The Wilmington morning star., 1944-05-10
Sino-Japanese Differences

Since the Marco Polo bridge incident pre-
cipitated the Sino-Japanese war, and partl-
tieularly since the United States stopped ap'
peasing Japan with gasoline and scrap iron
following the unprovoked attack on Pearl Har-
Dor, racial differences between the Chinese
and Japanese have been described, explained
and accountd for in sundry ways that have
helped Americans generally better to under
stand why oil and water will not mix But
there are other characteristics that separate
the races that most writers, would know moth
ing about.
To understand them it is necessary to know
something of their records on the Pacific coast
especially in California, from the time of the
Argonauts-the California of Mark Twain and
Bret Harte-down through half century.
The thrift and orderliness of the Chinese
the wastefulness and presumptuousness of the
Japanese, provide fair example Of differ
ence 1t was best exemplified in their separate
cultivation of the SOIL The Chinese, in whom
love of the good earth is inherent, for the
most part acquired small tracts of land on
the edge of arroyos, heavily sanded and dis
carded by white settlers as all but arid, be-
cause it was cheap
On five or ten acres of such ground Chinese
raised the finest vegetables to be obtained in
any market. They succeeded because they are
indefatigable workers and have h e r own
ways of Notwithstanding Victor Hugo
noted with characteristic frankness in describ-
ing the sewers of Paris in Les Miserables
While some members Of group worked
the land one or two others drove huskster
wagons, laden with variety of inviting vege-
tables and berries
They were law-abiding, thrifty, and especial
ly peaceful Whatever troubles they had, they
settled among themselves. They were never
the most desirable citizens because they per-
petuated their own Oriental way of living,
but they were producers, not destroyers.
On the other hand, the japanese, better off
financially went into farming in a big way,
buying the most fertile land they could ac-
quire and, having exhausted it quickly and
ruined it for cultivation for long periods Of
time moved on to other fertile tracts to re-
peat the process.
Their whole scheme was to use up not
build up, the soil. Not for generation did
California land owners realize what was hap
pening and refuse to sell them more land.
This destructive habit prevailed in all Japa-
lnese activities. When they went fishing their
sole aim was to catch the most fish, whether
in the spawning season or not. When they
went sealing their one thought was to slaugh-
ter the greatest number of seals, bulls, COWS,
calls Unfortunately, with no thought for per-
petuating the herds.
And whether they were farmers or orch
ardists, fishermen, house servants, or what
not, they gave particular attention to spying
out the land and keeping Tokyo well advised
of this countrys military dispositions. They
were arrogant, overbearing and tricky-char-
acterists which reached the peak when they
invaded China and subjected Americans to
torture long before the fall of Hong Kong.
From personal knowledge of the two races
as long as half century ago in California we
are frank to say that whereas the Chinese,
though they have many faults when appraised
from Western viewpoint, may safely be Of
fered friendship, the Japanese, as race have
proved themselves unworthy of kindness and
are no more to be accepted than is snake
safely to be petted.
known In Advance