JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES 153 



keepers, draymen, carpenters and the like, they entered thus into com- 

 petition with the American laborers, the most of whom in San Fran- 

 cisco were recent immigrants from Europe. 



Their lower scale of living and their peculiarities in other ways soon 

 brought them under the condemnation of the trade unions. Anti- 

 Japanese societies were formed and much effort was spent to the end 

 of the exclusion of Japanese and Korean laborers as the Chinese had 

 already been excluded. The personal violence which accompanied the 

 anti-Chinese campaign of twenty years before was practically absent 

 from this. The Japanese were better able to take care of themselves 

 and also, in spite of much reckless talk and exaggeration of language, 

 there was very little real enmity toward the Japanese with any class of 

 their opponents. Most of the unfriendly talk was for political pur- 

 poses and the main cause of opposition was economic. 



An exclusion act like that directed against the Chinese could not be 

 considered by our government. It would be a needless affront to a 

 friendly nation, and a nation willing to do anything we may desire, pro- 

 vided it could be done with dignity. The Chinese exclusion act finds its 

 excuse perhaps in the fact that China is not yet a nation. No absolute 

 monarchy can be a nation, in the modern sense. When China finds her- 

 self at last, this exclusion act must wholly change its form. 



In this condition of affairs, a definite agreement was made with the 

 Katsura Ministry of Japan, that no passports for America were to be 

 issued to Japanese laborers, that the responsibility for discrimination 

 should rest with Japan, and that all holders of Japanese passports 

 should be admitted without question. This agreement has been loyally 

 and rigidly kept by Japan. A bit too rigidly, perhaps, for it is growing 

 increasingly difficult for Japanese students to come to America. The 

 diffusion among our American universities of Japanese students, eager, 

 devoted and persistent, has been one of the most important factors in 

 maintaining the mutual good will and good understanding of the two 

 nations. For everywhere these Japanese graduates of American uni- 

 versities give a good account of themselves, standing high in the esti- 

 mation of their people at home, while retaining a keen interest and 

 intelligent sympathy in all American affairs. 



The present settlement of the immigration question is the very best 

 possible, so long as restriction of any sort is regarded as necessary. It 

 is in the interest of both nations and of all concerned, and the occa- 

 sional efforts to supersede it by a general " oriental exclusion " bill are 

 prompted by no consideration of the public welfare. 



To be grouped with the inchoate nations of Asia as " orientals " is 

 particularly offensive to the proud, self-governing Japanese. In their 

 thoughts and ambitions, in their attitude towards peace and justice and 



VOL. LXXI. — 11. 



