Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-04-25
OUR DUTY TO OURSELVES.

-
Looking at the matter from tn
standpoint Of mere American, ant
stripped Of the frills Of diplomats
verbiage, it appears to us that al
this fuss over what California may
or may not do, regarding land legis
lation is mostly California's busi
ness. Maybe, this is the much-dis
cussed, and sometimes despised
doctrine Of state rights. If so, we i
have to accept the condemnation oi
those who believe that the rights Of
the states are not paramount to those
of the nation. Nor do we say that
they are-always. But conditions 0r
the Pacific coast are much different
from those that prevail in the middle
west and in other sections Of OuI
country, and those who are not ia
miliar with them, are in no position
to lay down the law to US and tell US
our duty.
Looking at the question in its
broader sense, we must all admit, of
course, that no state has a legal, or
a moral right to enact legislation
that shall violate the terms Of any
international agreement or treaty;
but we should not take the conten-
tion Of the outside nation as proof
positive that such violation has re-
suited. There are two sides to every
question and both should be carefully
considered before we jump at conclu-
sions. Merely because Japan in
sists that the enactment Of the pro-
posed anti-alien land law Of Califor-
MIA, will abrogate existing treaties
does not necessarily imply that this
is true. Perhaps Japan may look at
the matter from a different viewpoint
certainly she is vitally interested
in the legislation since a number Of
her subjects will be affected.
The Observer believes that, gener
ally speaking, the law which pre-
vents aliens from owning real estate,
is right America and her resources
should be primarily for Americans.
Our first duty is to our own people,
and they should be protected at all
hazards. When we declare by stat
ute that citizenship may not be ex-
tended to the subjects of any coun-
try, by such enactment we effectually |
erect an embargo against the people |
Of that country, and to permit them,
nevertheless, to own property in a |
nation Of which they are not even
subjects, is to open the way for the |
admission and protection of possible
foes. Under present conditions, when
Japan calls her people, in case of
war, or other urgent need, they re-
spOnd with a unanimity that is re-
markable. Their first duty is to their
emperor and they leave their titled
garden patches, and their chosen avo-
cations, and swarm over the sea to
take up arms for their country, and
their enemy is as liable to be the
United tSates as any other nation.
So long as citizenship is denied the
japanese, or any other people, they
should not be permitted to become
property owners and thereby be guar
anteed protection for their property
United States as any other nation.
at the expense Of the nation, or the
spilling Of the blood Of the American
people. They cannot join with rs to
repel a foreign foe, therefore they
are not entitled to the same adyan-
tages that Americans enjoy.
This may not be a diplomatic view
of the situation, but il is one that
appeals to every true-blue citizen of
this country, and it is the one that
will eventually triumph, We believe. {
Japan has long ago accepted the die
tum Of the United States against adj I
mitting to citizenship the people of {
her country; she should not now OBJ
lNNA W tlAt AAAlAAAAN NNANtAllN Va NllAA I
embargo, the refusal to permit her /
subjects 30 become the benefciaries y
1f this government. Japan has been {
content TO permit her people TO come !
10 the United States aud prosper as !
hey could never hope to do in the d
and of their nativity, at the same {
lime knowing that these same for $
une hunters stood ready and willing. 2
III the time, 10 respond 10 the call of I
he emperor and take up arms for 2
he defense of the blood-red flag Of N
he Mikado. However. when it comes i
o a point where it is proposed 10 pro a
ect our own people against the grad "
Ial and steady encruaehment Of an a
lien citizenship. against the usurp- n
ng Of property rights by those whose q
My interest here Is what they may il
ain financially by their stay. she (
aturally complains, and the Toxic e-
ovemment. always soieitous for the Il
elfare Of its subjects, Is quick to $,
lierpOse objections. r,
We do not know what the outcome -
this dispute may be. but We sin q