The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-06-03

the matter or naturalization IN the
United States, said: "On the whole.
therefore, the japanese have not the
privilege of naturalization in the Unit
ed States. Setting aside the question
of the justice of the matter, such is
an indisputable fact of the law as it
stands. When persons who come from
Italy, Germany. Ireland, Russia, Spain,
Portugal and other countries have the
privilege Of naturalization. it is an in
suit to the Japanese to deny the privi-
Iege to them alone. If the United
states Government denies the Japanese
the same right to become citizens that
it gives to the Europeans. where is
the sincerity of the American people?
The Americans may be naturalized in
Japan. The Japanese can not be nat
uralized in America. 1t is against the
principle of reciprocity embodied in in
ternational law. Are the Japanese so
generous as to accept good-naturedly
the discriminative treatment in Amer
lea, as if they were a people of a far
inferior race in the international posi-
ton? Has not the Japanese Govern
ment the courage, even for the sake of
dignity, to open negotiations with the
United States Government in this mat
ter? We owe much to America for
our civilization and progress. Our
countrymen are all grateful. We look
up to America as our real guide in
civilization, as our propitious friend,
and as more than our ally. In spite of
this relationship, America still looks
down upon the japanese as an inferior
race. denies even the privilege of nat
uralization, and takes an attitude of
seclusion and exclusiveness. This, in>
deed, is a lamentable affair for the
Americans, who are proud of being tho
champions of the cause of humanity"
This shows the present feeling of
some of the leaders in Japan, feeling
that simply calls for justice and fair
treatment. The same feeling is rapid
ly growing in China. 1t is a spirit that
America can not well afford to ignore
if she would secure the grand oppor-
tunities of friendly trade and commerce
now developing among the people of
Eastern Asia.
ISSUES AT STAKE.
There is no yellow peril but there
is greater peril to the commercial adj
vance and prosperity of the United
States if she continues to irritate and
ALLEVIATE the peoples of Eastern Asia.
With a continued policy of Chinese
exclusion, America may lose much of
her share in the greatest market the
world has ever known. In 1902 the
United States sent sixteen million dol
lars worth of cotton goods to China.
America sells more cotton in China
than anywhere else. In 1903 $4,676, 400
of American flour was sold in China.
In the same year more than forty-five
million gallons of oil from the United
States was sold in that Empire.
China's demand for manufactured
goods is increasing by leaps and bounds.
Her foreign trade of 1900 was over
$400,00o,000, and has been increasing
since. The demand for cars and ma
chinery will soon be enormous. Her
mineral wealth and coal deposits are
among the greatest in the world. One
province, that of Shansi, has enough
coal to supply the whole world for
1000 years. The twentieth century will
see China's many fine harbors, found in
a coast line greater than that of our
Atlantic coast, full of the worlds
steamers, of trade and commerce.
America should have the largest share
But our present policy, if persisted
in, will turn China from America to
Japan, to Germany and England. The
peril IS a real one. Opportunities once
lost in China will be regained with diff
ficulty. 1t is time for true Americans
to stop and think, and grant to the
nations of Asia, as to all others, fair
and just treatment. If the United
States loses the markets of China and
Japan, she loses the great trade of the
Pacific. The future welfare and pros
perity of the great American Republic
depends very largely upon continued
friendly intercourse with China, the
greatest empire of the world. This can
be secured by carrying out the Amer
lean principles of justice and liberty
to all.
address given at Toxic, Japan, April |
z, 1909
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