New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-13
CHAMPION OF THE MILLION!
Mr.. Bryan to Voice Sentiments d
Those Hitherto Unheard.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The resignation Of Secretary Of saa
William ]. Bryan brings to a crisis the Ger
man question.
This is no time for clamor or inhamn,icr
speech, but it is time for calm, ssnchi.i
thought and downright honest judgment s,'
shall stand unimpeachable long years hsnss
when the fires OF passion and prejudies si''
burned themselves out and history s.en 5s'
one answer-the truth.
In that distant day what must the vert
record of US if we continue in the direetl''
our government is now plungingl
Shall it say that the United States ss''
Germany the choice Of either abandoning A'
only effective means Of defence and orsa''
on the seattle decisive factor in the vn'l'
confict-or face war with the United STATES
Shall it say that the United States Se''
TO war because German submarines 10 Wv
operations of war and in the zone Of CO..
fict destroyed a few score OF Ansha
lives and a few American ships, despite "
fact that American ammunition, while Ana
lea was at peace, destroyed hundrsa' v
thousands of German men? -.
Shall it say that the United STATES, "
strongest power of the world and inc ''''
most advocate Of justice, peace and isn ~.
struck at a nation already staggering uA''
the blows of world Of enemiesF ~
Shall II say that the government var y,
for nearly a wear asserted the right Of y
citizens for the gain Of gold to manul'''.s
and sell to the belligerents IN tns 49, ~.
sanguinary and destructive war OF ~ -.
explosives and weapons with which ths!
INITIATED one another-that TINS ss~s
eminent entered the war IN the h'"'
humanity" and neutrality" ,,y
When our government has finally os''1 Z.
70 fight Germany, if it shall so dsei's :,
oil ~ whatever race or nationality, sn'..
he pro-American and nothing else d" ~ =
to the very moment Of that decision u n,
solemn duty Of every American 70 sp'A
mind in no uncertain tone, that our rr Nv. 4,
and Congress, who profess 10 rePi,' a,
national mind and conscience, may sn'. -.
only the sentiments Of the few VINO 80.
headlines for the press or who ''sna n, ~
Spicuous IN PUBIC pldCeS' DN' - :, a.. III
of quiet. plain people Who IN 81. -. NE.
din of current discussion, have not s'' =
heard ;,.s D.
To force this cosmopolitan nation In.s
vortex of a general European war; ,as
in deep sentiment on one side or nv .Is y
at least one-half Of our population 4. /,
serious enough in any case ou. ,.rr.,
without 6rst knowing positively lns %,
and feeling of the whole people W. s..,ls.
stitute an unwarrantable and repl r,.;. ,.s
use of public official power. Inc '..,i,s
ple would have to face and bear 'he .l.s
burdens Of war. The plain pe0p''
should decide the matter. .,.ts &
II is fortunate. indeed, that he t'' S.rI,s
least up 10 the time Of possiole ~,
ton of war, there will be one grss
whose honor and fearlessness are unq. ~ 4,
before the world TO voice the mlns "A Y
millions who thus far have been uh. frcs
who have been ignored. God keep y, D,
this war! But if war II must DC sr,t u
voice Of the nation, the whole ns,,.VwaKISs
heard. DELhH"
Syracuse. n. Y, June 9, 1910