Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 121, 24 May 1894 — Quite Sure? [ARTICLE]

Quite Sure?

In referring editorialIy to tbe reception on board theTikachiho tbe .>'•//• pnblisbe3 tbe fol!owing delicioas paragraph: ‘ Tiie spirit whieh prevaded the entertainmeut w.t3 one of the frietidliest coartesy. A raark of tfae spirit whieh pervades the relations between tbe two Governments at tfae present tirae. This must continne to be the distiugnishiug featnre of Hawaiian dip!om.cy aud thongh we eauuol give the franchise to Japmese residents we-ean ira- ’ press upon th«ir govi*rum0nt that in everv comiuercial atid sociul respect they sfaall enjoy the fullest protection and secnrity.” , Too bad that we, whoever that may be, cannotgive tlie francbise to t'ue Japanese resideuts. Have our statesmen not yet realized that the country has 110 ehoiee in the u.atter, but will be compe!led to fulfill iis treaty-obligations aud piaee tho Japauese residing bero on an equal footing with tbe other alicus? "We uotice that there is au impression abroad among the p. g. snpporters tbat the only manner in whieh the Japanese goverumeut eau reiiliate, if its demands are not grauted is by stopping fnrther emigration. Do our wise meu really believe for a tuoment that fhe 2U,000 Japanese now here are to i be injnred, and that Japan will allow the rights of its subjects who eanie here under a soleinu treaty to be ignored and trarapled on? Japau will enforce the obIigations iucurred bv making a treaty with,and she knows how to do it. lu the meautime our Japanese frieuds are feeling awfully grateful by learning “that in every eomnieieial aud social respect they shall enjoy t!ie fullest protection and security.” \VhenThey need protection (sic) they will probably apply to their home-g >verumeut, their minister aud thoir nowerful tleet, aml not the p. g. who ueitlier ean protect or secure them one way or‘otlur.