Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-08-06
SECRETARY ,STRAUS
TALKS TO JAPANESE
Continued on Page 81

learn has any reason to complain De-
cause of the American spirit.
What will be your future policy
IN regard to immigration; would you
encourage the European immigra-
tion?" asked Mr.. Sheba of the Jiyu
Shinbun.
You ask me what will be my pol
ICY" said Secretary Straus, who con-
tinued substantially as follows:
'"The policy of our Government is
not controlled or shaped by any execu-
tive officer, but primarily by Congress
| 'The executive officers administer UNI
jer the laws. they are not either
| lawmakers or above the laws. Conse-
quently what | tell you is no more
than the expl ession Of opinion, not an
official opinion, but of visitor.
AN ideal condition for the future
welfare of these Islands would be that
there should not be too great pre-
ponderance of any one race but that
the equilibrium be maintained. :,
81 certainly think that the japanese
with their skill, enterprise and energy
are as valuable for the future pros
perity and commercial Advancement OF
these Island for any race, either Euro
pean or Asatic
ut is of the highest Importance that
the races should continue to work I'M
harmony for the welfare of the ISL
ands,-not as Japanese or as Portu-
guese or as natives but as Americans
living in Hawaii. Unlike otehr coun-
tries in the past, the American polisyl
is not to govern its territorial pos
sessions for selfish purposes but to en-
dow those possession with all of thei
blessings of the American system. Shel
does not govern in order to derive
revenues from these territories, but to
bring the blessings of liberty and equal
rights and the consequent benefits
that are derived therefrom for the adj
vehement, moral, educational and
political, of people irrespective OF rae,
or religion"
What else would you like to
know" said the Secretary and he con-
tinued. Il have been very much graft |
fed to see also the very kindly feeling
on the part of the American and the
European as well as the Asiatic to-
wards the natce Hawaiian popula-
ton. / have been told again and
again by such men as Governor Car
ter and the leading men in public Office
of the many excellent qualities of the
native Hawaiian, their honesty, their
kindness of disposition and aimability
toward all other races. They never
display any spirit Of enmity or antag-
onism but are peaceful, law-abidinS,
well intentioned and kind to every
body. In fact | doubt if in any part
of the world are found more aimable
people than the native Hawaiian, and
am gratified to know that number
sitting as judges, connected with the
schools and members of Territorial
Senate and House of Representatives..
'In conclusion l would impress upon
you and upon each Of the several
races here to have a care not to ex-
plot these Island and their resources
for the benefit of the country from
which they come but to act in the
spirit of the Government under which
they live, of loyalty to the interest of
the Islands which afford such happy
and ideal homes for them and for their
children. l am gratified that the pub
lie school system. has such a great in
fuence upon the young who grow up
with American spirit and respect for
the liberty of the individual.
Il would like to see an increasing
Of Americans from the MAIN
land come and settle in these Islands.
if for no other reason than to guar
antee for all time to come the con-
tinuauce of the American spirit for the
benefit and Tie welfare of all peoples
who have made and will make their
home here"