The Delta independent., 1918-03-01
WE HAVE SOME ouEs-
TION MARK AMERICANS
Editor. The Delta Independent.
Delta, Colorado.

My Dear Sir:
Supposing a man belonging to a
country which has been, is still and
will ever be fighting until the very
end, for the common cause, together
with the allied nations, had met with
an occasion in which the honor of
his country being discussed, suspect
ed and sighted off by some Ameri.
cans. through mere ignorance, in a
way very prejudicial, and supposing
again, that he meets with such oc-
casion repeatedly, is it not his duty
to explain and demand public justice
not merely from the patriotic regard
he may have for his own country,
but from the sociological standpoint
of view, as long as he is within the
boundary of this country and wish
ing to be friendly disposed of by the
Americans in general
Sir. it is very true that the wise
Mother Nature who intended that
we should be social creatures and
that we should receive the greater
part of our knowledge by the infor-
nation of others, has, for these pur-
poses, implanted in our nature.
deep root of propensity to yield our
selves to social intercourses and to
speak so as to convey our real senti-
ments for the mutual reciprocation
And, socially speaking, America to-
day has attained her perfection, that
is. owing to the result of the sound
public policy adopted, together with
the freedom of speech. which is the
real basis of western civilization.
Now, taking advantage of this be-
nificent freedom of speech and press,
shall, with your permission, en-
deavor to defend the honor of my ma
tive country against those who seem
to take so much pleasure in mutilat-
ing the untainted name of another
friendly nation. and explain for those
who may have formed some miscon-
lecture about Japan and the part she
has been and is still playing in this
unheard of event under whose deadly
weight the whole world is suffering
beyond extremity.
Ever since took up my temporary
residence here in Delta. last fall.
have been obliged to answer many
questions put to me, in way fool
ishly or rather. sarcastically. A few
questions put to me which could not
help feel some resentment, are as
follows: rs Japan one of the allies? ?"
Japan claims herself to be one of
the allies. but being pro-German in
her nature. she has not done much or
anything to speak of. toward the
common cause; isn't that true?"
These insulting questions were fol.
lowed by still more severe ones. thus,
Japan being very ambitious, she
tries to keep herself out of this war
and when other nations become re-
duced in their power and strength,
mentally and physically worn out
Japan, fresh and vigorous, will come
out and make it very interesting to
America. for she has quite an ambi-
tion over Mexico. isn't that right ?"
the common cause, that is to say. tn
sighted off as unworthy of notice;
however, they are very insulting In
their nature. These questions are
of the result of their being poorly
posted or rather not posted at all on
important events, which happened
ever since the outbreak OF this great
var. But when 1t comes to the last
question. one must consider how in
sultingly such a question has been
put to me and to what a degree. II
such opinion or statement be spread
out aud rumored from lip to lip. may
the damage and injury to that par
ticular nation amount to.
This concerns the general reputa-
tion and honor of Japan. whose his
tory shows clearly that she never
fought an offensive war. but always
stood on the defensive side in any in
ternational struggle she has gone
into. In the first stage OF this ter
rible war, the peace in the Far East
being threatened by the German ac-
tivity at Tsingtao, China, in order to
regain the peace over the Pacific,
Japan declared the war against Ger
many and did her best in sweeping
the fleet Of the German pirates from
the surface of the Pacific ocean and
caused the destruction of the enc
my's naval base at Tsingtao. These
facts are the prima facie evidence
that Japan had united herself with
other allied nations in good faith for
the common cause, that Is OF say, to
destroy the German autocracy and
militarism. Hasn't Japan been max
ing every possible effort to serve the
allies such as by rendering pecuni-
airy assistance or sending ammuni-
tion to France and Russia. and send
ing fleet of battleships to the
European waters. sinking many Ger
man U-boats and protecting trans
ports for the safe conveyance of their
cargoes to the allies? All OF these
are the known facts and they are re-