The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-06-19
THINKS EDITOR ON WRONG
TRACK.

Editor Daily Item:
We see that you, as well as others.
have an inclination to criticise Mr..
Bryan for the stand he has taken in
not signing the last note, sent by our
government to Germany. as we'll as
resigning his position as secretary of
State. Why should we as bystand-
ers, not knowing his convictions, be so
ready to offer criticisms? Mr.. Wilson
is a great and honest man; one of the
greatest who has occupied the posi-
ton he now holds since the days of
Washington, and American citizens of
average intelligence recognize the
fact, but with the light before us we
must concede the fact that Mr.. Bry-
an is equally as honest. 1t is only a
matter of honest convictions between
the two, with which the people of this
country have to deal, and if Mr.. Bryan
Is honest, which no man has a right,
with the reputation he has heretofore
borne. to doubt, why are those with
whom he has legal as we'll as a NOR
al right (the latter the more import
ant of the two) to differ, so ready to
fiay him with all the energy and force
they can exercise? We are free peo-
pie and every man Of ability has a
right to aspire to position, If he has
the qualifications to discharge the
functions OF that office. but when the
policies of the government comes in
direct conflict with his moral and re-
ligious convictions, under the law of
common reason, as well as that of
holy writ, he would stultify himself,
should he do other than Mr.. Bryan
has done. He does not propose to
stifle or suppress his convictions for
honor or ennoblements and has the
moral manhood. Ca jewel which only
the minority Of the human race has)
to come out In the open and let the
people know his position. From what
little Information we have gathered,
he has been the prominent instrument
In organizing and establishing treat
les with thirty different nations, the
principal feature Of which, is to set
tie eruptions and misunderstanding,
which may arise between any Of those
countries and the United States, by
arbitration, whereby war and blood
shed may be eliminated, and the con-
vention to have one year to deliber-
ate and submit it's report. We all
can see the object Of this provision
embodied. the intention Of which Is,
after cool reflection and reasoning to
settle the differences by some other
means than the use Of the sword. II
We understand the duties of the cab
met. 1t is an advisory body, as we'll
as having individual functions to car
ry out. and in this case the majority
of that board looked at the situation
from a different standpoint of that Of
Mr.. Bryan and no doubt he was en-
barrassed, and felt as he has said he
did not wish to embarrass others and
therefore, he as man who Is loyal
to his moral convictions acted In the
premises as other men whose moral
apd religious principles are In the
ascendency should. The writer is full
ly aware OF the fact that President
Wilson does not want any war with
Germany. His actions in the past
have fully demonstrated 1t; and IL left
alone without the pressure Of the
jingoes, who would like to see this
country involved in a bloody conflict,
for the sake Of financial greed, war
will be the last resort. Mr.. Bryan
has recommended that our American
citizens be advised by the government
not to take shipping on any belliger-
ent vessels, bound for a foreign coun-
try. under the strained conditions now
existing between Germany and some
of the other belligerents, when they
would have to pass through the dan
ger Zone and of course be exposed
to all the ills that can be brought to
bear by one belligerent towards her
enemy. but his recommendation has
been ignored on the ground that the
people of a neutral country have a
legal right to travel anywhere on the
high seas they are disposed, even II
they are on belligerent vessel. We
are free to admit they have a legal
right. but We challenge any man to
successfully establish. that they have
a moral right to do anything that
will have tendency to involve their
country i'm bloody war.
The man who is ready to suppress
his moral and religious principles for