The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-10-11

of China and Japan had hardly set
foot upon our shores. Within four
years after 1S49 ten thousand Chin
ese alone landed in the United States,
and by 1882, when the first definite
act was passed restricting the immi-
grafton of Chinese labarers into our
country, more than one hunded thous
and Chinese and Japanese had found
their way thither. At that time con-
gress listened to the voice of the west
and an act was passed suspending the
immigration Of Chinese laborers into
the United States. We have followed
that policy ever since. Today there
are nearly quarter of million peo-
pie from China and Japan in our
midst, and If ready immigration we're
possible this number would multiply
itself many times within the next few
years. There is a powerful sentiment
in the east, which says to be lenient
with these people. Throw down the
bars of immigration. 1t is prompted
by the spirit of commercialism. 1t Is
not prompted by the thought Of high
est welfare for our country. Within a
year the American people have wit
messed struggle that has gone on in
San Francisco between the citizens
and school authorities on one side
and the japanese on the other over
the question as to whether or not the
Japanese should attend the public
schools side by side, in the same
rooms, in the same classes, with our
own boys and girls. Within a year
we have heard forecasts of war be-
tween our country and the Empire of
Japan. Within the month we have
seen ten thousand laborers in Victoria
in British Columbia, descend upon
the Chinese and Japanese quarters Of
that city, break the doors and win
dows of fifty houses and injure some
of those who would defend. Within
the year we have seen repeated in
stances of lesser violence, and local
officers, for the maintenance of the
peace, have been called upon more
than once to protect our own people
or the ones whose present they re-
sent. These things are probably not
great within themselves, but | speak
for them for what they signify The
time has come when the Chinese or
Japanese on the Pacific coast is not
pointed out as the curious represen-
tative of an unknown race-a mere
object of interest. That time has pas
sed by. The time has come when his
presence excites resentment. The
hand of the brown man is raised
against the hand of the white. He
lowers wages He lowers the stand
ard of living. In times of prosperity
he awakens angry passions. In times
of depression he would arouse riots.
Law abiding for the most part, he has
no love for any country but his own.
He does not harmonic with our in
situations. His blood could not be
assimilated with our own because Of
prejudices, nor would it be desirable
If it could. Why then should we give
ear to any voice that pleads for the
admission of these people to our
shores? To admit them is to SOW the
seeds of violence and bloodsn.i for
years to come. 1t may not be in our
day, but it will be sometime. Now,
while it is within our power, we
should work out course that will
mean peace for the present day and
peace for the future years. Now,
while this voice is heard asking lem
iency in our laws; now, while COM
mercialism is asking for Oriental Ia
Dor; now, / say Is the time for the
great west to arouse herself from all
lethargy and to say to all the world
that for the advantage Of day we
hall not bring curse upon our land;
we shall not sell our birthright for
mess of pottage. The west has no
spirit or hostility against either Chi
ma or Japan. The west has only high
est hopes for those old countries.
We are proud of their intellect, we
glory in the success that the last CEN
fury has brought them. We deny
them nothing that we are not willing
that they deny us. We wish them
untold blessings through future years
but we want their unfolding to be on
their own land. Loyal to American
institutions, loyal to American labor,
loyal to American blood, the west
should sound a warning to the Ameri-
can people, to the Chinese and Japan
ese alike that however close our COM
mercial relations may be, each race
should leave the other free, under
the guidance of ALMIGHTY God to