The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-08-30
A TREMENDOUS
WORLD PROBLEM

4 tremendous Wor4Q prpOtSlIA mas DS'
gun, and IS continuing, Of which mons
can foreses the end This problem !:
being played out in the United States
in Canada, in Australia. in New Zsa-
land and in South Africa AT frs'
sight il seems merely 3 question Of
color and OF racial prejudice. But 81
bottom il is more than that-it is an
economic question OF the first order.
Ultimately this may prove 10 be the
most tremendous question upon which
great masses OF mankind have ever
been divided" says the Daily Tete-
graph. but an attempt 70 settle il by
arms, whatever the immediate issue,
would mean sooner OF later hundred
wears conflict; and not for this gen
Grafton only. but for many, the world
hopes for peace would be sunk deep
e. than Prospero dropped his book"
ECONOMIC COMPETITION OF TWO
RACES.
The real root OF the trouble" thinks
the Times. lis not in any issue OF gen.
sraI policy. but is 10 be sought in the
friction arising from the economic
competition. in the same area OF races
differing wholly in habits and stand
ards OF living. and disinclined 10 ANAL
samate-a competition OF whose dith-
culties we have already seen something
within the British Empire, and with
which We shall inevitably have TO deal
in the future OF the difficulty created
by this problem some permanent solu-
tion based on equitable compromise
will vet have 10 be found. Failing It,
the trouble that is now creating such
anxiety 70 all lovers OF peace and civ
Hization will inevitably recur al
later period, and recur in far more
serious form"
The standard OF life among the
Australian and American democracies,
adds the Telegraph, would be utterly
undermined by unrestricted Astatic
coupetition-nay. would be swamped
If the vast foods OF Chinese humanity,
for instance, were 10 burst through
the frafl legislative dikes now holding
them back from empty or haIf-peopled
regions under white control; and the
unrestricted ingress OF labor from the
Far East would be more insidiously
and totally destructive Of white welfare
than war itself. In one word, this is
not 8 color question; il is fundamental
" an economic question We trust
our allies viii take it at that, and viii
realize that the point of national honor
has been accidentally caught up with
the problem, but is not permanently
involved in II. It would be as Illogical
10 make war upon il as 10 make war
against the Mckinley tariff. Goods
and men alike are Disseminated
against for economic reasons"
\ SERIOUS SITUATION.
Those who look forward TO con-
ffict at some time or other caused by
the Determination Of the japanese TO
press and the determination OF the
AngIo-Saxou oversee, both in America
and in Australia and New Zea-
land. 10 resist, the claim of the
japanese TO enter and to help to de-
velop territories bordering on the Pa
cifc which the white man considers
reserved for his special occupation,
can, unfortunately, not be described
as mere visionaries or dreamers," says
the Spectator. The hard, practical
facts Of the case are with the pessi-
mists We may sum up the situation,
indeed, by saying that though things
al present are not nearly as bad as
the man in the street supposes, the
future outlook. though not necessarily
q near future, is probably a good deal
worse than he imagines.'
THE CALIFORNIAN TROUBLE.
So much for the general statement
OF the issues which hang on this trein-
eudous problem. The whole matter is
forced on public attention just now by
the conflict in California between
Americans and japanese. The inter-
standing Of Japan among the
nations seemed 10 have been estab-
iished by sacrifices and achievements
as heroic, whether in peace or war, as
ever were credited TO any country"
says the Telegraph. "She took her
place as Great Power, a nation
among her equals. Yet in California
her subjects admitted under treaty
are misused as though they were
helots or pariahs. The United States
government Acknowledges that inius-
tice has been committed, but is almost
absolutely prevented, by the limita-
tions OF the American Constitution,
from giving effectual redress. That
Is the deadlock which has been Great
ed, and the situation is as difficult
for craftsmanship at Washington as
It is trying to the government of To-
kio and exasperating to the national
sentiment of its subjects
QUESTION OF STATE RIGHTS.
a solution can only be reached by
placing very loose Interpretation up
On the letter Of the law, and allowing
unconventional and uncompromising
sense TO form a substitute for
pedautry and parchment. The Amer
lean case, and we shall endeavor TO
put it as fairly as the japanese, is
much better in reason than in logic.
Whether from the social or the politi-
cal point Of view, the problem for the
United States is real and it is grave.
II is raised by the procedure Of the
authorities. whether NUM-
cipal bodies or State legislature At
their instigation, or through their su-
pineness, the subjects OF great and
friendly Power. in peaceful exercise
OF their treaty rights, have been har-
assed and Inundated. There has been
an endeavor TO exclude them from
American soil and 10 boycott them
where they are settled upon it. They
have been elected frem the public
schools and obstructed in the pursuit
OF their business. There has been an