The sun., 1919-10-08

knowledge and with a bias created by
race prejudices and should not be ac-
cepted at face value without investiga-
ton.
Kind but Rigid with Germans.
The Japanese have been accused of
being lenient with the Germans during
the war. l refer to those resident In
Japan. To those who pass snap judg-
ment and who do not know the soul of
these people there would be difficulty
in understanding how kindness coul1 be
shown to enemy subjects interned In
their country without the Japanese being
traitors to the allied cause.
Let II be thoroughly understood that
in so far as war regulations and hon
orable international conduct were con-
cerned the Japanese people carried their
observations of enemy subjects to such
lengths that at times even our own
citizens having German grandfathers or
names sounding German were subjected
to police scrutiny which was embarras-
sing. I know OF one case where a Ger
man was dispossessed Of his business in
Yokohama and then later on when his
life became extremely difficult the jap
anesc police made arrangements for him
to teach a night school and thus earn
enough to live. His movements were
under complete surveillance at all times.
but they found a way to be kind to even
him, their enemy.
In the same manner Japanese and Chi
nese immigrants came to this country
fifty years ago and made a lasting contri-
button to the wealth and beauty of our
nation, in return for which we excluded
and slandered them. An immigration
from southern Europe which has figured
SO prominently in our labor disturbances
in recent years was permitted in ever in
creasing numbers and welcomed as fine
vote makers; there was no cry Of peril
at these white immigrants. A study of
tho characteristics of Aslatic labor would
disclose that the worst charge we can
substantiate is that they are perhaps
more frugal than we. Our opposition 20
them certainly is not based upon any in
herent qualities which render them un-
desirable for citizenship; at almost any
of our great educational institutions you
find among the alumni OF the first rank
the names of Chinese and Japanese.
An Appear for Fairness.
If being studious, we'll behaved, indus
trious and frugal, willing to perform the
duties of citizenship, render men unfit
for residence among lis then what can
be the definition of ourselves and our
own qualities? Don't we possess any Of
these? l as one American should hate
to admit this These are the thoughts
of one, long resident among our Jap
anese and Chinese friends
In the wake of the great war. while
our passions are cooling. 1t might be we'll
for us to cultivate some of the poise and
self-control OF which you have just heard
perhaps II might not do US any harm to
seriously investigate the underlying quail
tiles which make men masters under the
severest OF difficulties.
Just at this time, when hundreds of
thousands of producers of materials are
refusing to produce, when one code OF
ethics fails to override another and gen.
eral chaos stares us in the face, might it
not be well TO allow those whom we have
been civilizing to take a turn at civiliz-
ing us? These sentiments at first seem
out of place, but think them over. do a
little investigating on your own account
and then make your answer