The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-25
$4,000 ROAR AS w. J. BRYAN
ASSAILS NEWSPAPERS OF N. Y.
Continued from First Page.

II probably do not feel as indignant
to-day as you do at the position taken
by the New York newspapers. | am
more accustomed to it thar you. l have
been in politics for twenty-five years
and ! have not known the New York
press to be on the side of the American
people on any question. You who are not
accustomed to burials suffer from the
experiences through which you are pass
ing much more than one to whom
burials have become commonplace.
10 two years and three months |
have tried to assist the President in
dealing with the most momentous ques-
lions that have ever come before this
country. and never for one day has the
New York press given me credit for
honest Intentions.
II have been the repository of inter
national secrets. Representatives of
foreign countries have come to me and
have whispered words into my ears that,
II ] had told them. might have caused
national calamities. But because I
would not take newspaper reporters into
my confidence and tell them these
secrets, newspapers have denounced me
because | would not surrender myself
into the hands OF irresponsible editors
who have little regard for the rights OF
the American people.
Ready for Fight.
For two years and three months /
had to SIT silent while the New York
press tried to assassinate me. But now
~tpounding the railing with his hand in
an almost frenzied fashion, I am ready
TO meet them and they shall not assassi-
nate me without reply"
Mr.. Bryan then referred to his arbi-
tration treaties aud said
When l had obtained the signature
TO such a treaty the newspapers put a
little story about 1t down in the cor
ner of n page, while on the front page
they put some SANDER of me.
For more than two years the news
papers kept trying to tell the people
that ] ought not to be there. and then
when | step out they all at once find
that I have endangered my country by
getting nut. Ever since August /. 1914,
the newspapers have daily told the Pres
ident how this country ought to be rur.
but when ! signalize my return TO p"i-
vate life by a statement. the news
papers say: How dare he speak on
matters of such great Importance"
Then Mr.. Bryan explained that If one
wants to get anything right In a news
paper he has to write II out in advance
and hand II out. He said he had A..
dDSiTdCt vi u SpttNu Nlltl Nv Npuih
read because he wanted to keep faith
with the newspapers. lie begged the
pardon OF the audience while he read 1t.
lie then started on his formal speech.
In the course OF II. however. he said
that IL the President called for 1.0O0.-
900 men those men would be In arms
before sunset. But" he added. II think
those 1000. 900 men nave the right TO
say whether there shall DE war
Text Of Bryan's speech.
Mr.. Bryan aid
"Will the people support the President
in case of war between this country and
any other country? Yes. "A thousand
times yes but whether or not We should
engage in war is a question which Is
still open for discussion. If war comes
all will stand as one man behind the
Government, but until Congress declares
war each citizen il at liberty 10 eN-
press his opinion as to whether or not
there should be war. Not only Is the
citizen at liberty 10 express his opinion
on this subject. but, In view Of the ef'
forts OF "A portion OF the press t. force
the country into war. II is his duty tc
enter his protest now he cannot amor
to risk the happening of some un.x.
pected event which might make resist
ance TO the wal sentiment more DIM
cult.
Shall the nations honor be main.
tanned? Yes. a thousand times yes
There is no division among the Ameri.
can people on this subject: but what
does national honor require? All agre.
that the honorable course should be fol.
lowed, but what definition Of honor shall
We accept? The old blood stained def.
milton which the jingoes recommend
OR IA definition in harmony with the
spirit of the age and the aspirations OF
our people? Upon this question every
citizen has a right to speak, and the
citizen ought to speak now. before q
false standard OF national honor is sci
up. our national ideals determine wha'
~ honorable. and those ideals are Illus.
trated by our effort to promote uni
versal peace--they grow more pacific
az our humanitarian work increases al
home and abroad.
National honor ls a sentiment, II Is
true. but sentiment Is one OF the great.
est factors in human progress-it Is the
inertia of the social world, in the sense
that 1t tends to keep at rest that which
Is at rest but II is also the momentum
of the social world in hat II tends &c
keep in motion that which is moving
Every reform has TO overcome existing
sentiment. but when the reform IL once
established the new sentiment which II
creates becomes a compelling force and
operates against a change.
Tells of Old Customs.
at is the duty OF each citizen to judg,
between the old and the new-to weigl
the arguments, sift truth from false,
hood. and then give hinself unreservedly
to the defence OF the right as ne sees It
Thu Is good propagated this is tn
travail out OF which truth is born
Choose ye this day whom We will serve,
il not an outgrown command 1t come,
to us as II came to the children o.
Israel. The choice then made Is tn,
choice which each generation-and eacl
member of the generation-.s called
upon to make. and upon the choice mad,
hangs the fate OF individuals and tn,
destiny OF nations.
This struggle has been eoing on from
the beginning. with constant victories
for reform, and for reforms too that d,
not turn backward,
at was once the custom in India Il
compel the widow to join her husban,
in death-to ascend the funeral pyr,
and give her body to the flames. Publ
sentiment supported the custom and n
one dared to defy It, but that custom 1
no mora reform has come and nov
sentiment supports the reform. Tn,
world has taken IA step in advance, an,
better use Of widox vs. than to burn them
"lt is still the custom IN some Orieuta
countries for woman 10 conceal her fac