Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-11
w. J. Bryan's Statement.

winch we are IN controversy, DeAOEs
the note has reached its destination OF
has been made public in this country
can not be fully characterized as dis
courteous" 1t Is much more than
that; it Is reasonable. Mr.. Bryan was
justified in refusing to sign as secre'
tary Of state, a document In which his
convictions were outraged. His res
ignation was the act Of an honorable
official in disagreement with his asso.
ciates. 1t Is universally approved his
excuse was honorable and sufficient
He had a right to his convictions. and
fair-minded people must respect him
for his high position, even though they
regret that the break should have come
at such a critical hour when its sig.
niflcance must be grossly misunder.
stood by our disputant, who could moi
be expected to estimate Mr.. Bryan al
he is known in this country. Mr.. Bryan
will be taken much more seriously in
Germany than at home.
Further than the bare facts given In
his letter Of resignation Mr.. Bryan
could not go, with courtesy to his for
mer associates or with loyalty to the
American people. His statement on
the news pages today is the expression
and the act Of a bigot-the placing OF
his individual opinion as above and
beyond the combined judgment Of his
associates. the biggest thing before
the country today. to be passed upon
by the American people before the ma.
tons most vital foreign affairs can be
considered.
We had expected better Of a mar
Of Mr.. Bryan's intelligence and accept.
ed honesty of purpose. 1t is not a case
Of the courage Of convictions" blu,
the folly Of bigotry.
Mr.. Bryan's hasty attack upon the
administration policy seems almost
vicious in it's determination to embar-
rass the President and his official fam.
lily. 1t is a direct appeal to those OF
pro-German leanings to rally around
his standard in opposing the policy OF
the government. 1t sets forth an argu-
ment for German refusal Of American
demands that is more comprehensive
and plausible than that submitted in
the German reply to President Wilson's
note. But it is not this fairness" to
Germany Of which we complain, but
rather, the very act Of attempting to
turn the American people against the
President who is following out a strik-
!nely approved policy. In this act Mr.
Bryan espouses the cause Of a nation
with whom we are in controversy, as
sails the wisdom of the leaders Of his
party and fiouts the advice and sup
port of the leaders and press of the
great opposition party.
Mr.. Bryan assumes that this country
cannot set forth and demand respect
for that which the nation has fought
for and maintained for more than 100
years-our rights in the high seas
without giving another nation cause
for making war upon us. He insin-
yates that if war does come as a re-
suit Of this nation demanding the
safety of it's unarmed and neutral cit
liens in the common sea highway
then the President will be responsible
for it,
Yet Mr.. Bryan's signature was at
fixed to the communication notifying
Germany that it would be held to
strict accountability" and to which
the President is now entirely consist
ent.
If Mr.. Bryan has suddenly dis
covered an 'irreconcilable difference
between himself and the President, he
may now find the same difference be-
tween himself and the people. for sup
port Of the President is. regardless OF
party or creed. almost universal.
We do not wish to accuse Mr.. Bryan
of attempting to swing himself into
sudden popularity by such an act, but
If that is his purpose we believe he
has sadly misjudged the country. II
he felt that the cumulative effect OF
his obscurity and Mr.. wilson's prom
inence in the country's affairs in re-
cent months, had belittled his stature
before the people. he certainly can
win back but small part Of it by such
tactics. If it is the climax Of clever
play for popular favor by two men,
then Mr.. Bryan has been outclassed
and hopelessly defeated. We cannot
help thinking Of that cooked hat"
The question Is not whether an Ameri-