The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-23
WILSON APPEALS
To CALIFORNIANS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO.

stances to embarrass the government OF
the United States in its dealing with a
nation with whom 1t has most earnestly
and cordially sought to maintain rela-
tions of genuine friendship and good will,
and that that least of all do they desire
to do anything that might impair treaty
obligations or cast a doubt upon the
honor and good faith of the nation and
its government.
Il, therefore, appeal with the utmost
confidence to the people. the Governor,
and the Legislature of California to act
in the matter now under consideration
in manner that cannot from any point
of view be fairly challenged or called
in question. If they deem 1t necessary
to exclude all aliens who have not de-
clared their intention to become citizens
from the privilege OF land ownership,
they can do so along lines already fol-
lowed in the laws OF many Of the other
States and of many foreign countries,
including Japan herself. 1nvidious dis
elimination will inevitably draw in ques-
ton the treaty obligations of the govern
ment of the United States. 1 register
my very earnest and respectful protest
against discrimination In this case. not
only because I deem 1t my duty TO do
so as the Chief Executive of the nation.
but also, and the more readily, because
l believe that the people and the legls-
lative authorities of California will gen.
erously respond the moment the matter
is frankly presented to them as ques-
ton Of national policy. and OF national
honor. II they have ignored this point
of view, it is, / am sure, because they
did not realize what and how much
was involved.
Varslaman's Statement.
Here is the tsatement issued by Sena-
tor Vardaman:
1T is very gratifying to me to observe.
the stand taken by the people of Cali
fornia on the question of alien owner
ship of land. Stripped of all unneces-
sary verbiage, simply means decla-
ration in favor OF Anglo Saxon suprem-
acy in America. This is a white mans
government. and, therefore, must remain
a white mans country. And anything
that interferes in any way with the in
dustrial and political supremacy of the
white race betokens evil and ought to
be avoided While / have no feeling of
hostility toward the Japanese or the ne
gro. I am deeply interested in maintin-
ing the purity of the Caucasian race
and the preservation OF Anglo Saxon civ
iIization IL to prohibit the Japanese
from leasing and holding land in Cali
fornia would lose the friendship and in
terfere with our business intercourse with
the japanese people, l should very cheer
fully make the sacrifice. I should rather
cut off all business relations with the
Japanese Empire-yes, l will make 1t the
to sacrifice the interests OF
the white people of that one small sec
ton of the State of California.
Race purity is Indispensable TO eau
causian supremacy. And the only way TO
maintain that supremacy is to prohibit
by law the co-mingling of the races.
1t has been well said: 1t is idle to talk
of education and civilization and the Ike
as corrective or comparative agencies.
All are weak and beggarly as over against
the almightiness of heredity. the ON
impotence of the transmitted germ
plasm. Let this be amerced of its
ancient rights, let IL be shorn In
some measure of its exceeding weight
of ancestral glory, let IL be soiled in
nothing shall ever restore it; neither
wealth, nor culture. nor science, nor art,
nor morality, nor religion-and even
itself
II congratulate the people of California
upon their independence and regardless
of what may follow, l hope they will
pass the law. And then | hope the courts
may not assume the right to declare the
law invalid or unconstitutional in order
to avoid complications. The race ques-
ton in California will serve to call at
tenton to the American people of a
still more difficult race problem of the
South The Japanese in California are
but handful to the total population,
while the negro in some of the Southern
States is largely in the majority. And
the Japanese is not undesirable a
citizen as the negro. He is capable Of
some degree If civilization. He has sus-
tanned powers Of self-development, while
the negro depends upon somebody else
for development In all the ages of the
world, the negro has not shown the
least capacity for self-development. Its
is the same creature today in the heart
Of Africa that he was when the Phar
oahs ruled in Egypt. / repeat, I should
like to avoid all dsagreeable complica
tons, but the supremacy of the white
man and the integrity of the white race
in America are of vastly more impor-
lance than the good will or the business
of all the alien races on earth