Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-06-23
HaWaii's Most Vital Problem is
Race Problem, He Says, and
Points Moral for School

: ~ u o.
Points Moral for School
s'Punahou's DUTY and Opportunity"
was strikingly set forth yesterday aft.
ernoon by Lorrin A. ThurstoA as a
part of the Punshou anniversary pro-
gram and as one of the strongest feat.
ures Of the closing day. -.
Dwelling on the roots Of missionary
work In Hawaii and the unselfish and
democratic spirit Of the pioneers, he
declared that this same spirit must
rule Hawaii as an American common
wealth, and the race issues must not
arise. He pointed to Punahou's op.
portunity to see that they do not arise.
He said in part: ..--
1 submit that one of the most vital
problems now II cling Hawaif-the ma.
tion, In fact; q problem which Puma.
hou must MEETS the race question.
So long as human beings exist. on
earth there win be likes, dislikes, and
preiudices based on race origin.
But it Is common knowledge that in
Hawaii, with its many nationalities liy-
ing In intimate proximity and relation.
ship, race friction has been, modified
and race friendship promoted to a
greater extent than In any other part
of the world. Hawaii Is stranger to
race rioting, and lynching is unknown
here.
This unique status is due to the fact
ais, OF moral responsibility, of the re.
lationship between and the obligation
OF man to man, has been, and to O
great extent still is, permeated by the
spirit Of the American mission.
The founders of Runahou came from
democratic communities where the
very term race ISSUE was unknown.
Their whole scheme Of life was based
on elevating, Improving, and helping
their neighbors, leaving no room for
prejudice. le- r.
with these races a perpetual and
integral part of our population, our
problem, both as territory and as
school, is not how to get rid OF them
how to get away from them; but how
best to impregnate them with the de,
sired American spiritI how best to
educate them and cooperate with
them for mutual benefit and the com
mon good; and know Of no better
medium for accomplishing this than
through the schools, nor any school
better suited for leadership for the
purposes than Punahou.
The desired work cannot be aehiey,
ed by drawing away from our citizens
of alien descent. 1t can. only be
reached by getting closer to them.
What do advocate? Removing all
barriers and permitting all corners to
enter Punahou regardless Of qualifi
cations? .-.,.. .=.-
Far from 1T! ... ~.
Americanism the Dominating Spirit.
For the ayowed purpose Of maintain:
ing the acknowledged necessary Am.
ericanism as the dominating spirit, II
is essential that Americans remain
the controlling influence. -
1t is likewise necessary that q Ger
tain moral standard; certain intel
lectual standard; certain educational
standard; certain knowledge-of-Eng
lish standard should be maintained as
basis of admission; otherwise the
standard of efficiency Of the school
as whole would be lowered, which
would be unfair to the American child
rem and injurious as we'll to the other
races. The: exact nature Of these en-
trance requirements cannot be fixed
by rule or by law.
They will have to change with
changed conditions; but so long as
lthey are reasonably appropriate fol
the purpose and not made blind fol
an exclusion policy they viii excite
no resentment.
"a Am Ny Brothers Brother"
do not suggest that Punahou adopt
the doctrine that 81 am my brother
keeper" but rather that Il am my
brothers brother" and the incidental
duty is to give our brother fair play
and equal opportunity, and not at
tempt to fix his status by virtue Of
the pigment in his skin, or because oi
the particular spot on the earth where
his gone-and-forgotten great GRANDPA
Tiers happened to have been born.
When the Japanese Vote Increases.
The question is frequently asked
What is going to happen when al
the young Japanese who are born citi
gems get to voting?"
l recently asked this question Of &
Hawaiian-bo Japanese, and received
the trite reply: Well, l think you
will at least have as responsible ar
electorate as you Nave now"
Be that as it may, they are here
they will have the right to vote ant
/ in all probability will avail themselve!
of the privilege.
If we take the initiative in settint
them apart in a class by themselves
human nature and self-defense will
force them to continue to act as sep
arate class, and naturally, from ;
standpoint antagonistic to those who
have antagoniZed them.
On the other hand, if We continue
the policy of recognition of thei
rights as men among men, and accort
them every privilege :. consistFn
with their mathematics or Amerieai
standards, the graft fSing results Hs'icl
have heretofore resulted from sucl
policy win, I verify believe. continue
i TO he obtained = s.