I think the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs made an intimation of that kind when he addressed this House on last Friday. Certainly the Japanese could not do this by peaceful methods. for in response to my question the gentleman admitted that. under the constitution and laws of Hawaii. the Japanese had not the right to vote. It is not denied that they are most of them on the island as contract laborers under a seven years contract. without any political rights whatever. No sooner. sir. had this claim been made than the Japanese minister hastened to make a disavowal. not only on his own account. but for his Government. He pointed out that the only trouble was that Hawaii herself had invited the Japandse by a treaty to immigrate there. and that they had gone in pursuance of that request. and that subsequently Hawaii had arbitrarily undertaken to expel them. Japan then did what any other nation on the globe would have done. demanded an indemnity. which Hawaii proposed to arbitrate. and which proposal Japan accepted. The Japanese minister has further pointed out to us that Japan does not favor emigration of her people and that it has never been her policy to extend her territory beyond the zone which immediately surrounds her. He has also declared that Japan had no designs whatever upon Hawaiihas expressly repudiated the entire charge. and thus is exploded another of the false pretenses by which we are sought to be pushed into rash and precipitate action in the passage of the pending resolution. Now.
Keywords matched
immigrate contract laborers emigration