Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-05-30
THE JAPANESE QUESTION

Golfers Weekly has published
an editorial which 50 thoroughly
covers every phase of the yexed
Japanese problem and presents such
logical conclusions that The Herald
reproduces it in full and urges that
it be given a very careful reading;
The question involved in the Cali
fornia anti-alien land law is not for
today alone 1t is for generations to
come. 1t is not a Japanese question
alone. 1t is a Chinese question,
Hindu question, a Korean question,
Syrian and Armenian question. 1t
Is not a matter of the United States
alone 1t is a Canadian question, an
Australian question, a South Ameri-
can question: a Mexican question, a
South African question, New Zea-
land question.
1t is a world question. 1t is a prob
lem for all time.
Ii is the local outcropping of the
greatest Of world problems the
riddle of the intermingling of races.
1t can not be settled on the mar
row basis of any treaty with Japan,
nor on the local basis of opinion in
California, nor the feelings of the
people of all the states on the Pacific
coast.
1t ought not to be adjusted by the
people of the United States in ignor-
ance, nor prejudice. nor with refer
ence to political platforms, nor the
demand for cheap labor.
1t can not be lightly sighted off
1t is an irrepressible struggle. 1t
Will persist for ages. Its complex
tiles and its menace are bound to be
come nearer and more menacing as
every invention in transportation
and every advance in commerce
brings white men and brown men
and yellow men into closer contact
with each other.
There are certain principles of
right and wrong which enter into it..
These must be studied. They should
De canVassed in Washington, Tokyo,
Peking, Calcutta, Delhi, Melbourne
sydney. Cape Town, Johannesburg
New York, London. The final adj
lustment, if one can be arrived at,
must be made with reference to these
principles of right and wrong
Let us consider the attitude Of
Japan in the premises. The Japan
csc are a fine and strong people.
lhey are very proud, just as we are
very proud. They have just as much
reason to be proud as we have. They
nave a very ancient and splendid civ
inzation. They are poets and artists
ana scientists. They have a fine sys-
tenn of ethics, and some virtues
which they can teach us. In
patriotism, in enterprise, in eff
cheney, all along the line of modern
me- they compare fayorably with all
other peoples. They are not infer
lor to us-let that be admitted at
the outset. So long as we act with
reference to them on the theory that
they are inferior, we shall be in the
wrong. They think themselves
superior to us. We think ourselves
superior to them. That is the nat
ural attitude of the mass of the peo-
PIE OF every land. But in the last
analysis the Japanese will be en-
utied to the verdict that they are
Just as able, just as efficient, ana
Just as good as we are.
What reason can we find, then
ior making laws which will tend TO
Keep the Japanese out? Let us see
"hat our destiny is and how it must
De worked out, determine what our
problems are, and see what effect
sne incoming of the orientals would
nave on our affairs:
We of the great Caucasian ma