South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-25
WE Do NOT WANT
WAR SAYS BRYAN
Former Secretary of State in
Address at New York De-
tends His Action He De-
n0unCeS New York Papers.

NEW YORK, June 25.-One of the
largest demonstrations in recent years
in this city hurled itself upon Madison
Square garden Thursday night when
about $4,000 persons tried 10 squeeze
into the great amphitheater to hear
William Jennings Bryan address the
Friends OF Peace" an impromptu or
ganizatIOn consisting of the member
ship OF a dozen German-American,
Irish-American and peace societies.
The i, 900 10 $4,000 who finally
gained admission were Transported
into a frenzy Of enthusiasm by Mr..
Bryan's defense of his resignation as
secretary of state, his vitriohc attack
upon the New York press and his stir
ring plea for "A universal, everlasting
peace lie said I'm part.
1T did not require courage 10 re-
sign IL would have required greater
courage to stay. ] call your attention
10 the fact that In the separation OF
the president and myself there was no
personal element. When history
writes this page IL Will be said that
two men-each doing what he be-
lieved TO be right-found it impossible
10 share responsibility.
Was No COnccalmcnt.
There was no cOncealment We
talked the thing over and separated as
two friends should. and / am trying
on the outside OF the cabinet TO assist
the president. He IS doing MS duty
as he sees it.
1T is nv duty 10 crystalline the
peace sentiment of this country until
the demand for peace shall drown the
demand for war.
II probably do not feel as indignant
as some Of YOU over the position
taken by the New York press / have
been in public life for % years ana
I have never known the New YORK
press to take the side OF the American
people on any question.
For two years and three months
/ tried as best j could 20 assist the
president in dealing with the momen-
tous questions that have ever come be
fore this country and never in single
instance has the New York press
given me credit.
Papers Denounced Him.
Because L would not take report
ers into my confidence and tell them
what / had no right 10 tell them they
denounced me / would not surren-
der "A single trust into the hands OF
irresponsible demagogues
These representatives of predatory
interests attempted day after day 10
ASA ssinate me. could not meet them
then But i am ready 20 meet them
now and they shall not assasslnate
me"
Between the staccato bursts of APP
plause a voice in the gallery shouted
several times How about Mexico
Mr. Bryan paid no attention.
when j concluded great peace
treaty these papers gave me scanty
notice" continued Mr. Bryan "At the
No fhnE
would print some Islander. After tell
ing people for over two years that |
wasn't iii to he secretary of state
they now find that I have endangered
the country by resigning.'
Makes Many Comments.
The speaker here read "A prepared
extract of speech, occasionally
breaking away from 1t for side com
ment. once he said:
"If the president needs men he can
issue the call at sunrise and before
set of sun a million men will he un-
der arms But these men who must
die have a right TO say whether there
shall be war"
AIR. Bryan pictured the horrors of
war and the blessings of peace. The
band struck up Die Yacht Am
Rhine" when he shouted:
81 do not want war with Germany.
II is bad enough war TO avenge an
intended wrong. God forbid that we
go TO war TO avenge an unattended
wrong The question is not the tech
nical right OF any American 20 travel
wherever he pleases Ii is this. Why
should any American who loves his
country drag his country into a dread
fu war?
Il believe there is a way out. The
president desires peace. But while
we are waiting for his plan to sue
coed we should mass the peace-loving
American people back of him and
say: Mr.. President YOU say YOU want
peace. We stand back of YOU. II
necessary postpone the settlement of
this problem until we are cooler and
these friends of ours can deal with
us as friends
"I do not want war either with
England. France. Russia or any other
nation These nations are our
friends Let Us treat them as friends
and If we can't settle our differences
during the war let us wait until the