New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-12
OPINION CONCERNING BRYAN
Even the Pacifists Disinclined to
Back Him Up.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Bryan is going before the Ameri-
can people in an effort to persuade them that
he is right and President Wilson is wrong
in the course adopted by the United States
government in dealing with Germany. Per
haps il would interest Mr.. Bryan to know IN
advance, even though it may not please
him what sort Of reception his campaign
yill receive in certain quarters ~hcre ne
would most naturally look for support.
I have no appointment to speak othcialiy
for ANYBODY, but through my interest in the
American League to Limit Armaments as us
organization secretary | have had occasion
within the last three or four weeks TO read
some very interesting letters written oy
members Of this organization to us heao-
Quarters. These letters have come from all
narts Of the country and from public men
and private citizens, educators clergy"i'"
and men OF all professions and merchants
Thu writer's. by virtue of their membership
-, tho leaeue. doubtless identify themselves
os ncace advocates of the extreme type mat
is their advocacy of the RESTRICTION OF arm"
ments by international agreement Is bene'eu
bv many 70 be one Of the most farreaching
md nerhaps radical peace-seeking proposals
VOW before the public. Naturally it would
ne TO citizens of this type to wnom MI
BRYAN would look for support IN "ha' sp
rears TO be his purpose to DIVIDE the e0u"'
try against the President.
The interesting things about these letters
arc the absolute unanimity with which tney
express complete confidence in PRESIDENT
wilson's determination and ability to settle
the differences with Germany without re-
course 70 war and a remarkable loyalty to
the President regardless OF party or other
ties: and this loyalty is based upon tne
Presidents handling of the case and MS poi
:cv as EXPRESSED in the first note TO Ter
many and the forecasts of the second note.
Mr.. Brysn's statement Of wednesday Is
complete reputation Of this policy In II
he chooses to take grave chances with tnat
most uncertain and erratic element IN the
situation, the German state of mind. FUR
Their than that, he assists Germany to write
her reply to the Presidents note, and en-
couraces her. in fact TO return reply when
is bound to be unacceptable, and all this even
before the contents of the note are known
either here or in Germany. He gives away
state secrets and offers assistance to Ger
many regardless Of the consequences at
home, and appeals to the people to back him
up in mis- stand.
II these letters TO which | refer suggest
anything, they suggest that genuine peace
advocates will not back him up.
The letters were written before Mr.. Bryan
resigned. and many of them manifest sympa-
thy with such peace measures as Mr.. Bryan
advocates. The principles underneath Mr..
Bryan's general advocacy Of arbitration
would doubtless be unanimously Endorsed BY
the members of the League TO Limit Arma-
n1ents. but the manner of their promulga-
ton at this time, coupled with arguments
bearing on details of the present contro-
versy with Germany, put an entirely different
light on the subject. IL is the underlying
spirit which prompted these letters which.
to my mind. makes them so significant. II
is the spirit which says that Woodrow Will
son is a sincere, earnest, determined man
Of peace, and that the nation should stand
untcdly behind him. Ii is the conviction
expressed by Bishop Greer when the first
note to Germany made public in the
following words:
81 can only say what I think every loyal
American citizen would say at such time
as this, that we should stand by the Presi-
dent hope and believe that he will find
some pacific solution of the present crisis
and that he will guide the nation away from
the difficulties which seem imminent, That
he makes this his supreme wish and desire
is amply evident in all his uttersnces, and
under his guidance we can feel that our best
interests will be preserved in the noblest
manner which his wise judgment can de-
wise" JONATHAN A. RAWSON. JR.
New York, June II, 1915.