The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-06-17

Before the Lusitania left her berth in New
York harbor, she was thoroughly inspected
by customs officials, as our law requires
in order that she might receive her clearance
papers-she was carefully inspected by the
Collector of the Port. Dudley Malone, to see
IT she did carry arms and ammunition
something our laws say passenger steamer
shall not do qoitb passengers on board.
Malone's official report made to the author
tiles at Washington, shows that the Lusitania
was not armed, that she did not carry am
munition, that she did not carry Canadian
troops to reinforce the English army, and
that she did not violate any of our laws in
regard to vessels carrying passengers.
The above is IN answer to Germanys in
curry as to these facts, and we tell Germany
that if she has any evidence to show that our
officials did not perform their duties as their
reports show they did, produce the Evidence
to proUe 1t.
Now, then, as all of this is only what we
have said before, why should it SO alarm Mr..
Bryan that he felt it his duty to desert his
office? He signed the note of February 10,
putting Germany on notice that we would
hold her to a strict accountability for Amer
lean lives and American property lost on ac-
count of her submarines signed the note
of May -, relating to the sinking of the
Lusitania, calling Germany's attention to our
February notice of holding her to a strict
accountability, and demanding that account
ability, so why should he quit the Cabinet
rather than do in June exactly what he did
in February, and again in May?
And, again. we must remember that Mr..
Bryan was Secretary of State when the Mex
lean fasco took place-he was holding office
when one Of our little thimble-headed adj
mirals got up on his ear because few roll
E., IC1
put under arrest for a short time. when the
city was under martial law, and the fact that
the city was under martial law properly pro
claimed and advertised. Although these
sailors were held for only short time before
released, and then ample apologies were made
by the authorities for their arrest this little
admiral demanded that salute to the Amer
lean flag be fired, and, to back up this de-
mand, twenty American and about two hun
dred Mexican lives were wantonly sacrificed.
If Mr. Bryan was sincere IN quitting the
Cabinet last week for the reason given by
him, why did he continue IN office while all
of this was going on In Mexlco-why didn't
he resign when the Vera Cruz incident came
up?
Why should he remain Secretary Of State
while war was being made upon the weak
Mexicans at Vera Cruz, and quit cold when
we simply reiterated to Germany what we
had tecice said through "Bryan?"
There are thousands of us who believe that
Mr.. Bryan thought the psychological mo-
ment had arrived for Bryan to make a grand
stand play, and be hailed as the great martyr
to prnciple-the moment for Bryan to leave
public office and be acclaimed the Peerless
Leader of those who do not wish to drink
the blood of their fellow men.
Democratic papers heretofore loyal to the
former Secretary, do not hesitate to say that
he had his eyes on 1916, and that his state
ments issued since he quit the office. prove