The Washington herald., 1907-02-02
Our Relations with Ianan-

One Of the inevitable incidents Of a mill
tarist policy is that every movement of
troops or ships, or every proposal 10 in
crease ornaments. is bound TO be inter-
preted as preparation for war with some
specific enemy, and those responsible for
the conduct of government are constantly
explaining that their actions are guided
only by the most pacific intentions Not
long ago Germany was the especial OBJ
ject Of SOlicitudc on the part OF those who
keep q weather eye out for the next war:
49, Japan is put forward as our coming
antagonist The inference Is not I'M
natural that our vast war preparations.
actual and projected, must have some oD-
Jet in view; that the expenditure of mill
lions for national defense can be justified
only on the theory that an attack upon
Us from some quarter or other is within
the bounds of possibility. Nevertheless,
il is unfortunate that every opportunity
should be sought by sensatlonaIists to
create war scare particularly when
diplomatic negotiations Of a delicate ma
ture are afoot tending TO eliminate the
very friction out Of which the vision of
hostilities arises. The trick is an old one
in journalism, and IT is not Indigenous to
this country; but it is on every ground
reprehensible, and i'm the particular in
stance wholly unjustfabIe
We think the country may be cOngratu-
lated upon the progress made by the
President and the Secretary Of state in
the negotiations with the Tokyo govern
ment looking to the amicable and volun-
tary exclusion of japanese immigrants Of
the lower class from the United States
and her dependencies. in return for the
recognition by the Pacific States of the
equal rights of Nipponese children to edu-
cation in the public schools. The willing
ness Of the Japanese government to meet
the United States more than half way in
this matter is an emphatic token OF the
friendly disposition OF the MikadO's minis
ters. Our failure TO come TO an understand
ing with the japanese government would
boz an egregious blunder. Nothing stands
in the way Of such an understanding but
the legislation Of single State; perhaps
il would be more accurate to say. moth
ing but the order of a single board of
education in one city. based on what may
prove to be an entirely erroneous inter
probation Of the California statute provid-
ing for the segregation Of Mongolians in
schools of their own. When this order
went into effect there We're ninety-three
Nipponese children attending the public
schools Of San Francisco, distributed
among twenty-three buildings. They were
bright clcanly, and we'll behaved. and for
the most part under seventeen years Of
age It viii strike a disinterested OBJ
server that the presence of less than 100
pupils Of SO capable race as the Japa-
nese scattered about the schools Of a great
city can hardly be seriously considered as
menacing to racial integrity or public
morals. II is, In any event, entirely too
small matter to be permitted to affect
iniuviously the relations Of two great ma
tons hitherto bound by close ties of
amity.
u seems improbable that the San Fran
cisco school authorities will insist on their
Interpretation OF the California segrega-
ton statute. in view Of the larger object
10 be gained by concession on the school
question. That larger object IS the ex-
clusion Of japanese immigrants. 10
which We understand the japanese gov
eminent is willing to assent by the terms
81 a new treaty. Even should the Mkado's
government hesitate to go thus far. it
would consent, as a matter of domestic
policy, TO prohibiting the emigration of its
subjects to American territory, as these
emigrants are needed elsewhere in pursu-
ance Of the aims Of japanese expansion In