New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-10
The Double Effect of MIR. Bryan's
Resignation.

must be CONSIDERED from TWO sePdlaV0
points Of view The retiring Secretary Of
State is by nature a crusader, an agitator.
Throughout his entire career he has capt.
talized his ability to reach "the plain peo-
pie" as he calls them, and to play upon
their susceptibilities with his queer MKT
ure Of idealstic fervor, oratorical unctu-
business and more or less unprecedented
demagogy.
II is impossible for a public leader Of
this type to change his character or his
methods. So far, therefore, as the course
Of domestic politics is concerned, Mr..
Bryan will at once assume the role of the
chief antagonist within the Democratic
party of the Wilson administration. AS
his first statement after leaving office yes
terday plainly shows, he has already be-
come critic of the President.
The Tribune declined TO accept the vague
assurances given through the press on
Tuesday night that Mr.. Bryan would con-
tinue to support the Wilson policies. 1t
could not take at face value the over
anxious fattery INDUCED in by the Presi-
dent in the letter accepting Mr.. Bryan's
resignation. We felt that we knew Mr..
Bryan too well to be deceived by such by
play. and the statement now made by
the ex-Secretary bluntly challenging the
policy of the new note to Berlin, even be-
fore the text of the note has been made
public, demonstrates the hollowness of Mr..
Wilson's farewell assumption that 1--WE
TMr. Bryan and HIMSELF shall continue to
work for the same causes, even when we
do not work in the same way"
Mr.. Bryan says in answer that he will
work for his own causes and for the recon-
version Of the President to them through
a pressure of public opinion which he, the
ex-Secretary, expects to create. After out |
lining two propositions for an indefinite
extension Of diplomatic exchanges with
Germany, both of which the President has
rejected as inconsistent with this country's
demand for an immediate suspension Of
submarine attacks on unarmed merchant
nd oha- /
tants, Mr.. Bryan announces that "as pri-
vate citizen | am free to urge both of these
propositions and to call public attention to
these remedies in the hope of securing such
an expression of public sentiment as will
support the President in employing these
remedies if, in the future, he finds it con-
sistent with his sense of duty to favor
them"
Some people may call this supporting
the President, 1t is much the same kind
Of Support" as Mr.. Bryan gave ex-Judge
Alton B. Parker in the memorable Presi-
Dental campaign of 1904.
1t is far better, however, for the Presi-
dent to have Mr.. Bryan as an open critic
outside the Cabinet than as reluctant and
insubordinate co-worker inside it. What
the ex-Secretary can do as a private citi-
zen has less potentially of evil than what
he could do and was doing in an office
which brought him into direct contact with
diplomatic negotiations and with repre-
sentatives of foreign governments.
The great mass of the people stands be-
hind the assertion by the United States Of
the right of its citizens TO travel the high
seas on lawful errands and to receive at
the hands of belhgerents the full protec-
ton guaranteed them by the rules of inter-
national law. Mr.. Bryan wants to dodge
such an assertion of right by practically
asking Americans to forego their legal
privileges in order to suit the military con-
venience of one of the warning powers.
Further, he suggests submitting TO COM
mission Of inquiry, not bound to make a
report for twelve months, the simple ques-
ton whether or not Germany ought to
acknowledge her obligation to conduct war
fare at sea in a humane and legalized man
ner.
No American administration worthy If
the name could afford TO put its signatule
to such propositions. Mr.. Bryan is. of
course, within his rights as a citizen in 40
vocating the pusillanimeus course which he
outlines. We do not believe that ne Will