Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-06
BRYAN CONDEMNS
PRESIDENTS PLAN
Former Secretary Says Defense
Scheme is Reversal of National
Policy and Menace TO Peace.
OPENING GUN OF BIG FIGHT


WASHINGTON, Nov. B.--Former
Secretary Bryan came out squarely
against President wilson's national
defense plan today In q formal state
ment. in which he took issue with
the presidents views as expressed
last night before the Manhattan club
in New York.
"A departure from our traditions;
a reversal OF our national policy; a
menace to our peace and safety and a
challenge 20 the spirit OF Christianity,
which teaches us TO influence others
by example, rather than by exciting
fear" is Mr.. Bryan's view OF the
national defense plans.
Opening Gun OF Big Fight
The former seeretary's statement,
which reiterates views he has previously
expressed on the subject OF preparedness
for war, was resHrdsd as the opening
sun In the fight which administration
leaders expect IN congress against adop-
tion OF the plan. ar. Bryan's statement
says;
Il have read the presidents speech at
New York with soFvOw and concern. He
IL doing what he believes 70 pe his duty
and 20 long a. = man follows his con-
science and Judgment. We cannot erfti-
else his motives, but we may be COM
PEELED TO dissent from his conclusions.
feel it my duty 70 dissent, and as he has
given his views with clearness and en-
phaHs. those who differ from him are
under q like obligation to express them
selves with equal olearness.
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
~ he expresses his own opinion, he does
not differ from the private citizen except
that he speaks under . sense Of official
responsibility. but where q nations fate
10 involved In q policy svery private citi-
sen who loves his country and triee 70
serve II 10 conscious of responsibility, The
president will not assume that he IL more
deeply interested in tha welfare Of his
country than the millions who elected
him 10 be for the time being their spokas-
man, And ~, as he evidently believes. he
Il giving voice 70 the opinions Of his
countTymen, he Is, OF course. anxious 70
been with them, how otherwise can he
know whether he represents or misreprc-
sents their views
New and strange Policy.
He has announced policy which has
never before been adopted in the country
and never endorsed By any party IN the
country. and he has no way OF knowing,
until he hears from the people, whether
no has correctly interpreted the VIII Of
the public. His appeal IL not 70 any
party, but. a. he sayA, 70 men OF all
shades OF opinion, He asks for the hearty
support of the country. meaning. Of
course. that he wants the support pro-
vided the people favor the policy whieh
he has outlined. He could not. OF course,
ask than to support peliey which they
did not endorse especially II they con
sidered the poiiey dangerous 10 the eoun-
try.
Prom my view of the subject tho plan
which he proposes is not emily q departure
from our traditions, but q reversal OF
our national policy. II is not only a
menace 10 our peace and safety. but q
challenge 10 the spirit Of christianity
which teaches US 20 Influence others by
example, rather than by exciting fear.
The president says that we should b
prepared not for aggression, but for de-
fense'' That is the ground uppn which
all preparation for war 10 made What
nation has ever prepared for war on the
theory that II was preparing for asgTea-
eionf II is only fair 10 assume that the
European rulers who are involved In the
present war thought that they were max.
laG elaborate Preparations for defense,
Il y false philosophy and. being false.
Inevitably Leads into difficulties. The
spirit that makes the individual carry a
FevoiveF-and whoever carries a revolver