The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-06
Comes Out Squarely Against National Defense Pro- gramme Advocated by President Wilson
SAYS PREPARATION
 FOR WAR IS BAD
 EXAMPLE FOR EUROPE
Thinks Word Defense as Used by Wilson Is Only a Pretext to Secure Great Armament

Washington November 5.-Former Sec. retary Bryan came out squarely against President Wilson's national defense plan took issue with the Presidents views as expressed last night before the Manhat- tan club in New York
 "A departure from our traditions: re- versal of our national policy a menace tn our peace anc safety, and challenge to the spirit of Christianity which teaches us to influence others by example rather than by exciting fear" is Mir. Brynn's view of the national defense plans
 Tho former Secretary of States views which reterate opinions he has pre- vlously expressed on the subject of pre- paredness for war. was regarded as the opening gun in the fight which admin istration leaders expect in Congress against adoption of the plan. MT Bryan's statement says:
 Deplores Warlike Spirit
 I have read the Presidents speech at New York with sorrow and concern He is doing what he believes to be his duty and so long as man follows his con- science and judgment we cannot criticize his motives, but we may be compelled to dissent from his conclusions. [ feel 1t my duty to dissent and as he has given his views with cearncss and emphasis those who differ from him arc under like obligation to express themselves with equal clearness.
 He says that his position is different from that of the private individual in that the individual is free to speak his own thoughts and risk his own opinion. This sentence Is little obscure. Insofar as he expresses his own opinion, he does not differ from the private citizen. OK cept that he speaks under a sense of of- ficial responsibility, but where a nations fate is involved in policy every private citizen who loves his country and tries to serve it, is conscious of responsibility. The President Wfll not assume that 70 Is more deeply interested in the vel fare of his country than the millions who elected him to be for the time being their spokesman And, If as he evidently believes, he is giving voice to the opinions of his countrymen, he is, of course anxious to have them as frank with him as he has been with them-how other wise can he know whether he represents or misrepresents ther views?
 Is Departure From Tradition
 He has announced a policy which has never before been adopted in this coun- try and never indorsed by any party in the country and he has no way of know ing until he hears from the people wheth- CT he has correctly interpreted the will of the public. Ills appeal is not to any party. but us he says, to men or all shades of opinion. He asks for tho hearty support of the country. meaning of course. that he wants the support. provided the people favor the policy which he has outlined. He could not. of course, ask them to support a policy which they did not indorse especially if they con sidered the policy dangerous to the coun- try
 From my view of the subject, the plan which he proposes is not only a departure from our traditions, but a re- versal of our national policy It is not only 0 menace to our peace and safety. but a challenge to the spirit of Chris tianty, which teaches us to influence others by example, rather than by excit- ing fear.
 Defense Only Pretext
 The President says that we should be prepared, not for aggression, but for defense That is tho ground upon which all preparation for war is made. What nation has ever prepared for war on the theory that it was preparing for aggres- sion? It Is only fair to assume that the European rulers who are involved in the present war thought that they were con tributing toward the maintenance of peace. when they were making elaborate preparations for defense. It is false philosophy, and being false. it inevitably leads into difficulties. The spirit that makes the individual carry revolver and whoever carries a revolver except for defense-leads him not only to use it on slight provocation, but 10 use san- Buage which provokes trouble. Speak softly, but carry big stick is one of the delusve maxims employed by those who put their faith in force. There are two answers to it. First the man who speaks softly has not the disposition to carry club, and if a man with a soft voice is persuaded to carry club, his voice changes soon as he begins to rely upon the club.
 Wishes to Apply Golden Rule
 "If there is any truth in our religion, a nation must win respect as an indi- vidual does, not by carrying arms. but by an upright. honorable course that invites confidence and insures good will. This nation has won it's position in the worle without resorting to the habit of totitls a pistol. or carrying club. Why reverse our policy at this time? The President himself admits that there Is no reason for change. He says:
 "'The country Is not threatened from any quarter. she stands in friendly rela- ton with all the world. Her resources and her self respect and capacity to care for her own citizens and rights are wcll known.
 And to make the statement more em- phatic he adds: <" There is no fear among us. eff we're not threatened by any nation; | if our relations with all nations ar0 friendly, If everybody knows that we're able to defend ourselves if necessary. and if there is no fear among us. why Is thla time chosen to revoltuionize our national theories. and to exchange our policy for the policy of Europe? Why abandon tho hope that we have so long entertained of setting an example to Europe? Why en~ courage the nations of Europe in thoie
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