The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-20
BRYAN PEACE TALK
HITS EX-PRESIDENTS

plan. In fact the name indicates Its
military We are told that
the name selected after some debate
was League to Enforce Peace. Ameri-
can Branch This presents the purpose
clearly enough, and a review OF the
speeches made at the time Of orsaniz-
ing will remove any doubts as to uhe
military character of the plan.
"One OF those In attendance IL re-
ported TO have complained that the re-
port was too militaristic.' 'Milltarism.'
he said, was to be fought with mill
tarism.' He even intimated that there
was too much 'Rooseveltism In it. The
objections, however. were soon silenced
by a speech BY President Lowell of
Harvard. who is reported to have said
we are here TO enforce peace, other
wise we have no business here Mt all.
When YOU fight . forest fre you fight II
with lack fire. We have here a mesna
to discourage war. and that means is
the threat to use force
THE sounds very familiar.
Fighting the devil with hre has long
been n popular amusement. but the ef-
fort has never been successful. Those
who advocate the policy Of fighting the
devil with fire seem to overlook two
important facts; first. that the devn
IL better acquainted with fire than his
ltS saiSs W o@a - ~
expense for fuel. he has an economic ad-
vantage which tells powerfully in any
prolonged contest.
The Monroe Doctrine.
II feel sure the distinguished men
who organized the league did not fully
consider the radical changes which
would nave to be made before their
policy could be adopted. Their plan is
to organize an International police force
which will compel peace. and compel 1t
by the use OF force. means that
We shall make ourselves partners with
other nations in the waging OF war.
This may seem a very simple matter
II We consider only the possibility VI pre-
venting war. but Ii IL not n simple matter
II threats fail and war becomes a real
ity.
Before We can promise to enter Into
partnership with other nations In fu-
ture wars We must ~repudiate the advice
Of Washington. who warned W against
'entangiing alliances The American
people will be very slow to enter into
any which will Involve us
in the Quarrels Of Europe-Quarrels
which have their origin In centuries OF
a~ntagonism, in race hatreds and In COM
mercial% rivalries. IL there were no other
objection this would seem an insuper-
able one II, as / believe. the advice OF
Washington is still revered.
"The plan Of The League to Enforce
Peace wouid also Involve n surrender
of the Monroe Doctrine. We could hardly
enter INTO n settlement OF European dis
putes and at the same time refuse 70
allow European nations TO take part In
the settlement of disputes in the West
ern Hemisphere. The American people
will not look with favor upon so revolu-
tionary a change In our national policy
But even IL We were willing to re-
pudiate the advice OF Washington and
surrender the Doctrine of Monroe. o
the people be willing SO to amend the
Constitution as to transfer from our
Congress to European nations the right
TO declare war: The right to declare
war IL vested in Congress: the plan pro-
! posed by the League u Enforce Peace
would vest the power to declare wal In
a group OF nations in which We could
not. OF COURSE. exercise a controlling In
ffuence. ] am sure thai 1t would be i'm
possible to secure a two-thirds majority
In Congress for n resolution proposing
the surrender of the right to declare
war. and wen II two-thirds OF both
houses could be brought to pass the
resolution there Is no reaso to believs
that three-fourths of the States would
adopt the amendment.
7 Another Objection.
But while any one OF the three rea.
sons given would seem to he suficlent
and while the three combined offer ar
unanswerable argument against the plaI
proposed by Mr.. Taft's organization
there Is still another objection which
Ill 1t may b. called sentimental. Il,
think. worthy OF consideration. And
strange inconsistency-thls plan. which
contemplate n surrender OF our inde
pendence, was formulated In Independ,
ence Hall.
We have sought TO aid the world b,
example and We have the satisfaction O
knowing that our Constitution has besI
copied all over the world and that on
laws are the models upon which a multi
tude or statutes nave been written. W
have been the friend of all nations an,
the counsellor of many. Ia depart iron
this position and join n group Of nations
IN an agreement. by the terms OF whlcl
We let them declare war for us and bin,
ourselves to furnish our quota OF mel
and money for the enforcement OF de
crees which may not represent tn,
wishes OF our people. would not Ne al
ascent to a higher plane X would be
descent and would impair our intiuenc,
and ~jeopardize GU. moral prestige.
Listen not To those who measure
world power In units of force we hav
been IA world power for more than a cen
fury. and We cannot AFFORD to exchang
II moral influences which We now hav
for the military glory OF all the empire
that have risen and fallen since tim
began.
II appeal to you therefore to renal,
true 10 the ideals Of the fathers and {
be content with the glory that can b
achieved 10y a republic which, to use tn
words OF the great historian Bancroft
'discards the employ ment OF terror an
dares to build its citadels In the heart
OF men
, Basis Of Appeal.
Our appeal Is not to the fears o
/, men. but TO their hearts and consciences
our mission is TO lmplant hope in tn,
heart OF humanity and substitute highe
Ideals for the Ideals which have lie,
nations into armed conflicts. Our re
, lision teaches us TO rely upon the up
lifting power of that which IL goo,
and pure and noble. 1. II be LITE,
r W. will draw all men unto me- This /
the higher doctrine.
1T In inhdelity to the spirit OF on
, religion to cast aside this most poten
, or all regenerating influences in the In
! ~dividual, In society and In the State
: am sure that the doctrines OF Hin
> whom the common people heard gladl
l VIII stll prove acceptable 10 the com
r mon people II to-day. II remains 70
them TO make known to the Presiden
i, their firm adherence to the principle
which have made us the foremost natio
7 in the advocacy OF peace--princlple