The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-28
A RESIGNATION.


rOWful Hut necessary ADJUDICATION.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: In rendering my resig-
nation from the position of paramount
responsibility as the chief member OF
your Cabinet a position in which I have
sought steadfastly to uphold the highest
standards OF historic dignity and devo-
ton to duty established by my ilustrious
predecessors, I feel II to be incumbent
upon me to record formally my reasons
for depriving your Administration and
the nation OF my services at this critical
juncture Of our country's history.
| hardly need reassure you that my
warm friendship and genuine respect for
you personally have suffered no abate-
ment, for I remain OF the opinion that
you are actuated In all sincerity by mo-
tives Of such patriotism as your under
standing and judgment present to your
conscience.
l am led to believe that there has
come TO exist. not only among the rank
and file OF our own party but to a large
extent also among the entire people OF
tho United States. a general concur
renee in my present conviction that the
transcendent principles for which l
stand and for the enunciation OF which
l have been so prominently responsible
are inconsistent with the highest do
velopment OF my usefulness to your
Administration in the circumstances as
they now unfortunately are.
AS you more keenly than others must
be aware, by far the greater part Of my
energies since assuming the burden of
the cares of State OF our Government
have been devoted to the furtherance OF
the ideal and practice OF peace. So
highly do I esteem this fundamental
principle OF uplift that have spared
neither myself. the obligations OF my
high office nor the favor and generosity
of the people in an unremitting cam
paign for the stimulation Of the public
conscience in this matter. and have EN-
ployed the small remainder Of my time
in the contamination OF treaties de-
signed to make warfare impossible even
as a last and desperate resort In my
capacity as the responsible head OF the
department maintaining our relations
with foreign nations I have remove ed
Systematically and persistently from the
diplomatic service as many as possible
OF our representatives who may be pre-
sumed from earlier training under
former less elevating influences TO have
absorbed sentiments and acquired habits
OF thought inlmical to the preservation
of peace, and In their places have To-
Gated other men whose political train
ing has been accomplished exclusively
under the guidance ~ my own insplra-
ton and whom | therefore know to be
fully imbued with my own orthodox
views in all governmental affairs and 80
quite unContaminated by previous train
ing in the warlke atmosphere of estab-
lishcd methods of diplomacy. In short.
my entire course during my recent
predominant association with your Ad-
ministration has been guided by one
supreme ambition. that of assuring the
peace of the world and Kidding the ma
tons forever OF the horrid incubus and
shame of human slaughter and carnage
To this lofty ambition every faculty Of
my being has been ronSeCratcd; and
as | increasingly have reiterated before
my Chautauqua audiences. | regard no
sacrifice whatever as too great a price
to pay for the incffable blessings Of a
millennium in which the whole world OF
mankind shall be ruled by "A spirit of
universal love and that nohcr type of
justice IN which an appeal to force of
arms shall appear as an inConcc!vable
atrocity and Infamous degradation.
II thus will be obvious to you. Mr..
President, and to the nation and the
world as well. that in view of the de-
affairs have taken in spite of my nj
most cndcavors and earnest protosta-
tions 1t would he emnently lnadyisablo.
m
the worlds leading apostle of peace.
should continue To- Dee associated Off
cially with an Administration which has
committed itself hy hcll!ecrcnt proceed
ings TO the principle Of war. To do 50
would be 10 belle, To- stultify and 10 de-
hauch the most sacred Of my conv!c-
tons, TO bring TO raucht the consistent
record OF my entir" political career and
TO do violence to every worthy instinc,
and habit 81 n lifetime OF intellectual
moral and spiritual aspiration and cor
responding growth.
For these reasons, Mr. President. re-
luctanty and with renewed assurances
Of my deep and abiding regard for Won
personally. | am compelled To- offer YOU
my resignation from the Cabinet in
which II * my sincere hope that may
nave shed some not insignificant mstre
upon your Administration. the resigna-
ton to take effect Mt the earliest mo-
ment AT which you may be able to Sc
cure the services OF man who in some
measure may be competent To assume
the great responsibilities which I am
forced thus unfortunately TO relinquish.
Cnof'iclally, however, and AT such times
az you may md yourself unable TO
command sufficiently judiclous advice.
II shall be always my duty and privilege
10 offer YOU needed inspiration and
guidance IN your diilicut task Of lead
ing N" deStnIcs OF our nation In paths
OF greater wisdom than those we now
are following
W-LL-M J-N-GS R-y-N
10 sDppti the Parting Hast