The Pensacola journal., 1922-12-03
The Pulse of the Nation

| here, we begin to mark off the popula-
| tiOn into fixed classes. And the mo-
ment we do that we deny the democratic
principle which this nation was found
ed"
This tightening in anti-Asiatic poll
! icy will doubtless inflame that section
| of Japanese feeling which is already
bitter toward Americans" says the Bal
timore Sun, "but the fact remains that
our course in this matter is closely
paralleled by the attitude of the Jap
anese government toward the white
races" In addition, the Philadelphia
Public Ledger feels, that this final de-
| cision is in line and in harmony with
the whole sweep of our enactments and
| decisions and it does reflect the Ameri-
can wish and determination" The New
! York Times points out that nothing is
really changed by the opinion of the su-
preme court which simply interprets the
| true intent Of congress in enacting the
naturalization law" while the New York
World explains that at lies within the
discretion of congress to raise the bars
against all but Caucasions and Africans,
for reasons good or bad, but expressed
in the form of law. 1t is thus entirely
a matter of policy
The Japanese have right to resent
this discrimination" in the opinion of
the BROOKLYN ILdSlS. dIu lIAG uSNiSloAL
places the burden for this discrimina-
ton squareIy upon tha shoulders of the
nation where hitherto it has rested un-
fairly upon the western states" The
opinion shows, the Pittsburgh Leader
says, that lit is not question Of hu-
man superiority in the final analysis,
but of color of skin. The coat does not
make the man may be our democratic
boast, but the color of the skin does.
Two generations hence the people Of the
United States may be asking each ',th-
er why the people CT 1922 9Id not have
common sense and foresight enough TO
have included the Japanese among the
races fit to become citizens IF our ccun-
try. since they have become citizens ty
birth, which is equal TO naturalization
in the long run" While Japanese Of
ficialdom," is likely to take a wise view
of the decision, the Baltimore American
suggests that it also "is forced IN these
days to deal automatically with the
growing democratic rampandsIu in
Japan.
Carefully reviewing the entire decision
and the reasons of the court the Newark
News shows that no afrOnt to Jaren"
is indicated and Japan has no cause TO
feel aggrieved. The United States has
right, as has Japan, TO decide for her
self the qualifications for citizenship.
America has officially recognized Japan
as among the great nations Of che world.
On international questions, affecting
b\th nations, we have admitted Japan's
greatness and her hight 10 be consulted.
On internal affairs we hold, and hold
properly, that no one has the righS TO
interfere with our decisions" The belief
likewise is expressed by the Utica OBJ
server Dispatch that 'the American
stock and the yellow races cRn never
peaceable mingle. They ere entirely
distinct and separate peoples and should
be kept so. They can tolerate each othtr
in business and that is as fa- as they
should go. The law thar the United
States supreme couSt has sustained in
the present decision. : entirely just and
reasonable" 1t & is. the Boston
Transcript feels. 4 desire - maintain
our racial purity ehat has impelled the
United States TO deny American citizen
ship to the nationals Of japan"