California’s Japanese Land Question
By Editor
California has a large and constantly growing Japanese and Chinese population, and many of the people of this state think that these “Orientals” are a menace to the best interests of the place, and hence they are seeking to get a law passed by the present legislature that will forbid them from becoming landholders. The despatches say that because of this proposed legislation there is great excitement in Japan, mass-meetings are held, and the popular cry is raised to declare war on this nation and seize our island possessions at once. Missionaries who are laboring in Japan are finding that this unfortunate circumstance is making it very embarrassing for them in their work, and they are making earnest appeals to this country, asking that all such drastic legislation be avoided. The situation is grave enough to demand the attention of the president and the leading diplomats of both this nation and Japan, and it is to be hoped that the good sense of both nations will lead to some course that both can agree upon without any resort to arms. We make very boastful claims of being a “Christian nation.” If there is anything to our claim this should lead us to ask ourselves very carefully. What is our duty with respect to the nations that are not embraced in the fold of “Christian nations”? Or is our claim mere talk when dollars and cents are in the balance?