The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-06-04
Ca7,i,,etti Still Troubled

II i IS dlthcult to understand Just what Commits
i sioner General of immigration Caminetti has
in mind when he suggests special legislation to
deal with the dual citizenship" Of the American
born Japanese in Hawaii, as reported from San
Francisco by wireless yesterday According to
the Constitution of the United States these chill
dren born In Hawaii are American citizens, and
nolegislation by congress can deprive them of all
that this citizenship Includes unless such legisa-
ton takes the form of discriminatory constitu-
tional amendment fantastic suggestion. What
the laws of Japan cover in respect to children
born abroad OF Japanese parents is not concerned
in the case, as certainly congress has no jurisdic-
ton either to interpret, enforce or alter Japanese
law -"
some legislation providing for citizenship in the
land Of the parents for children born abroad, pro-
vded the parents have not renowned their citizen
ship in the land Of their birth for the land Of their
adoption and hold an intention Of repatriation
Inasm,ich as Japanese citizens are, so far the
existing laws have been interpreted, unable to re-
nounee allegiance o~Japan1t Ito become American
citizens, naturally any law Of Japan that applies
to the children Of her citizens born abroad applies
10 those born here, whether they so desire or not.
Whether the American-born Japanese elect to be-
come Japanese subjects, as allowed by Japanese
law, or choose American citizenship, as allowed by
the Constitution, is their privilege. When the
young Japanese attains the age of twenty-one, he
must choose. He cannot exercise any rights of
citizenship here and at the same time claim Japa-
nese citizenship He cannot exercise the right of
a citizen in Japan and hold any rights an Amer
lean citizen, while il he remains in the United
States after attaining his majority, he is obligated
to all the duties of citizenship, whether he claims
the privileges Of his birthright not.
e Congress cannot alter any Of these things by
legislation short Of constitutional amendment.
What congress can do is to make it easier for the
Amercan-born Japanese to exercise their rights
as yAmerican-borf citizens. At the present time,
the immigration bureau Under Mr.. Camnetts
charge is used to curtal these citizens of the Uni
ted, States Of the rights ioyed by every other
citizen interposing every obstacle in the exercise
OF the right of these citizens TO free travel for one
thing, and using the force of the federal govern
ment to impress upon the American citizens of
Japanese blood their taken-for-granted alienship.
Mr.. Caminetti, ever since he took Office, has
gone out of his way to single out the Americans
of Hawaii, who happen to be of oriental parentage
as though they occupied some dubious status UNI
der the law. II he would come to Hawaii and
study conditions he would find that there are Just
as good Americans among the younger Japanese
and Chinese here there are among the children
Of foreigners on the mainland There is no good
reason discoverable why Hamamoto cannot be
quite as useful citizen and quite as loyal citi-
zen as Caminetti. 49,.
More legislation respecting the American-born
Japanese Of Hawaii is not needed but more COM
nonsense in the application Of existing legisla-
ton is ~