Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-01
CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS

SAllE yin lAiLlh OAiOOhDLhS
Anti-Japanese sentiment in San
Francisco has apparently succeeded In
creating a diplomatic situation which
does not look well for the future peace
of the friendly nations.
The authorities at Washington are re-
ported to be bending all their energies
toward stopping the legal proceedings
at San Francisco, whereby It was pro-
posed to determine whether the state Of
California had a right, under the con-
stitution and laws, to regulate its pub
lie schools The evident purpose Of these
movements Is to prevent a decision in
favor of the state, since the foreign
minister Of Japan has declared that "in
the event of an unfavorable decision
the anti-Japanese movement in Cali
fornia will be considered to represent
the opinion Of the whole United States,
which would require diplomatic adjust
ment."
The attitude Of the federal admins
tration on this point is rather confus-
ing, when judged alone upon the tele-
graphic reports Of the secret confer
ences at Washington, since It would
be something new on the part Of
Uncle Sam to remove an agreed case
from the courts upon the averment of
foreign nation that If such case be
decided contrary to its wishes, 1t will
do so-and-so. Surely Uncle Sam isn't
A,,I
velt a peace-loving warrior, cannot be
charged with a disposition to run.
There must, therefore, be something
more than appears on the surface be-
hind the request of the president that
the president of the San Francisco
board of education and the superin-
tendent of schools shall go to Wash
ngton for a conference.
The people of the United States do
not want a war. They are always and
ever in favor of peace, and they will
sustain the president in going to the
limit of forbearance with honor But
Japan mustn't get too "rambunctious,' y
or presume upon the everlasting peace
fulness of the American citizen. She
should keep quiet until the questions
at issue shall be determined In a calm
and dispassionate manner.
In the minds of great lawyers, en-
phasized by an unbroken line of de-
cisions of the supreme court of the
United States, the president and senate
possess the supreme power of treaty
making, subject only to the constitution
and laws; and such treaties are bind
ing upon the states. wherever and
powers of the states expressly reserved
to them by the constitution of the
United States.
In treaties with favored nations 1t is
agreed that citizens of such countries
residing in this country shall have GER
tain equal rights of residence. What
are those rights? Some of them have
been defined in the treaties. Others
have not. 1t is the purpose of the agreed
case at San Francisco to ascertain and
determine one of these undetermined
questions; and it is foolish for Japan to
assume, in advance, that the matter
will be determined on any score of
prejudice. We don't do things that
way in this country.
But in the meantime, without any re-
gard whatever to the attitude of Japan
or any other country, it is the solemn
duty of the federal authorities and con-
gress to do that which they have been
requested for years to do-namely, give
the Pacific coast Notifications and it's
proper share of the navy.