The Japanese Attitude.

New York Times 100 years ago today, May 20, 1913:
    Inasmuch as it is evident that the California alien land legislation not only does not violate our treaty with Japan, but expressly conforms with its provisions, the signing of the bill by Gov. Johnson can give the Japanese Government no new grounds of protest. If that Government, nevertheless, intends to make representations in the nature of a protest it must be for other reasons, and, therefore, this legislation may be left out of the question.
    The larger question of the attitude of our Government and our people toward the Japanese, and in particular toward their desire, if they have that desire, to secure recognition of their eligibility to naturalization and citizenship, might be raised at any time irrespective of the action of any State. We do not see why Japan should wish to raise it at this time. Her declared position is one of opposition to any large migration of her people. She has need of her workers at home, and certainly it would not be to her interest to encourage the expatriation of her capitalists and her men of education. She has still greater need of them.
    The view said to be held by some Japanese that denial of eligibility to citizenship implies racial inferiority is absurd. Evidently the Californians do not look upon the Japanese as their inferiors, since they confess their inability to compete with them in agriculture. Difference of custom and habit, of ways of thought and action, upon a plane of entire equality might well make race blending or association inadvisable for the good of all concerned. Our friendship for the Japanese Nation and our admiration for the arts, the accomplishments, the ability, and the wonderful capacity for progress of the Japanese people have been manifested in countless ways.