The Irish standard., 1915-06-12

ident's note the completion of a vigor-
GUS ultimatum and make it appear to
be accompanied by spirit of hostil-
ity which does not belong to it. 1t was
the jingoism of the press of the coun-
try that forced the United States into
war with Spain. An action that has
not since appealed to sober minds
and which has been looked upon with
some degree of shame, for even at
this time it is not known that the
Spanish government was responsible
for the destruction of the Maine. Mr..
Bryan has raised an important ques-
ton for the individual citizens of
America to answer when he inquired
whether or not 1t was entirely proper
and patriotic for American citizens
to take passage upon a vessel loaded
with munitions of war and belonging
to a country that was engaged in
war with the nation whose naval activ.
tiles were responsible for the destruc-
ton of the Lusitania. Would it not
have been more patriotic had theS
thought of their country and the diff.
ficulties in which it might be in.
volved by flying in the face of danger
and disregarding the laws of safety
with the recklessness of an abandoned
personal responsibility for the conse-
quences which follow? True, it is no
time to pass upon the merits of such
questions. Our country comes first.
No patriotic American would disagree
with the president in his sincere de-
sire to have Americans understand
that the protecting arm of the govern
ment reaches out under any and all
circumstances, both to render aid and
to assist them in asserting the priv
ileges and rights which are theirs.
Many may question seriously why it
was proper to warn American citi-
zens to leave Mexico and thereby
avoid danger and save the government
from further trouble with Mexico. The
fact that indemnities were paid for
the loss of American lives in individ.
ual instances in Mexico may be diff
cult to reconcile when delivering an
ultimatum to Germany. All of these
questions loom large upon the polit-
ical horizon of our country when its
foreign policy is now such matter
of grave concern. Mr.. Bryan was sin.
cere In his efforts to refrain from do.
Ing anything that would mean that
there was no alternative left but war.
The president was as firmly convinced
that an ultimatum to Germany was the
only course to pursue. The president
has the backing of the entire country,
regardless of racial beliefs and racial
ties. Whatever course our country
pursues the president of the United
States can be assured of the national
support and when the events which
have brought about the resignation of
Mr.. Bryan can be calmly reviewed in
the light of their merits and the at.
tending circumstances connected with
them and the results which they pro.
duce, then the American public can
better estimate the motives that force
the convictions of Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Bryan to point where the parting of
the ways was the only conclusion. 1t
would be unfair to the president to
say that Mr.. Wilson was ungrateful for
what Mr.. Bryan had done for him,
Every voter in the country believes
that Mr.. Bryan was personally re-
sponsible for Mr.. Wilson's elevation
to the presidency. Mr.. Bryan was re-
warded by being named Secretary of
State. The views of the president at
times In matters connected with the
State Department have been forced
upon Mr.. Bryan to a point almost
humiliating. Personal convictions are
responsible for the split in the cabinet.
The political and moral effect of the
determined stand taken by the Score.
tary of State can be measured only
by developments which will reach far
into the future. In the meantime our
thoughts are neither for Mr.. Bryan
nor Mr.. Wilson, but the President of
the United States as the representa-
tive of American institutions, polit.
ical views and national responsible
tiles.