The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-04-29
The California Qptesto1---A Japanese Solution ,1s

cumsauces which in the interests of mutual ffepdship
necessitae her voluntary restriction of enigrationto the
United States. and in view of Japans faithful aerehee
to this undersandng the exclusion of the Japanese from
the privilege Of naturalization cannot be indicated
9q8d iaat We're this privilege accorded the country
first papGis As regards the naturalization issue Japan
occupies Stronger ground than on the land issue since
III Japan all fofeigneTs, Americans included, may become
Whereas they cannot own land individuals
although white the general liberality which Japan eX
hbits in this respect Cannot logically be cited TO JTfy
the dscrminative withdrawal by California; OF IA gig,
Iaready granted and P operation despiteIti eXsenee
of general disability III Japan it is neVtfthefess9ertai
that the sympathy with Japan in her pfesh6 PIotes
would be mmeasrably greater We're her own laws more
generous and enlightened in their treatment ofthe alien
resident here In preferring demand upon America
for the privilege of naturalization Japan could at least
base it upon her own practise toward Americans among
all other nationals.
What then, is the favore and familiar argument
against the naturalization of Japanese in America! I'm
doubleday their failure to assimiae with the American
population and to become loyal American citizens. Their
applications for the privileges of citizenship, it is con-
tended would always be inspired by self-interest, and
at heart they would remain Japanese subjects Ad-
hitting that this contention is true in itself can
foreigners in general and Americans in particular assert
that the average foreign applicant for naturalization III
Japan is prompted by ideasc motives that either the
pure or mixed offspring OF the narazed alien IN Japan
exhibit marked tendency to assimiate with the
Japanese and to identify themselves with their lives and
interests than do the pure mixed offspring OF Japanese
naturazed in America? The experiment of intercourse
.
yet too to draw conclusions side the other
While America persists in tacity regarding the Japanese
unworthy OF being admitted to citizenship condition
essentially preliminary to all genuine assimation-and
while white women who venture to marry Japanese are
in States treated almost pariahs and outcasts
it is manfestly dsngenuous to pretend that the expert
men has been given "A fair trial. Yet Notwithstanding
the discrimination to which they subjected the
naturalized Japanese in America have hitherto given
more evidence of desire to asSimlae with the natives
than have naturazed foreigners in Japan. Jap
anese in America for the most part Occidental dress
eat Occidental food live i'll Occidental houses, and
only too to send their children to American schools
There is such general corresponding disposition among
foreigners in Japan. The State which will not marry
japanese man and white woman and which favors the
! Uy of segregatng Japanese school children, is in
position to the Japanese of reluctance to assm
late We far from ascrbmg this conduct to unworthy
motives On the contrary in the majority of the
anIupanese legislator is genuinely convinced that he is
the savior of his country But the Japanese provert
has it, Todai motto kraShiit is dark beneath the light
house and those at distance often better posi-
on to things in their true international and histor
cal perspective than the person the spot who is gov
= cr1led solely by local considerations