The American Japanese Problemby Sidney L. Gulick

The American Japanese Problem by Sidney L. GulickReview by: Stanley K. HornbeckThe Mississippi Valley Historical Review, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Sep., 1914), pp. 328-330Published by: Organization of American HistoriansStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1894996 .

Accessed: 21/05/2014 09:33

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Organization of American Historians is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access toThe Mississippi Valley Historical Review.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 195.78.108.186 on Wed, 21 May 2014 09:33:02 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=oah

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1894996?origin=JSTOR-pdf

http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp


328 Reviews of Books M. V. H. R.

a guaranteed independence deemed feasible. In the meantime, however, "slowly the nation is building. . . But the work is only begun. It would be tragic for the Filipino people and humiliating to America to stop before its success is certain." The general reader will find much of interest and value in Mr. Crow's volume, but the specialist, will find little that is new.

P. J. T.

The American Japaniese Problem. A Study of the Racial Relations' of the East and the West. By Sidney L. Gulick, M. A., D. D., professor in Doshisha University and lecturer in the Imperial University of Kyoto, Japan. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1914. 349 p. $1.75)

This book is full of suggestions from cover to cover. Although it contains much in the way of theory with which specialists in various fields will disagree, it marshalls an array of facts which cannot be questioned. Born, bred, and by choice a, missionary, the author has long been in Japan; he is professor in one and lecturer in another of that, country's leading universities. Already the writer of several well-known books, in the preparation of the present volume Dr. Gulick made special in- vestigations both in Japan and in those parts of the United States where, the "Japanese problem" is most pressing and vital. An idealist, he nevert,heless sees, his problem in its practical aspects. He writes in a spirit of fairness, with tolerance of opposing views. He realizes that he may be attacked at some poinlts as a visionary. He does not claim that all his suggestions are practical. His first great object is to make the reader think.

The underlying ideas of the book are two: that antipathies between the Occidental and the Oriental are due to mutual ignorance; and that we of the United States should reconstruct our oriental policy. Educa- tion is the first requisite. But this is not enough. "Both Japan and the United States should undertake definite activities, promoting inter- national good will and adequately adapting governmental machinery to the new world situation. "

Dr. Gulick devotes considerable space and attention to specific charges inade against the Japanese. iHe gives the results, of first-hand investiga- tion in California. Admitting that there are, grounds for some of the complaints, he at other points utterly explodes some of the contentions of the anti-Japanese propagandists. He shows that many of the objec- tions urged against the Japanese apply equally to immigrants from other races.

He shows what really are Japan's laws with regard to the holding of land by foreigners. "The crucial point is that Japlanese laws are ab-



Vol. I, No. 2 Gulick: American Japanese Problem 3299

solutely non-differential. She treats all nations with absolute equality." And this is just what she asks of other nations. Dr. Gulick points to Japan as a, good illustration of the passing of "violent, racial antipathy." In this connection, however, he contradicts himself (compare p. 69 with p. 236). As a, matter of fact, Japan's antipathy to the Occidental has 'not passed. Dr. Gulick indicates many "excellencies of the Japanese" which "the Californians havei genera,lly overlooked." He thinks their insistence upon taking a position of race equality wvith whites is a feature which renders them especially desirable immigrants. He is convinced that "no European race is likely to give us better immigrants or more promising prospective citizens than Japan. " He does not consider intermarriage necessary. In fa,ct he disapproves of it,. We believe that both President Eliot and Dr. Gulick overemphasize the tendency of the Japanese to " keep their race pure." " Assimilation may take plac,e re- gardless of marriage. " We may question, however, whether real social assimilation is possible without intermarriage.

In a brilliant passage characterizing Japan's recent political transi- tion (pp. 198, 199), Dr. Gulick points out, that "the dea,th of the late Emperor may be reckoned as the beginning of a, new era,. . . . Con- stitutional government is rapidly gaining headway. . . . This means we have a new Japan to deal with. . . . She is more under the control of popular opinion and less dominated by h.er official political lead- ers. . . . The government of Japan is . . . becoming a more dif- ficult undertaking." The position of the cabinet, is especially insecure "if the people believe the cabinet has played false to their national in- terests or honor in foreign lands. "

Dr. Gulick is convinced that we need fear no! attack froin Japan and need not for a long time to come greatly fear the industrial competition of the East. He gives an illuminating account, of wha.t the Japanese are doing to solve the problem of mutual relations and how the Japan- ese government is enforcing "the Gentlemen 's Agreement," of 1908. Directly bearing upon the question of American policy, Dr. Gulick sum- marizes "objectionable features" of actual anti-Japanese legislation in California, characterizing it. in paragraph after paragraph. Discontinu- ance of this policy need not involve "complete surrender to an over- whelming Japanese invasion." There is a, third pos,sibility: Allow a reasonable immigration, and treat the Orientals among uss with justice. Further thain this, we need to consider the magnificent possibilities which lie in "America's opportunity for moulding the life of the mil- lions in Japan and China and India."

Having prepared the way, Dr. Gulick proceeds to elaborate suggestions for a "New Oriental Poilicy." This must be based on "the as-



330 Reviews of Books M. V. H. R.

sured results of our best modern knowledge." In the first place we need a new general immigration law, under which all races shall be treated alike. The most striking feature of this program is that which contemplates the future admission of aliens on the basis of a percentage, determined, for any given ra.ce, by the number of individuals from the land of their origin who are already naturalized, plus their American- born children. Detailed suggestions are offered for the carrying out of this immigration policy. Dr Gulick believes that "it is a very perilous thing to determine the foreign policy of a nation in terms of material interest." So it is, if it be determined on that. basis alonle. As a matter of fa.ct no country has been less addicted to that practice than has the United States. It is time that we do away with the laissez faire which has characterized our method, or lack of method, of dealing with various matters relating to foreign policy and immigration. We need scientifically constructed and scientifically carried out policies. It is for such that Dr. Gulick pleads. Had he done nothing more, he shows in this book that our present oriental policy is in need of thorough over- hauling or complete reconstruction.

The bibliography and data furnished in the twenty-eight pages of appendix will be of much value, especially to those who are willing to give this problem serious consideration, and it is to such that the book is particularly addressed. However much this and that reader may disagree with some of the author's theories and suggestions, students and thinkers interested in problenms of humanity and of American policy will welcome this book both for the facts and the suggestions which it contains.

STANLEY K. HORNBECK

Advanced American History. By S. E. Forman. (New York: The Century Company, 1914. 634 p. $1.50)

"The American people have transformed a continent from a, low con- dition of barbarism to a high state of civilization, . . . developed a commercial and industrial system of vast proportions, and evolved the greatest democracy the world has yet seen." In these words Mr. For- man states what he calls the three greatest achievements of the Amer- ican people and the theme of his book. The westward movement and industrial development are clearly emphasized, yet are not thoroughly woven into the general narrative. The subject matter is of the usual variety, conservative but adequate.

Skillful use of questions is a. feature in the short but serviceable chap- ter introductions. As in former texts the author uses cross references to specific clauses of the Constitution bearing upon the historical point under discussion to correlate history and government. The value of this



Documents

The American Japanese Problemby Sidney L. Gulick