The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-12

process of negotiation between the
United States and Japan, and only a
few people knew how near we came to
an open rupture with that nation.
Extraordinary precaution will have
to be taken in future treaties to in
sure that their provisions do not con-
travene local institutions and opin-
ions, but even with this precaution.
| il is inevitable that some local preiu-
dices will have to be sacrificed for
the benefit of the whole nation. The
United States cannot afford to go
ahead and make treaties and then al
low some local irritation to precipitate
an issue between 1t and the other ma
tons, that might require a war to set
tie. Had the San Francisco trouble
occurred 20 years from now when the
japanese had recuperated from their
recent war, il Is certain that the Unit
ed States would have had to back
down sharply or gone to war. The
common sense of the American people
will not stand for such an absurd ex-
ercise of local power that It virtually
transcends the national power. We
may be group of local units when
we are dealing with internal on lions.
but We are nation when Wo 1aaI W \
foreign states.
No Entanglement-
in foreign affairs when It maR.s These
treaties. To violate Jefferson sound
advice, We would have TO make oH.u--
i've alliances with foroicn powers.
These treaties are such ms mast boo
made to secure harmon trade poe
lat!ons with other nation. and one OF
the first provisions of 0rv treaty with
a sovereign state, is to aaree tha. their
citizens shall enjoy he same urNl-
eyes in our nation, thar our citizens
enjoy in their nation. Our treaty with
Japan provided this, and ,n d.scrim-
mating against Japaneee children.
San Francisco violated this treaty
and also violated the constitution.
which is the supreme law of tue land.
Nobody argues that grow japanese
should attend school with young Amer
lean children, but 1t is a notorious TACT
that the San Francisco riots were es-
sentially anti-Mongolian. A local
prejudice simply adopted means to
make itself felt, that far-sighted
statesmen believe will yet be paid for
in numherless lives and incalcula bic
wealth. Japan backed down, true
enough. But this backing down may
be similar to the backing down be-
fore the Russian advance-until ia
pan was ready TO strike: then Russia
found, as the world knows, that her
temporary gain was purchased with
a lasting setback. Japan will not for
get the San Francisco riots. She
knows and We know that our treaty
was violated.
We have been so absorbed in our
internal development and our own af-
fairs have been so engrossing, that We
do not realize that we are now carry
ing on a great commerce with other
nations. Nations any more than in
.dividuals, cannot live unto themselves.
Our growing commerce with foreign
nations must be aided by trade treat
les that will make concessions in or
der to get concessions. This does not
mean that we will have to throw open
our doors to coolie immigration. 1t
does mean that those citizens of the
nation with whom the treaty is made,
who May be in the United States.
shall have the same rights, privileges
and immunities of American citizens,
if the treaty specifies it. 1t does mean
that a treaty once made, is as supreme
in this country as the constitution it.
self, and that no state can make a
law that nullfies it. And common
sense will dictate that the people
should not in riots do what their leg
islatures cannot lawfully do. Some