It seems that the progressive spirit which the war awakened made 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