Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-03
Yes, Let Us Be "Fair."

problem. Unfortunately from
purely human view it is impossible
for some of us to understand how 9TH
ers of us reach the conclusions they
Offer AS an example, let US refer to
some of the letters we are receiving
concerning our attitude toward Ger
many. At least so per cent. of the
pro German communications are I'M
signed. The first and most natural
conclusion is that the writer's are
ashamed of their product, but perhaps
that judgment is harsh. Let us gen.
erously conclude that these writer's are
aware of the largely over balancing
sentiment against them and do not
wish to embitter neighbors and friends.
Or, it might be from the more common
desire to disagree with the news
papers.
Some of these writers should be
ashamed Of their utterances for they
show on the face of them only the Bit
terness of opposition, the mind en-
shaved to an opinion expressed without
understanding and determination to
defend that position at any cost Not
one of these writer's shows that he or
she has any information not in pos
session of the general public. yet in
every instance they demand both
SIDES" and irsinuate, if they do not
brazenly so state, that the newspape
of the country are suppressing the
facts that favor Germany and are en-
larging upon those favorable to the
entente allies.
Where these writer's find basis in
the events of the last two and a half
years for the attitude they assume is
more than we can understand. We
have similar opportunities and started
with a desire for utmost fairness and a
determination to cling to absolute
neutrality. as President Wilson urged.
But we believe the events of the war
have been sufficient to ALLEVIATE the
held by any fair minded American who
was not prejudiced at the start.
And, what is more remarkable, these
writer's seem to think they are mis-
used because their diatribes against
the great majority of the American
people and press are not displayed to
|,n oil <ho;r fo;
tons and insinuations. Some of them
badly misstate the facts that have
come to them and to all of US, and then
argue from that standpoint. And
some of them demand an answer to
questions that are answered in the
news dispatches of every newspaper in
the land. The favorite pen name of
these writer's is Justice" American
Citizen" or Fair Play" yet they
never play fair, or. at least, in the let
tiers received without the writer's sig
natures.
If these writer's would confine them
selves to facts which are in possession
of all, instead of always offering the
pretense tina. there is another side"
with which they are familiar but which
the U. S. government and the press are
not giving to the people, they might
get on better with their letters-if
signed. But they insist on repetition
of arguments that have been discount
ed by events, by moral considerations,
and by the teachings of Christianity.
The American government and the
American people have tried diplomacy,
patience, forebearance, precepts of hui
mainly, and the recognized and ac-
turned our "other cheek" again and
again and the time seems to have ar
rived when Uncle Sam will arise to de-
fend his people in their rights.
To give place to most of the unfair
and cowardly pretense offered by the
average of these writer's who call for
fairness" toward Germany, would be
an insult to the enlightened general
public In other words. those who are
"fair" to their own country are en-
titled to consideration that has suf-
fered under nearly three years of "neu-
traiity" We need not necessarily de-
fend the entente allies in their course
but we have had enough of Prussian-
istic frightfulness. And the party who
goes out of his way to defend Prussian
autocracy against his own country at
such a time as this is pretty near to
becoming a traitor.
After the Legislature has adjourned
we may be able to publish some Of the
letters Of pro Germans, providing they
are signed with the writer's true
names, are confined to facts. are as
fair to America as they claim to be to
Germany. and do not include the usual
insinuations Of a great American con-
spiracy to wrong the people of Ger
many.
The American people are opposed to
war with any people. they are friendly
to the German people, but the Prussian