and ambitl-
Gus to acquire wealth and position.
in Hawaii the assimilative forces are
far weaker than upon the mainland.
The chief danger of the situation
lies in the possibility that a situation
Will be created where the Americana
alton by association will become i'm
possible through the practical exclus-
ION of American pupils from the
schools Such exclusion would disin-
cline American parents to remain in
the islands especially IN isolated 10
calities.
There is a manifest tendency-how
completely realized it is hard to say
as yet-for Asiatic pupils to displace
American pupils in the public schools
in something like the same way that
their parents displace White workers
in many occupations.