The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-09-29

Territory any If trouble should have
broken out or be brewing between
apan and America? Would it ben
eft Hawaii any and this port espe-
cially if by reason of constant agita-
ton, such as has been going on here
for a long time. either an actual or a
commercial war was declared be-
tween America and Japan? On the
contrary, the harm that would follow
to Honolulu would be great.
We do not believe for an instant
that such a calamity as war between
America and Japan is possible, but
Hawaii can do much to make it i'm
possible, just as she has done a big
share in bringing about much of the
present suspicion of Japan and Jap
ans designs that exists throughout
America Here the population is
about half and half. If a perfect I'M
derstanding existed between these
portions of the population, if Ameri
can newspapers here and American
correspondents to mainland newspa-
pers would send out as much reas-
surfing news concerning the sincerity
and goodwill of the resident Japanese
as they have sent out alarming re-
ports in the past, the sentiment
throughout all America would change.
In the same way, if the Japanese
newspapers here would work to fos-
ter this goodwill Between the races
even more than they do, the results
would be appreciate, and in Japan
feeling would be spread that Ameri-
cans and Japanese have no cause for
mutual suspicion or mutual dislike.
Fortunately for the Japanese pa
pers here the work they would be
called on TO do would be much less
than the share that would fall to the
American newspapers and the Amer
lean portion of the community be-
cause through Japan there is not that
mainland discussed the probabilities
feeling of resentment among the
masses against America as seeming
ly prevails in America among the
masses against Japan. During those
times when the excitement had been
worked up in America to the pitch
that the journals here and on the
peared in the newspapers of Japan
and those newspapers not the ones
which mould public opinion. Many
of the articles, even, that were
printed in Japan were TRANSACTIONS of
the American newspaper stories
Throughout the country districts In
Japan then and the same today there
is no knowledge that war was even
talked about and the general senti-
ment is that of friendliness to the
country that brought modern civiliza-
ton to the country.
America has no good reason to feel
suspicious of Japan nor doubt her
word that she intends to act honor
ably IN restricting emigration of Ia
boreTs to America. 1t is certain, or
course, that the passing of an eXclu-
sion act by America will affront Jap
an and touch her pride, but this will
not bring about serious trouble. 1t
may prevent the growth of that here
tofore good feeling that has always
existed since the coming of Comma
dore Perry and may prevent the
growth of trade between the
countries. However, let us hope
that nothing that may transpire will
prevent the growth of perfect friend
ship between the Japanese in Ha'
wall and their American neighbors.
1t is time though that the alarmists
were told that their work has been
done. The Japanese regiments that
used to parade in the moonlight may
be put away and forgotten; the Off
cer-spies who washed the dishes in
SO many Honolulu kitchens in order
to overhear the private conversations
of the family, for what reason cannot
be imagined, may be filed away as GU
rios, and the visions of Japanese
cruisers that haunted the Hawaiian
channels, to prove perhaps that the
government public charts were cor
rect, may be classed with the grass
hut and the boiling pot of the can
nibal for use on picture postcards
They have served their purpose.
Now for another chapter. Ameri
cans and Japanese alike may worl
for the commercial advancement Of
Hawaii and for her advancement as {
center from which may radiate words
of goodwill and understanding al
freely as scare stories were once sen
out. Hawaii, an outpost for war anC
an outpost for the promotion of peace
There are those here with an I'm
derstanding of conditions who cal
lead in the new movement towards ;
better understanding. Rev. DR.. Scud
der, Rev. o. II. Gulick and Rev. Mr.
Wadman have all Travelled in Japal
and know things as they are Their,
: as well as they know things as the,
} are here. They might be the leaders
! We can all. Japanese and American
} fall in behind them and help.
f The time has come. Let us TAX
t advantage of 1t for the further ad
vancement of Hawaii and the mutua
5 benefit of America and Japan.
tS+S+S+S+S@S&S+So4cAcAa.
n mented upon was a contestant in tn
n quarter-mile race at the OTympi
+ Games. Here he made the distance /
n 81 seconds, although, with the aid {
:. oxygen, he had previously run II