South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-11
BRYAN APPEALS
FOR ABANDONMENT
Of FORCE POLICY
Former Secretary of State in a
Statement to 1.-THE American
People" Defends His Stand
on German Note.

WASHINGTON. June 11-W- J.
BRYAN gave out the following state
ment tonight for publication stimuli
taneously with the presidents note 10
Germany:
THE REAL ISSUE.
'"To the American People.
you now have before you the text
Of the note 10 Ciermany-the note
which It would have been my oIlclal
duty 10 sign had / remained secretary
of state / ask you To sit IN Judgment
uuOn my decision 20 resign rather
than To share responsibility for II. 1
am sure vod viii credit me with hon
orable motives. but that is not enough.
Good attentions could not atone Tor
--.s-+ake at such a time on such sub
iect and under such circumstances. II
your verdict is against me, l ask no
mercy. i desire none if i have acted
urwiselv. A man in public life must
at according 10 his conscience, but
however cOnscientiously he acts, he
must be prepared 10 accept without
complaint any condemnation when
ms own errors may bring upon him;
he must be willing TO bear any de-
served punishment from ostracism TO
execution. But hear me before you
pass sentence.
The president and 1 agree in pur-
pose; we desire a peacetul solution OF
the dispute which has arisen between
the United States and Germany. We
do not only desire it. but with equal
fervor we pray for fl. but we differ
irreconcilably as 70 the means of Sc
curing il. If il were merely person
al difference, it would be a matter of
little moment for all the presump-
tions are on his side-the presump-
tiOns that go with power and authorl-
Il p I
vate citizen without office or title
but one Of the hundred million of in
habitants.
Is Between Systems.
''But the real issue IS not between
persons: il is between systems, and L
rely for VindicatiOn wholly upon the
strength of the position taken.
Among the Influences which gov
ernments employ I'm dealing with each
other there are two which are pre-
eminent and autagOnistic-fOrce and
persuasion Force speaks with firm
ness and acts through the ultimatum.
persuasion employs argument, courts
investigation and depends upon nego-
tiation.
Force represents the old system
the system that must pass away; per-
suasion represents the new system
the system that has been growing, all
too slowly. It is true, but growing for
1900 years. In the old system war is
the chief cOrnerstOne-war which at
its best is little better than war at its
worst: the new system cOntemplates
an universal brotherhood established
through the uplifting power of exam
pie.
IF I correctly interpret the note
TO Germany, it conforms 10 the stand
ards OF the old system rather than to
the rules of the new, and 1 cheerfully
a 81
by precedents-precede written in
characters of blood upon almost every
page of human history. Austria fur
nishes the most recent precedent: it
was Austria's firmness that dictated
the ultimatum against Servia. which
set the world at war. Every ruler
now participating I'm this unparalleled
conflict has proclaimed his desire for
peace and denied responsibility for
the war. and it is only charitable that
we should credit all OF them with
good faith. They desired peace; but
they sought it according to the rules
of the Old system. They believed that
hrmness would give the best assur-
ance of the maintenance OF peace, and
faithfully following precedent they
went so near the fire that they were,
one after another, sucked into the
contest.
FOlliCs arc Revealed.
Never before have the frightful
follies of this fatal system been SO
clearly revealed as now The most
civilized and enlightened-aye the
most Christian of the nations OF Eu-
rope are graphing with each other
as If In death struggle They are sac
rifcing the best and bravest of their
sons on the battlefield. they are con-
Vertlng their gardens into cemeteries
and their homes into houses of
mourning: they are taxing the wealth
Of today and laying a burden of debt
on the toll of the future; they have
filed the air with thunderbOltS more
deadly than those of Jove and they
have multiplied the pcrls of the deep.
Adding fresh fuel TO the flame of
hate, they have daily devised new
horrors. until one side is endeavoring
10 drown nOn-cOmbatant men. women
and children at sea. while the other
side seeks TO starVe nOn-com Blatant
men. women and children on land.
And they are so absorbed in alternate
oscillations and in competitive cruel
ties that they seem. for the time
being. blind To the rights of neutrals
and deaf 10 the appeals Of humanity.
A tree IS known by its fruit. The war
I'm Europe is the rlpened fruit OF the
old system
JingOcs are Busy.
InlS is what urmneSSr supported
10y force. has done in the old world;
shall we invite IL 10 cross the At
lantic? Already the jingOcs OF our
country have caught the rabies from
the dogs OF war: shall the opponents
II organized slaughter be silent while
the disease spreads
AS a humble follower OF the Prince
OF Peace. as a devoted believer in
The prophecy that they that take the
sword shall perish by the sword, 1
beg 10 Doe counted among those who
earnestly urge the adoption of
course IN this matter which Will leave
no doubt OF our governments willing
ness 20 continue negotiations with
Germany until an amicable under
standing is reached. or at least until.
the stress Of war over we can APP
peal from Philip drunk with carnage
20 Philip sObered by the memories of
IN historic friendship and by "a recol-
section OF the Numerous ties OF kin
ship that bind the fatherland 20 the
United States
'Some nation must lead the world
3ut n the black night OF war into the