ade the
Japanese restless; the soldiers who had been serving in the field could
not readily settle down to the old ways of life. They wanted fresh
worlds to conquer.
The Government, realizing that something must be done with this restless
element, instituted and encouraged the idea of emigration. There
appeared to be a great demand for such people in Hawaii, and therefore
the emigration to the Sandwich Islands was commenced. It would perhaps
have been wiser to send the people to the recently acquired island of
Formosa, but the march of progress had not yet reached this island,
while the Americanized Hawaiian Islands offered inducements which the
newly awakened Japanese ambition craved for.
Be that as it may, it now seems certain that there was no more serious
motive in sending emigrants to Hawaii than the endeavor of Japan to find
occupation for her surplus population.
The determined stand taken by the Hawaiian Government, and the absolute
certainty that the United States would uphold it, finally opened the
eyes of the Japanese to their mistake. The minister was recalled after
inquiries had been instituted, and the attitude of the Japanese
representatives in Hawaii was changed from haughty displeasure to the
utmost friendliness.
The outcome of the whole matter has been a pleasantly worded letter from
Japan, in which she consents to submit the whole immigration
question--contract, $50, and all--to arbitration.
It is extremely gratifying to all lovers of peace to find that one more
national misunderstanding has been settled without resorting to the
horrors and cruelties of war.
* * * * *
News comes that the month of reflection given to the Manchester
cotton-workers, before the reduction of wages was to go into effect, has
borne good fruit.
Instead of going on strike and causing distress to themselves and
disaster to the masters, the workmen have decided to submit the matter
to arbitration.
If it is proved to their satisfaction that the masters are really paying
higher wages than the state of the business permits, they will submit to
the reduction.
They want to be assured that the masters are telling them the truth, and
for this no one can blame them. Five per cent. of their earnings is too
much to be given up unless it is absolutely necessary.
This settlement is another triumph for arbitration.
* * * * *
The treaty entered into by
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