The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-11

lnulsputable rights In taking these Ahips
and In Travelling wherever their ieg,ti-
mate business calls them upon the high
seas, and exercise those rights In what
should he ths well-justifed confidence
by acts done In clear violation Of uni
v~ersally Acknowledged International oh
legations. and certainly In the conf.
dence that their own Government will
sustain them In the exercise Of their
rights.-BkYAN.'
No warning that an unlawful and
inhuma1e act win be committed can
possibly be accepted as an excuse or
palliation for that act or as an abate-
ment OF the responsibility for its COM
mission.-BRrAN."
The Imperial German Government
will not expect the Government Of the
United States TO omit any word or act
necessary to the performance OF It's
sacred duty Of maintaining the rights
OF the United States and It's citizens and
- 10 NAlb AHclI Atcc OASlNlto hllu
enJoyment-BRYAN."
This clear definition Of the position.
the rights and the expectations OF
the United States was accepted and
finally adopted by Secretary BRYAN's
conscience and signed by him with his
ntrn rtOht band W. ,.aI, 80 a.,t~--
for the length OF the foregoing ex.
cerpts, for they convey the only answer
that Is needed to Mr.. BRYAN's first
statement. to his second statement
published this morning. and to any
other statement that the unlimited
~voluhility Of his genius may see At
hereafter to PROFOUND. The present
note dictated by President WILSON and
signed by the Secretary Of State ad
interim leaves Mr.. BRYAN in a posi-.
ton as foolish and harmless for evil
as It is possible TO conceive in the case
Of a statesman Of serious pr~etensions
before the eyes of the world.
Let us dismiss Mr.. WILLIAM j.
BRYAN to the preposterous fate for
which his c~ongenital qualities predes-
tined him and which the merciless
pages Of history have until now kept
open for his coming.
Turning to the more important as
poets OF the correspondence with Ger
many II Will he observed that Presi-
dent WILSON and his loyal counsellors
have made the only logical reply pos
sihle to the note addressed 10 our
Government on May oS by the German
Minister for Foreign Affairs. That re-
ply was rega rded by some Americans
as inconclusive and non responsive.
As THE Sun suggested at the time.
Or. Won JAGow's answer was perfectly
responsive. II was lnconclusive only
for the simple and sufficient rea son
that It was avowedly tentative, re-
serving a final statement Of the Ger
man position until Washington was
heard from with regard to certain
questions OF fact, principally the facts
about the alleged armament OF the
Lusitanla. Now the Lansing note re.
moves this question from controversy
that Is, unless Germany sees fit to
impugn the good faith and veraclty
of Il Government. In temperate Ian
guage, but with unmitigated firmness
Of purpose, 1t adheres in every par
%ticular to the position previously taken
with regard to the neutral rights Of
American citizens on the high seas.
1t still leaves the way open 10 that
honorable and peaceful settlement Of
the question at Issue which every sen.
slDle American ana every reasonable
German must alike desire; and It puts
the responsibility Of final decision as
to the continuance OF friendly rela-
tons whore the decision properly be-
longs; that Is, with Germany.
More than ver patriotic Americans
must admire the constructive skill
ana dialectic ability with which their
representative, the Administration Of
President WILSON, has m~arshalled
the prccepts Of law and the forces Of
moral sentiment for the convincing Of
n great and hitherto always friendly
Power that Justice is with us and that
the right course is Germany's best
course.