Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-19

!
its selfish schemes, America could
ne depended upon TO be both fair and
kind. The belief of this people in us
has been one OF the ideal things in
the realm Of international relation
ships. unique in human history Its
depth was reflected few years ago
by Admiral Togo in a speech made in
one of the Pacific Coast cities where
he exclaimed that his nation would
sooner commit harakiri than fight
America. That is sentiment which
only one acquainted with Japanese
honor can understand Ii belongs TO
the realm of the Cross.
But with the conclusion of the
peace OF Portsmouth, America began
TO change. II is now openly charged
that this change has been deliberately
engineered by commercial interests
which would profit by war-those ter
ribly sinister interests that through
out the European world also are goad-
ing the nations on to ever larger arm
aments. This charge seems plausi-
BILE. 1t is the only explanation that
adequately accounts for the strange
ii
the past eight years. Events have fol
lowed fast First came, seemingly
from nowhere, the suggestion that
Japan was sure to menace America
and that a war was inevitable Next
the California school excitement, a
press-fanned blaze, scorched both ma
tions
Here President Roosevelt faced the
greatest moment III his career. AS a
threat to coerce California he declared
that he would champion a measure adj
hitting Japanese to the privilege Of
naturalization upon equal terms with
Europeans Whatever be the opinions
of our fellow-citizens concerning
Colonel Roosevelt. on one thing all
must agree, that he has rare political
vision. He saw with unerring insight
the one inevitable solution of the diff
ficult and delicate situation between
the two nations. Japan with admira-
bic patience had borne the unjust and
irritating implications that our law,
making her people ineligible to Amer
lean citizenship, carries. Her states
men refused to raise the question,
trusting to the Christian character of
our people as certain 90 rfghs the
wrong sometime. But the injustice
vas there and its sting was felt,
though borne in the spirit CT the
friendship that animated the nation.
1t was the one seed o. possible dis
cord between the two peoples and
President Roosevelt kne wit He also
knew both that its removal would
cement the two great Pacific powers
as no other one thing could and that
the opening of the privilege of citizen
ship to Japanese would forever end
the troublesome California question
A stroke of world craftsmanship Of
the highest order lay IN his power
IL he had dealt it he would have won
a name in Asia that would never have
been dimmed. 1t was the greatest
miss of great career in the history
of cur country But instead of this
dove of peace he sent battleship
fleet and Japan responded by eApend-
ing a million dollars in friendly well
come, viii Mr.. Bryan grasp the like
opportunity?
I'VE need not review the occur
rences of the past few years nor the
present anti-Japanese Pacific coast
legislation which have so complicated
the situation That which faces us on
Peace Sunday in Christian church is
a single question: What is our ma
tion's duty to Japan?
Arguments Sound Familiar.
In striving to answer this question
we must remember that we face q
situation demanding fair considera-
ton. The people of California have
something to urge upon their own
side. Many of the Japanese who go
there act in manner OF which their
countrymen are heartily ashamed, ex-
actly as numbers of our own fellow
citizens have done in Asiatic ports.
They are without doubt somewhat
disturbing factor in labor circles,
though by no means so largely as pop
ular clamor would have us believe.
PROFESSIONALLY some of them have
squeezed employers wnen they could,
and have deprecated property by NOV
ing next to it. So have the Jews in
many city, In fact the arguments
used by Californians sound strangely
like pleas L have heard in Eastern
states against Greeks, Syrians, Ital-
ians, Bohemians, Hungarians and 9TH
er strangers. The trouble is that Cali
fornia has had little experience with
down and ont EuroDeans and when