New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-21
A JAPANESE DECLARATION
How Hostile Feeling Has Arisen and
What Should Be Done.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR. IS In the past many disastrous.
bur pfeventable. tragedies among differ
ent nations and races have been caused
through the lack Of mutual apprecis ton
understanding or simply through isno-
rance. I should ask Tor your courtesy 10
let me have another opportunity To ex-
press the views of the Japanese would
b. Americans concerning the California
alien land owI.orsuip act. BECAUSE II IS be-
yond ms contio. 10 cherish secret eriey-
ances within myself.
When ~ advised japanese political agl-
tatofs stir up anti-American sentiment IN
Toxic and elsewhere the American public
is naturally likely 10 take IL as II repre-
senting the sentiment ~ the Japanese IN
this country The fact is very far from IT,.
When the san Francisco school trouble
put 70 mettle statesmen on both sides OF
the Pacific a number or japanese de-
nounced the attitude of the japanese gov
eminent and warned them to keep hands
OF. Is that matter should have been set
tied in American courts. though In vain
The alien land bill was duplicate of the
.
many Japanese looked up TO the federal
courts FOR its settlement. The early part
81 April I myself appealed 20 President
Wilson To let the bill pass and afterward
test its Constitutionality IN courts by the
way. | am proud 10 add that President
Wilson acknowledged the receipt NJ my
appeal through the Secretary " state
Firmly ! believe my view is still held by
true Japanese In this country. The con-
science Of the American peoeple. the
United States government and courts pro
vide ample protection 70 Us all.
Unfortunately. matter that ought 10
have ended one domestic did become an in
ternational issue through the news seekIns
press correspondents and certain unrepre-
sentative Japanese resident in this coun-
try. To err is human. and If Japanese
made blunders through youth and mistak-
en- ideas generous Americans, am sure
will forgive them.
What has been done is done. and what
remains Is that both japanese and Amer
lean statesmen should approach the ques-
ton with sincere. conciliatory spirit and
arrive at a peaceful solution.
Concerning the advisability OF nsturaliZ-
ins the japanese, President Jordan OF the
stanford University sees mo good reason
why this privilege should not be granted
to japanese. They are certainly as likely
10 he good citizens as people OF any other
nation" In this connection / may be al
lowed 10 quote the late Justice David
Brewer from his american Citizenship" ::
H.
stay. whose excursion no legislation can
check is bringing us whether we will or
no. into the great council OF nations.
Japan one nation In the silent ORR
ent. felt the touch of our national activity.
and she has passed out OF obscurity into
the great life OF the world. and to-day
stands as one Of the great life Of the
world So whether we wished or
not. we are forced into a position where
national life is not simply TO be consid-
cred IN reference 10 those within our tor
ritory. but ms IN important and dominant
fact i'm the grea, councils Of the world
shall We in these councils and IN our
dealings with others follow the Tallcy-
rand notion that language is something
h conceal rather than express thought
or shall We stand as one nation AT least
whose purposes and life are measured by
absolute truth and honesty nation
which has no secondary and concealed
motive in its dealings with others ma
ton which always SAYS what II means
and means what IT says, and strives TO
have every uttersnce with the highest die
tates ~ truth and Justice
What japanese desire is that their
status should he defined I'm clear, unmis-
taxable American language in accordance
to with the American ideals and ira
,litions. II japanese should he excluded
from the right OF naturalization this ma
ton should declare So and certainly rea-