Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-12

Auotner large lot OF cnppluSS IEom
the editorial columns Of the leading
papers Of the country is presented the
Journal readers this morning who will
note, as in yesterdays collection, the
unvarying and emphatic disapproval
and condemnation Of the recent acts
and present attitude Of william ].
Bryan. The editorial utterances follow:
Mr.. Bryan. True Position.
New York Times)
Mr.. Bryan resigned somewhat too
late to save his precious conscience,
but he has still time to make a wreck
Of his honor and his reputation. In
the statement published the day fol-
lowing his resignation he advanced
as two points on which he differed
from the President his belief that we
should refer the killing by Germans
Of American citizens at sea to an in
ternational commission and his fur
Their belief that we should warn trav-
cling Americans to keep off belliger-
ent vessels or vessels carrying oar
goes of ammunition. But in the note
Of May 10 signed Bryan" we in
formed Germany that her proclama-
ton Of the dangers Of the war zone
could not be admitted by US ito oper-
ate as in any degree an abbrevia-
ton of the rights Of American ship
masters or Of American citizens bound
on lawful errands as passengers on
merchant ships Of belligerent nation
atty. and that we must hold the I'm
perial German Government to a strict
those rights. intentional or incidental"
The note further referred to the adver-
tised warning put out by the German
Embassy at Washington as Of ''sur-
prising irregularity." but it declared
that mo warning that an unlawful
or inhumane act will be committed
can possibly be accepted as an excuse
or palliation," or as an abatement Of
responsibility. Plainly, Mr.. Bryan
should have resigned before he signed
the note Of May 10, for even though
the views and the composition were the
Presidents, Mr.. Bryan's signature de-
noted nothing short Of full assent.
His second statement addressed ito
the American people" and published
this morning is a piece Of Supplying
impudence. Having put his name to
note warning Germany that she
would be held to "strict accountable
ity'' for the lawless acts of which we
complained, he now extenuates her
offenses and accepts her plea for de-
lay, for reference to a commission
could serve no other purpose than that
of postponing the issue, and at the
moment Of leaving the high Office in
which it was his duty, duty he per-
formed. to protest to the Imperial Gov
eminent that we cannot submit to the
murder Of our citizens and to such
invasions Of our rights, he turns his
coat and becomes the chief apologist
Of Germany in this country, the most
conspicuous defender Of her lawless-
ness.
To compare the reply Of our Gov
eminent with Adstria'sf ultimatum to
Serbia is an act of which only Bryan
could be capable. Stiffness, dissemb-
ling, and oppertunism have been we'll
recognized characteristic Of Mr.. Bry-
ans political career, but he stands now
in a position where, If he is to continue
as he has begun, he will be unable to
conceal his purposes from his coun-
trymen and he can escape their CEN
sure and detestation only by silence.
He has begun and evidently intends
to carry on an agitation against the
interests and the honor Of his country.
Bryan.
burlington, VT, News.)
All over the country we hear the
welcome note that Bryan has taken
himself out Of the cabinet. From the
day he entered the Secretary of
States office, he has been politician
and a money getter. He ought never
to have taken so great an Office as
Secretary Of State. 1t appears to us
that he could not take sound and
serious view Of big things. His mind
tends to the rostrum. He Is a preach
er. No doubt he had in mind the
summer Chautauqua, where he can
preach to the multitude.
1ryanism.
New York Te1egram)
That Mr.. Bryan stung the hand that