The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-02-14
THE JAPANESE PROBLEM.

1t begins to look as II CallfOrnla
were coming to its senses on the
Japanese question. The mayor of San
Francisco with delegation of school
officers is on his way to Washington
and says on the way that he cares
more about his country than he does
about the japanese school matter.
Also the board of trade of Los Ange-
les has adopted resolutions that the
sentiment of southern California is not
favorable to determinations against
the Japanese in school or other mat
tiers. The symptoms are encouraging.
although no more than should have
been expected sometime. There may
be a good deal of evasion: but in the
end public opinion in very few places
will warrant officials in openly defy
ing the federal government. and the
people of sense who are at all ac-
quainted with the facts know that
the Japanese laborers are needed in
California, and that that state would
suffer if it could not get them. In
this Modified temper of the people
more directly concerned. there is re-
newed effort to show that the course
of the San Francisco school board
was not in contravention of a treaty of
the United States. The treaty in
question was made with Japan in
1894. when Cleveland was President
and Gresham secretary of state. Mr..
Olney. who was then attorney general.
but who was afterwards secretary of
state. has come forward with letter
in which he undertakes to show that
the treaty does not undertake to limit
the police powers of the states; but
while this may be true, it is obvious
than the main purpose of the treaty
from the Japanese side was to be as
sured that in the exercise of such
powers there should not be discrimin-
alton against The Japanese. That is
the Interpretation that is put upon
the treaty now by the state depart
ment at Washington; and it is not
likely that anyone could really sug-
gest an adequate reason why Japan
should enter into treaty with the
United States in respect to mutual
rights of travel and residence. if the
object were not to secure her subjects
against Determinations. From the
trend of the argument it now appears
to be virtually admitted that. as the
constitution provided. the constitution
and the laws and. treaties made in
pursuance thereof are the supreme
law of the land. anything in the
constitution or laws of any state to
the contrary Notwithstanding. and
when this admission shall be frank
and open the way to settlement of
the question will be easy. And that
way will not lie in Determinations
under any authority against the Japan
csc. Japan has not been quarelsome over
this matter :but she has been insistent.
There has been nothing in the contro-
Iversy except the proposition that less
than hundred children of Japanese
parentage are entitled by treaty and
in justice to just as good treatment
as are the children of any other
alien people: but these few children
stand for the whole Japanese people
| in Japan and over the world. and
Japan is distinct that wanton insult
to them is insult to her. That is the
position that the government of the
United States would be expected to
take were the conditions reversed;
and there is only one thing for the
government and people of the United
States to do in the promises. and that
is to keep its treaty faith, to dis
countenance local prejudice. and to do
justice to the children concerned. The
| Nevada Representative