Keep them at home!"

This conversation is paraphrased, but it is practically the substance
of what the representative of the Ottawa government said to a
representative of the Mikado.

Brown Brother: "We don't care any more for our coolies than you do. We
don't in fact, care a hoot what becomes of the spawn and dregs of
no-goods in our population. We are not individualists, as you white
men are! We don't aim to keep the unfit cumbering the earth! We don't
care a hoot for these coolies; but what we do care for is this--we
Orientals refuse to be branded any longer as an inferior race. We'll
restrain the emigration of these coolies by a passport system; but
don't you forget it, just as soon as we are strong enough, in the
friendliest, kindest, suavest, politest, most diplomatic way in the
world, we intend not to be branded any longer as an inferior race. We
intend to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the management of the
world's affairs. If we don't stand up to the job, throw us down! If
we stand up to the job--and we stood up moderately in China and Russia
and Belgium--we don't intend to ask you for the sop of that Christian
brotherhood preached by white men. We intend to force recognition of
what we are by what we do. We ask no favors, but we now serve you
notice we are in to play the game."

Neither is this conversation a free translation. Shorn of diplomatic
kotowing and compliments and circumlocutions, it is exactly what the
Mikado's representative served to the representatives of three great
governments--Uncle Sam's, John Bull's, Miss Canada's. If you ask how I
know, I answer--direct from one of the three men sent to Japan.