The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-16
BRYAN TO START CAMPAIGN.
SAYS AS PRIVATE CITIZEN HE
WILL DISSEMINATE Ills
PEACE DOCTRINES AMONG
PEOPE or AMERICA.
Says That His Resignation Was Made
Because President Would Not .Ac-
ccpt His Views on German Situa-
tion-iic WOuld Warn Americans
of Danger OF Travelling in War Zone
on ships OF Bclli2crcnt Nations.


on ships OF BclliScrcnt Nations.
William Jennings Bryan's first act
as private citizen after retiring from
the post Of Secretary of State Wednes-
lowing statement, which was received
with undisguised amazement i'm Off
cial quarter" No comment was made
at the White House, but some high
officials indicated that they believed it
most unfortunate that SO pronounced
an expression of opinion should be
made public while the discussion with
Germany was in progress. 1t became
known, COO, that Mr.. Bryan told his
colleagues in u general way of the
contents of his statement and some
had advised him against it.
The text of the statement follows:
My reason for resigning Is clearly
stated i'm my letter Of resignation,
namely, that l may employ as a pri-
vate citizen the means which the
president does not feel at liberty to
employ. / honor him for doing what
he believes to be right, and / am sure
that he desires, as l do, to find a
peaceful solution of the problem
which has been created by the action
of the submarines.
1.-TWO of the points on which we diff
fer, each conscientious in conviction,
are first, as to the suggestion Of in
vestigation by an international COM
mission, and, second, as to warning
Americans against travelling on bel
ligerent vessels or with cargoes of
rmunition. believe that this nation
should frankly state to Germany that
we are willing to apply in this case
the principle which we are bound by
treaty to apply to disputes between
the United States and the thirty coun-
tries with which we have made treat
les providing for investigation Of all
disputes of every character and ma
ture. These treaties, negotiated un-
der this administration, make war
practically impossible between this
country and these thirty governments
representing nearly three-fourths Of
all the people of the world.
Among the nations with which we
have these treaties are Great Britain,
France and Russia No matter what
disputes may arise between us and
these treaty nations, we agree that
there shall be no declaration and no
commencement OF hostilities until the
matters in dispute have been investi-
gated by an international commission
and years time is allowed for inves-
tigation and report. This plan was Of
fered To all the nations without any
exception whatever and Germany was
one of the nations that accepted the
principle, being the twelfth l think to
accept. No treaty was actually entered
into with Germany, but / cannot see
that that should stand in the way
when both nations endorsed the prir-
ciple. do not know whether Ger
many would accept the offer, but our
country should in my judgment make
the offer.
such an offer if accepted would at
once relieve the tension and silence
all the jingoes who are demanding
war. Germany has always been a
friendly nation, and a great MANY of
our people are of German ancestry.
why should we not deal with Ger
many according to this plan to which
the nation has pledged it's support?
The second point of difference is
as to the course which should be pur
sued in regard to Americans travel
ing on belligerent ships or with car
goes Of ammunition.
why should an American citizen
be permitted to involve his countrv
In war by travelling upon a belliger-
ent ship when he knows that the shin
Will pass through a danger zone? The
question is not whether an Ameri-
can citizen has a right, under inter-
national law, to travel on a belliger-
eht ship; the question is whether he
ought not, out of consideration for
MS country, if not for his own safety.
avoid danger when avoidance is nos
sible.
III Is very One-sided citizenship
That compels II government TO 90 to
war over a citizens rights and yet re-
lleNe the citizen of all obIjpationc to