The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-05-20
Press of Japan or, California Problem

will clear away the clouds Some fear that the presclt
trouble may drive the two countries TO the verge of
Nothing unlikely. The OF the Californgns
lies simply in this that while they heartily welcomed the
japanese long their assistance needed in deve
opng the agriculture of the State they wish TO de-
prive these harmless folk of the fruits of their labor 1t
needless TO talk of treaty provisions or of the Amer
can Constitution The Cafornans contemplating
tidn that any would be ashamed Of in his intercourse
with his neghbors The Americans must be the first to
feel offended by such conduct
The Japan Times believes that money talks in this
and that the japanese chambers of and
sociaons should be forwarding funds to help the jap
in America fight their for the right Of HATH
ralizaon in the Supreme Court instead of forwarding
messages and words of coincidence for the Japanese
residents of California. 1--WE have repeatedly urged
says that Journal tha the only satisfactory solution Of
the anJapanese agitation in California is the acquisition
of the right of naturalization by nationals Our lead
ing contemporaries apparently of the same opinion
Several foreign newspapers Japan also argue similarly
Furtheroret the opinion held by the entire Japanese
community I'm America. On the other hand President
Wilson himself suggested taking the question to the Su
preme Court of the United States Naturalization would
appear to be the kernal of the whole question Still no
actual efforts have been made the California land
problem started to solve the fundamental question
in practical and enectve way 1t would that there
something anss in all this For all other endeayors for
protecting the rights of Japan and the japanese and the
exchange of kilograms expressing sympathy while good
i'll their way, will be of little in obtaining radical
solution of the problem.
1.-THE right of naturalization for the japanese in
America has not yet been finally passed upon by the high
ncty this regard far the Japanese are concerned
Article Section WILL of the Constitution of the United
States gives congress- power TO establish uniform rule
OF naturalization, In accordance with the provision, con
gress has enacted various naturalization laws These laws
provide for the procedure of naturalization of any alien
who is white person, of African nativity or African
descent The naturalization of Cinnamon is expressly
prohibited by Section IA Chaper 1876 Laws of 1892 They
say nothing about the Japanese.
''When the question arises in connection with sub
ject for which express provision made in the Con
to 1icta tp
that it should be decided according the spirit of the
Constitution. The United States Constitution and its
amendments are all pervaded with the spirit of equality
and freedom to all persons. The X1vth Amendment to
the Constitution provides that all persons born na-
rallied in the United States citizens thereof. They
should include japanese born in America The XVIII
Amendment says The right of the citizens of the United
States to vote shall not be denied abridged by the
United States by any State account of race color
or previous condition of servitude These questions
to be decided by the Supreme Court through due
OF legal procedure But not but feel that the spirit
of the constitution if rightly interpreted does co-
tenance any discrimination of aliens of race
color In fact the Civil War fought to establish the
principle that all human beings whether white black
should receive and enjoy equal rights in the great Repub
lie, founded for the cause of liberty and freedom
Even in case the decision of the Supreme Court
prove uavorabe to the Japanese, the question is rot
finally decided We have received kilograms from all
parts of the States showing public opinion represented
by the press to be in favor of the Japanese coneatcns
in California Should California enact the Anti-sl en-
Land Bills that State would be charged with setting at
naugt all the principles OF justice and equity for he sake
of its selfish purposes The majority Of the American pco
pie will try to redress by means they have at their CON
inand the injustice done by member of the Union the
people with whom they arc on unusually friendly teus
Any way they have the power to do So by providing
the naturalization of the Japanese through of
gress
"As matter of course, it is impossible to success
fully carry out such campaign without sufficient funds
The burden of expenses naturally falls the shoulders
of the Japanese in America especially of those directly
affected by the California legislation, But the expenses
for taking test the Supreme Court will cost thou,
sands of dollars There is much wealth among the Jap
anese in America, and pubcsprited individuals among
them will be willing to pay the expenses for the benefit
of the whole community Bit when that the cham
bers of commerce meeting day by day, other commercial
bodies cabling their sympathy to their compatriots in
California and protests to the foreign government and e
gislatures, and the politicians raising loud protest we
are tempted to ask why these people do not send over
effective assistance than mere words and begin the
test at once before public sympathy for the Jap
subsidies The if successfully carried will save
President Wilson from the delicate situation of being
caught between friendly Power and an unfriendIy
State"