The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-07
nv rREDER1C j. HAsK1N.


In emigration and colonization
lie the hone of the future pros
perity OF Japan. There were thosc
Japanese, who believed that America
offered the brightest opportunities tor
the emigrants, and the ship companies
encouraged this view. The stream OF
Japanese flowing to the PacltiL soas a
in both the United States and canaaa
was multiplied many fold JUST alte'
the war with Russia. 1t was predlc,-
"a that the JAPANESE would eventually
become the dominant factor in the IN
dustrial life OF the Pacific Coast sta.es'
Just as they have already become up.
permost in hawaii. me ra n,sans,so 90
and the subsequent anti-Japanese DE.
monstrations In the United States ana
Canada have forced the japanese gov
eminent to curtail the emigra.ion a,i IN
| that direction. SO much has been sara
in the United States on the American
side OF the question that 1t is interest
ing to compare the Japanese point OF
view.
| icals believing that the action OF the
people Of the Western coast OF America
grew out of racial prejudice. and .hae
it is snub to the Japanese peopie
while the conservatives maintain thal
1t is entirely an economic question,
and that the objection was not TO tne
Japanese as japanese. but 10 the emu
grants as individuals on account OF
|
cans At first the radical wing was
| in the ascendant, and when the san
| Francisco school question came up tue
people hero were indignant. Gradually
and now predominates: But the pal bal.
ance is a nice one. and the other SIDE
may come into control at any moment.
| The radicals are resenttui toWara
America and Canada, and th!hR .iisl
their national honor has been touch
ed. The conservatives think the dit
ficulty is the result of mutual ms
Understanding. Both radicals and con
servatives solace themselves py iaii,
ing back on their belief in their own
inherent superiority over the Occiden-
ltal nations. However. Japan may nave
profited from its adoption OF western
ideas, 1T still believes that Its old civ
iIlzation is without peer, and argues
that it is aheau OF the Western coun-
tries because Europe and America nave
but one civilization, while Japan mas
two. The Japanese DO mol despise IN, We
| Occidental peoples as the exclusive chi
nese have done. but their attitude Is
that OF condescension. This was Illus
trated in Baron Takahira's speech
when he congratulated the uhi.eu
states upon the wonderful advancement .r,,e en-,
OF our younger brother in civilization
/ across the water" In other words, II
/ Uncle sam looks down upon Littie Al
mond Eyes. the punishment VIII De
look look down ess upon Little Yankee Boy,
Spontaneous public opinion probably
does not exist in Japan. 1t is almost
/ altogether manufactured by the news
papers, and these DO not reach me me
cities. Those political factions which
opposed the government party Wien
the San Francisco school question
arose made great cry about me IN :.
A suit to Japanese honor. the Caplnet
was hanging onto office by its eye.
brows, and it bowed to the force OF
the storm and made the pert repre-
lsentations to Washington which start
ed all the trouble. While American
objection to Japanese immigration wa $
the Japanese themselves precipitated
the conflict by raising the cry OF equa!
rights in American schools. When IN
ternal matters came up that served
| the purposes Of the opposition, the
, anti-American Issue vas laid as,ae'
; ed But the newspapers daily ,o pun an,s
long articles from the Pacific ports
telling of the progress OF the anu
Japanese feeling in America ana can
ada, and these serve to keep the SPARK
Of life in the question, so that any
; prominent Japanese politician or vel
low Journal could again bring thu
$ matter to white heat in q few days
The varying points of view OF the
two schools of thought are very m m
teresting. The conservative Japanese
! ave do not think that, this is
matter about which we ought TO GUAR.
! rel with the United States, the natlor
a which we venerate Is our l thst d 1he
: !fananese coolie accustomed to small
wages and small living, can so int
your country and work on such terms