The Washington times., 1915-06-10
MR.. BRYAN'S OUTBURST

There are not many public men
with so much genius as NJ. Bryan
possesses for making it hard for
their friends to remain their friends.
He has engaging qualities and, in
certain directions, convincing ones;
it is quite needless to say that in
his moments of supreme appeal to
moral considerations he is a power,
and a useful one, as he has many
times demonstrated.
But along with these equipments
goes a mercurial quality. of disposi-
tion, an incapacity to entertain set
tied convictions, an eagerness for
new sensations and for. variety of
intellectual experience, that cannot
be regarded as other than weak
nesses in a generally strong
character. Never has Mr.. Bryan
more clearly demonstrated the grav-
ity of these defects than in the
startling performance of publishing
what is practically his independent
note to Germany simultaneously
with the dispatch of the communi-
cation from this Government.
This performance was worse than
manifestation Of bad taste. 1t
was a peculiarly egregious display
of disloyalty to an Administration
in which he had been trusted with
the highest honor it could confer.
1t was worse than that; for in max
ing public his statement as he did,
he was deliberately bidding for q
following to help him divide the
American nation in an hour when
division could only mean dangerous
weakening. There is something
sardonic in the conclusion that "as
a private citizen am free to urge
both of these propositions, and to
call public attention to these RENE
dies, in the hope of securing such
an expression of public sentiment as
will support the President in en-
ploying these remedies, if in the flu.
ture, he finds it consistent with his
sense of duty to favor them" AS
"these remedies" had been urged by
Mr.. Bryan with all his force, and re,
jected even at the price of split
in the Administration, the service
that Mr.. Bryan can hope to perform
in appealing now to the public .ar
be better understood than appreci.
ated by the President.
Mr.. Bryan insisted on arbitrating
in a time when arbitration has be.
come impossible. He appealed te
treaties in a time when treaties are
scraps of paper. These errors OF
policy could be forgiven him; his
retirement from the Cabinet, ir
view Of irreconcilable differences
was creditable enough; but his in
slant emission of a document tha
exposes to the world the inward
ness of the differences within the
Cabinet, that becomes the rallyinl
point for opposition to that unit!
which the nation absolutely mus
demonstrate in this crisis-this i!
amazing beyond explanation.
The sudden passing of Bryan
committed to peace at any price
was a natural guarantee that thi'
Government had set upon a firm
and definite course. The one chance
of abnormal consequences was that
with it's positive genius for mis-
reading all signs abroad, Berlin
might imagine American sentimen
divided. But in view of the over
whelming proof now at hand of tn
nations support Of strong policy
there must be no further chance TO
even Berlin to mistake.
Whatever the language, there
fore, of Mr.. Wilson's note, now o.
it's way to Won Jagow, the Berli
foreign office, we'll advised by it
embassy and by our German-Amer
lean citizens of intelligence, char
acter, and patriotism, will know be
yond the possibility of misapprehen
sion that what counts in this com
munication is not merely the word
it conveys but the national spiri
J behind it.
AS for the phrasing Of the not
itself Mr.. Wilson is not, and is in
capable of pretending to be, trucu
lent. He can insult no Prussia
sense of pride and outrage no Gel
man passion Of honor. IT is not O
his training, and it IS still less O
!. his nature, to say in conventions