The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-06-17
MIR. BRYAN's RESIGNATION.


MIR. BRYAN'S RESIGNATION.
Mr.. Bryans resignation at this
time and in these circumstances is a
sorry service to his country.
In his letter to the president the
secretary of state declares that Ito
remain member OF the cabinet
would be as unfair to you as it would
be to the cause which is nearest my
heart-namely, the prevention OF
war" We cannot believe that this
cause is nearer to William J. Bryan's
heart than it is to Woodrow Wilson,
heart; but even if it were, Mr.. Bryan
has done the one thing in his power
most likely to bring about war be-
tween the United States and Ger
many.
Americans understand Mr. Bryan's
passionate and often quiXotic devo-
ton to his ideals; but this is not how
his resignation will impress the Ger
man government. Germany does not
know him as America knows him.
1t knows him only as secretary OF
state, an Office corresponding to that
held by Herr van Jagow in Berlin
and Sir Edward Grey in London.
1t knows him only as foreign sec
rotary who has been the leader Of
his party for nearly twenty years,
and who has three times been its
candidate for president.
1t will see in his resignation a di-
vided government, and its equivalent,
divided people, which is the one
thing for which German diplomacy
has been striving in the United
States since the beginning of the
war.
That is not what Mr.. Bryan's res
ignation means to the American
people; but the serious thing to be
4 considered at this time is what it
means to Berlin, which is about to
receive the presidents final word on
the issues raised by the German
policy of submarine warfare.
We are not questioning Mr..
Bryan's sincerity in this mater. We
are not denying the honesty of his
convictions and the integrity of his
purpose. For these we have only the
highest respect, and we have only
the highest regard for the moral
courage which he displays in resign
ing the most responsible Office in the
cabinet rather than be party to a
policy that is in conflict with his con-
science. What we are impeaching is
Mr.. Bryan's judgment. Not strong
at best, that judgment never worked
to more deplorable purpose than
when he broke with President Will
son on an issue which, in its present
aspects, is still academic.
The note to Germany has not been
made public; so we do not know the
provisions that SO affronted Mr..
Bryan's principles that he could no
this we know: At the cabinet meet
ing which discussed the original
draft of the Lusitania note of May
Is every eventuality was carefully
considered The unsatisfactory ma
ture of the German reply was fore
seen. The American answer was fore
seen. The possible suspension of
diplomatic relations was foreseen.
After the discussion had ended, Mr..
Bryan accepted the judgment of the
president as his judgment and the
verdict of the cabinet as his verdict.
If he could not conscientiously sup
port the administrations policy in
respect to German submarine war
fare, the time to have discovered it
was then. The time to have resign
ed was then. To wait until he had
signed his name to the first note, to
wait until Germany's reply had been
received, to wait until the Presi-
dents inevitable answer had been
formulated, and then resign-that is
to subject this government and his
country to an embarrassment for
which there is neither excuse nor ex-
tenuation, however noble Mr..
Bryan's ideals may be and however
sensitive his conscience may be in
repect to these ideals.
Mr.. Bryan's resignation, however
unfortunate, cannot change the atti-
tude of the country toward the presi-
dent. Rather it will solidify public |
sentiment still more strongly behind
Mr.. Wilson, realizing as every citizen
must realize that the president in
OF emphatic popular support. Mr.. |
plough and he cannot turn back un-
til he reaches the end of the furrow
In spite of Mr.. Bryan's scruples there
is no public desire that he should
turn back. On the contrary, it is
the presidents grave and solemn
duty to continue to the end, having
Faith that right makes might, and
daring to do his duty as he under
stands it.-New York World.
MIR. BRYAN'S STATEMENT.