Lower coast gazette., 1909-02-13
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18th 1909.

The Japanese Question in California.
Emperor William of Germany made himself SO ridiculous in
his various assumptions of power and capacity that 1t
resulted in the composition Of the famous poem on Nine
self and Colt, - which was 50 effectively reched at a dinner table
by the late Admiral Coghlan that it became the talk OF the world.
President Roosevelt is so anxious in his assumption OF power to
to purify the United States and to take care of al. other countries,
and especially of the countries south Of us, that be hestates at
.acarcely anything that lies within his power, whether the same is
sanctioned by law or not, With the secret police under his control
he has been endeavoring to find fault with congress aconateral branch
of the government, the ACTUAL law making branch, and perhaps it
may finally be ascertained that he has been utilizing the secret
service police for the purpose of investigating the supreme court,
which while not the dominating power, it is the final arbitsr in
all disputes that may reach it, while our active president under the
law has, nothing to do but to execute the laws of Congress
unless they may have been set aside by the supreme court, and to
make such recommendations to Congress as may tohim, the presi-
dent, seem fit.
President Roosevelt has recently been engaged in endeav-
pring to run the state Of California, although that state is a
member of the federal union, with state powers equal to any Of
the rest and the right to decide for itself whether or net the
japanese CHILDREN shall be segregated into schools Of their own, or
be Omitted into the white schools Of the state. So far as we have
noticed i is generally admitted that the state of California has the
right to segregate the Japanese, just as the United States had the
right to exclude the Chinese from all Of the states aud just as our
own state determines the segregation Of colored people in schqQls
and in street cars. President Roosevelt seems much distressed by
California thus avaiing of the power reserved to the states and
many Of the leading newspapers Of the country coincide with his
views az To tHG iHpfOpTcty VI SUCH SegitSdtOh u AAe jdpd-
pese.
Our people are not apt to forget that the white mans civliza-
lion, the civilization of Western Europe and of the western world,
is an entirely new civilization, brought about since the downfall Of
the Roman Empire. Its chief features are Thought to have been
developed by the christian religion and with eminent propriety have
always been identified Herewith. The improved status of women,
1aonogamy and the NATURALIZATION and perpetuaton of distinct
families has been the foundation of civilization in this western world,
while in the Far East the position Of women has been entirely subor
dinated to that Of men and they have been held in practical slavery
oI - - nhoNn~odou vyort0 III ro or for al r. hoEovo IL "a
women have no souls. The Orient and 0ccdent meet in California
and the white C~aifornians are Disposed to resst the tide Of the
little brpwrmen that is invading their shores. W. know that the
japanese are bright, intelligent people, and capable of accomplish
ing wonderful things, but it remains to US to see whether or not
they shall enter our families or our states, ,oriour tsrritorias. This
right may have finally to be determined by war, but it is not for
President Roosevelt to determine it. That duty may fall upon
congress in due course and congress in its wisdom will decide what
todo.
The crux Of the present situation seems to rest upon the trea-
ty making powers of the United States, but it would be a singular
and certainly one not contemplated by the makers of the consti.
tuition of the United States If the treaty making power in the
hands Of the president and the United States Senate, would per-
init the granting Of rights to foreigners in direct opposition to the
reserved rights of the states. The state is technically older than
the federal union and as we know, no powers have been granted to
the federalunion excepting such as are expressed in the federal con
stitudon. The power of states to s~egregate races Of people within
taeirown limits is affected by the 14th and 18th amendments of
! the federal constitution and we have no doubt but that in due
course Of time this whole matter will reach the supreme court. Mr..
Blaine In his day advocated the Chinese exclusion laws of the fed
eral government have been maintained ever since, Notwithstanding
the protests of China. The Japanese segregation laws OF, Califor-
MIA are equally positive in the direction of segregation and await
their definition in the supreme court Of the United States on be-
ing bhught before it by competent parties, by which time we pre-
sumo that President Roosevelt will have passed from under the
lime light and will repose in the shades of distant Africa. or in
lome other place, where his personality will be less obtrusiye,
*tSure Nike
Cur contemporary, the editor of the Protector, heads the lead.
Ing editorial IN his last issue with the inquiry win He Help?'
BE indicates his own willingness ta put his shoulder to the wheel
70 do his night and with our assistance believes that. much
good can be accomplished by our people and qur beautiful parish. !"
Admitting, for the sake of argument, the sincerity Of the editor in
his efforts for the good Of the parish, we frankly state that we be-
ieve that we shall do a hundred times the good that he can do,
not by tax resistance or tax reduction, but by the proper presen-
tation Of the advantages that our parish offers to settlers mot