The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-11

on the California agitation against the Japanese So long as the American IS a world trader common prudence Will be one of the councillors in his court. of course. But the California labor unionist and his obident legislators are only Iaboring for the decrease and for the destruction at last of Americas g commerce with Japan sand in eastern Asia.
 Our manufacturers and merchants were anxtously disturbed not long ago over the boycott started in China against American merchandise, be- cause of the inhospitable treatment some Chinese had received at our sea ports. But that boycott was feeble and ineffective thing compared with one that the Japanese could establish and maintain for themselves and for the peoples all along the coasts of the far east, were they once convinced that they had been Intentionally wronged by the American people. Just here, consequently lies the safety or disaster that is to come out of the present crisis.
 Could Do Without United States.
 It will not help the matter for the American people or government to re- sent the indignant expressions called forth from the Japanese press by the acts of the San Francisco agitators. The Japanese are now self reliant and in position to defend themselves. They are no longer dependent upon us for modern machinery or merchandise. The markets of the world are open to them. It is easy enough for them to shut their ports to our ships and goods And they have the kind of character that would enable them to do just that exclusion act for their country and to keep 1t up as long as they choose. Who that knows them can doubt that, if once starting it, they would keep it up as long as their sense of being wronged would last? As a nation they would be united in their persistence, too, for there is no people in whom the civil and social solidarity is so firm and organic as in\ the sub- jects of the mikado.
 If, then, the Pacific coast agitation against the Japanese continues and should succeed, the only course left l open to America as a trader in the l far east is evidently to do all that is possible to convince the Japanese peo- pie that the antagonism here is pure | ly local, not representative for the country at large and is ineffective | away from the Pacihs coast; or 1t il to indorse frankly the California movement and to confront our owr | personal and commercial exclusion l from Japan.
 Grave Crisis At Hand.
 | The coming crisis between the peo' | pie of America and Japan Is certainly one of great gravity. It is not beyond prevention so far. but it's approach does cal for quick and decisive expla- nation on the part of our national ad- ministration and our organs of public opinion 50 that the Japanese govern ment and people may think and act intelligently concerning 1t.
 The Japanese are wholly unwilling to believe that their favored friend among the nations Is turning agains them. But at the same time they know that our friendship is not really a necessity to them now. There arr
 others of the world powers willing t'
 be their allies in this day of thei
 success.
 Yet even were our friendship nor,
 needed than 1t is, Japanese characte
 is such that it would enable the peopl
 to endure extreme privation and to ac
 cept disaster before they would sub
 init to unmerited indignities. Tn
 uprising against the Japanese tha
 some demagogues thunder in case the.
 can not secure exclusion from tn
 country would be only the wildes
 among American follies.