The San Francisco call., 1907-02-12
STUDENTPRESENTS
JAPANES SIDE
Oriental From Stanford
Says an Exclusion Law
Would Be Direct Insult
RETALIATION THREAT

Before the Mems Club of the Second
Unitarian Church at Capp and Twenti-
eth streets. Yamato Ichahashi. a senior
student in economics at Stanford Uni
versity, made a powerful presentation
last evening of the Japanese stand
point on the immigration question His
most interesting declaration was that
should America enact an exclusion law,
Japan would retaliate. A formal dis
cussion had been arranged between
Ichahashi and Cameron II. King Jr., a
young attorney. King spoke in favor
of the exclusion of Japanese laborers,
basing his argument mainly on the
contention that the Japanese was not
an assimilabIe immigrant and that he
tended to lower the standard of living
in America.
evidently inspired from official Japan
diplomatic service of his country. He
spokeN- fiuently without notes and
brought into play all the art OF the
trained debater. Throughout his
speech race pride ran as the dominant
note.
Ichahashi began by stating that
America and Japan were alike in their
religious, political and social institu-
tions. Continuing. he said:
Although many assert that the japanese are
infdels. all educated Japanese will tell you that
they believe in one God 1t is true that our
governments differ to form Ours is a con-
stitutional monarchy, and yours republic; but
what the American constitution guarantees TO
its citizens, our constitution guarantees TO our
people. 1t is true there is no titled class in
America, but If we have our titled class. you
have moneyed class, both often without re-
fnement.
may be grounds for your standpoint. but the
japanese are in no way inferior to the immi-
grant from southeastern Europe. s%9Sialy, % ,,5 20,
litieally or morally. The only possible ground
for the desire for exclusion appears 10 me 10
be nonassmiation.
On this point it is argued. first. that the
Japanese do not intermarry; and. second. that
they have a patriotism peculiar to their land.
As to intermarriage / am not a scientist. Dut
lation. Mental. not physical assimilation Is es-
sentiaI. If assimilate mentally what
more is necessary? There has been no inter
marriage because it is prohibited by law.
As TO Japanese patriotism, l wonder II the
Americans have not really patriotism or the
same sort. | wonder If the Irish have not
powerful patriotism. One reason why the Jap
anese have their peculiar patriotism IS because
of the contempt they are shown Given gen
erous welcome with full rights the result
might be different. Furthermore you cannot eX-
pect this change as to patriotism until fthe sec
ond third genera tion. 1t is only twenty years
ago, you must remember, that the Japanese
began to appear in this country in large mum
bers.
You have no exclusion against despieable Eu
ropean immigrants. Why insult Japan win
special exclusion law? lf you enact suen 4 law
I We will regard il as a direct insult and Japan
will reciproeate so that the result VIII ne
harmful TO both countries. II you really desire
the Japanese laborers excluded let 1t be done
| by diplomatic arrangement-not on the ground
/ that the japanese are inferior. l am sure JaPar
| would meet you half way. Give japanese th'
/ right Of naturalization and other equal rights
/ Then the matter can be automatically arranged
| Why not give to Japanese those ri9hJs wnlcI
are given even to those who. as Dr.. walker tne
! great economist. says, are the beaten mel
| from the beaten races.