The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-16

Our Secretary of state.
Almost exactly two years ago it be-
came the duty and the privilege Of THF
SUN to point out to Mr.. WOODROW Will
SON (then engaged in making his Cabi'
net for the Presidential term soon to
begin) the certain consequences Of the
proposed appointment Of Mr. BRYAN
70 be Secretary Of state.
The warning was explicit as to the
potentialities OF scandal and national
humiliation which Mr.. BBYAN's well
understood idiosyncrasies promised ia
provide. Our entreaty to Mr.. WILSON
to avert the public calamity which
seemed imminent was made in good
faith and in no spirit Of unfriendliness
TO the person whose superlative dis
qualifications for the ONCE Of Secretary
OF State we described with all possible
moderation of language and tone. We
may perhaps be pardoned for repeating
what THE Sun said at that time, IN
conclusion. after having exhibited the
appalling specifications OF unfitness:
"If the primacy OF the Cabinet is Offered
TO MIR BRYAN 1t will he because he hai
been thrice defeated for President. be
cause he is a conspicuous figure, with a
considerable following. in the Democracy
at present: because he is yet able. IL Of
Tended or sighted. to occasion a good dea
OF trouble to the Wilson Administration
and perhaps. because Mr.. WILSON feels
himself under more or less obligation tC
Mr.. BRYAN for what occurred at BATH
more.
III the post OF Secretary OF State Is &C
cepted By Mr. BRYAN it will not be be
cause he yearns for the opportunity tC
test his diplomatic genius in the presence
OF all the chancelleries. but because h
wants to keep himself in the bright ligh
OF publicity for the next four years, u
have the opportunity to speak to the Pres
ident and to the party through more eff
fectivs megaphone than the Conmoner
to be on hand when discussions arise n!
to the binding force OF the single tern
plank In the Baltimore platform. In short
who doubts that II Mr.. BRYAN takes th
place at the council mahogany OF the VII
son Administration it will not be so mucl
that he may sit at the Presidents RICH
as in order that the President may 81
at his left. within striking range OF hi
aqullne eye?
Most dIslnterested observers will fore
zee In a relation OF this sort sure disaste
either TO Or. WILSON or to Mr.. BRYAN
and perhaps to both That, however. i
OF comparatively small Importance Tn
grave concern OF the American people i
with the possibility that for such persona
and PARTISAN reasons our incoming Presi
dent, In the exercise OF one of the frs
and ono OF the most serious responsible
ties OF his entire term may deliberately
entrust the Department OF State to SO ig
norant and 30 rhetorical and so unht
person as Is Mr. BRYAN"
We recall this forecast, not to invit
admiration Of its accuracy, but rathe
to express surprise that THE SUM-
representations should have been =
inadequate.
Every man in the country with IN
D1d SSeO NlslOu upN Htl''i't0 wv" NV
pendous a scalculatlon Of the mai
chance was Mr.. WILSON'S when he is
ured that with Mr. BRYAN in the Cab
net the balance of profit ana adyantag
would be on the Presidents side.
The President has gained some things
Il Is true. in the way Of partisan con
venicnce and persona comfort. Ia
doubtedly Mr.. BRYAN's influence ~
some of the Western aud Southern leg
islators has counted for the success u
Administration measures that have gon
before the Congress. This service ough
not to he underestimate Moreover
there has been up to this time no sci'
sion OF the distinctly Bryan faction o
the Democracy circumstance du
partly to the previously calculated rela
tonshp now existing and partly to tn
fact that the hands OF the polltlcu
clock have not yet reached the hour fo
the open clash of ambitious. In add
ton TO these benefits the President m
had the satisfaction OF reading frol
time to time in the CommOner remark
in approval of his political intelligenc
and moral ideals, phrased In moasse
signed by the Secretary Of State, an
uttered In that tone Of sophisticate
benevolence which makes you look 70
the wink of the eye aud the tongue
the cheek.
But turn to the other side Of the az
count! No huTan being will ever kno'