The Ocala evening star., 1915-06-09
BRYAN'S RESIGNATION

rendered his resignation to President
Wilson, and that his resignation had
been accepted. As the paper had al
ready been printed, the Star bulletin
ed the dispatch, and the news was
soon known all over the city.
A Star spoke to over a hundred
people, all of them democrats, re-
garding Mr.. Bryan's resignation, IN
the course of the evening, and with
few exceptions they were glad of it.
However, among the few who regret
ted it were some whose opinions are
of weight, all the more that they
seem to think with their hearts rather
than their heads, and that sort of
thinking is of the kind that no states
man can afford to disregard.
The reasons for Mr.. Bryan's resig-
nation are set forth in dispatch on
another page. They were, however,
we'll understood beforehand, and his
resignation has been expected since
Saturday night, when dispatches
from Washington said he was oppos-
ed to the general tenor of the Ameri-
can reply to the German note.
Mr.. Bryan has been great disap-
pointment to the American people as
secretary of state. His going on the
Chautauqua circuit last summer did
not fit with the ideas of the people as
to the dignity of his Office, and before
he had been in the cabinet very long
-
thority that he was only an orna-
mental figurehead in his position, the
real work being done by the assistant
secretary, Robert Lansing. Since be-
coming a cabinet officer, Mr.. Bryan's
principal work has been reconciling
differences between the administra-
ton and democratic leaders, in which
he has been both faithful and efficient.
When it came to any serious question
of foreign affairs, Mr.. Wilson's hand
began to be felt. Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Bryan seem to have been in exact ac-
cord IN the Mexican policy until few
days ago, and they also agreed on
European affairs until the Lusitania
incident, when affairs began to take
on an aspect that does not suit the
latter. He evidently takes the view,
which it is only reasonable to say is
held by a considerable number of Am
erican people, that the sinking of the
Lusitania, while an unjustifiable act,
does not give us reason for a break
with Germany.
Mr.. Wilson's act in breaking with
Mr.. Bryan (for that is what it will
really amount to-, shows that he has
definitely made up his mind to push
matters to a certain point, to attain
which is necessary in his opinion to
the dignity and safety of the country
If Germany will not also come to that
point in the spirit of amity, policy
will be inaugurated that will almost
certainly lead to our becoming in
volved in war.
It's the Stars opinion that the de
cision for peace or war does not lie IL
the hands of either Mr.. Wilson or Mr.
Bryan. The sentiment of the country
is overwhelmingly in favor of Amer
lea taking a strong hand against tbs
foreign insults that Europe and Mex
leo have lavished on us withou
stint. There is a feeling that oul
ultra peacefulness has brought u.
nothing but injury and may all th'
more inevitably drive US into tn,
very evil we have tried so hard t.
avoid. If Germany Sights this feel
ing too much, war will certainly fol
low.
In rendering his resignation, Mr.
Bryan wrote the following note to tn,
president:
"It is with sincere regret / hav'
reached the conclusion that 1 shoult
return you the commission as secre
;ary of state with which you honoret
me at the beginning of your admins
tration. Obedient to your sense o
duty and actuated by the highest mo
tives, you have prepared for trans
mission to the German government
note in which I cannot join withou
violating what / deem an obligation
to my country, and the issue which i
AASO1NGS Is O4 SUCH moment as TO I6
main a member of the cabinet woul,
be unfair to you, as it would be to tn,
cause which is nearest my heart
namely, the prevention of war.
therefore tender my resignation t,
take effect when the note is sent, un
less you prefer an earlier hour
"Alike desirous of reaching
peaceful solution of the problems aris
ing out of the use of submarine
against merchantmen, we find our
selves differing irreconcilably as t,
the methods which should be employ
ed. It falls to your lot to speak of
iciaHy for the nation, but / conside
it to be none the less my duty to en-
deavor, as a private citizen, to pro
mote the end which you have in view
by the means which you do not feel a
liberty to use.
"In severing the intimate an,