Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-17
Asks No Mercy if Verdict" Is Against
His Action.
ONLY DIFFERENCE IS in METHOD
Real Issue Is Between Force and Persuasion-Claims That
Message to Germany Represents Old System
While He Advocates the New.

Washington, D. C.-Following is
the text of William Jennings Bryan's
appeal to the American people on the
issue between President Wilson and
his former premier on the United
States note to Germany:
To the American People:
You now have before you the text
of the note to Germany-the note
which it would have been my official
duty to sign had l remained secretary
of state. l ask you to sit in judgment
upon my decision to resign rather
than to share responsibility for 1t.
l am sure you will credit me with
honorable motives, but that is not
enough. Good intentions could not
atone for a mistake at such a time,
on such a subject, and under such
circumstances. If your verdict is
against me, l ask no mercy; l desire
none if | have acted unwisely.
A man in public life must act ac-
cording to his conscience, but how.
aver conscientiously he acts, he must
be prepared to accept without com
plant any condemnation which his
own errors may bring upon him; he
must be willing to bear any deserved
punishment from ostracism to execu-
ton.
Force VS.. Persuasion.
The president and | agree in pur-
pose; we desire a peaceful solution
of the dispute witch has arisen be-
tween the United States and Germa-
ny. We not only desire it, but with
equal fervor we pray for it; but we
differ irreconcilably as to the means
of securing it. If it were merely a
personal difference it would be a mat
ter of little moment, for all the pre-
sumptions are on his side-the pre-
sumptions that go with power and
authority. He is your president, / am
a private citizen without office or IT,
tle-but one of the 100000, 900 in.
habitants.
But the real issue is not between
persons; 1t is between systems; and
rely for %vindication wholly upon the
strength of position taken.
Among the influences which the
governments employ in dealing with
each other there r two which are
pre-eminent and antagonistic - force
and persuasion. Force speaks
with tirmness and acts through the
ultimatum; persuasion employs argu'
ment, courts investigation and de
ponds upon negotiation Force rep
resents the old systematic system
that must pass away; persuasion
represents the new systematic sysr
TEN that has been growing, all toe
slowly, it is true, but growing for l..
200 years. In the old system war is
the chief corner stone-war which
at its best is little better than war
at it's worst; the new system contem.
plates a universal brotherhood, es-
tablished through the uplifting power
of example.
Note Is of Old System.
If | correctly interpret the note
to Germany, it conforms to the stand
ards Of the old system rather than
to the rules of the new, and l cheer
fully admit that it is abundantly sup
ported by precedents precedents
written in characters of blood or
every page of human history. Aus
tria furnishes the most recent prece
dent; it was Austria's firmness that
dictated the ultimatum against
Serbia, which set the world at war
Every ruler now participating ir
claimed his desire'Ry-:v
this unparalleled conflict has pro
claimed his desire for peace and de
uied responsibility for the wal and Il