The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-06
BRYAN REQUESTS
THAT PRESIDENT
MOVE FOR PEACE

washington, Dec 6-Former ,Secre-
tary Bryan, in a statement issued here
last night, wants President Wilson to-
ask the belligerent powers to state the
terms on. which they are willing to-
make peace and suggests that Com
gress assure him of its willingness to
support him in such a step. His
statement follows:
ST hope that the Congress which
meets. tomorrow will at once assure
the President of it's readiness to sup
port him in any effort which he may
see fit to make to hasten the restora-
ton Of peace in Europe. He offered
mediation aflethe beginning of the
war, but that was Is months ago
Since that time more than 100000
men have been killed. more than
100000 have been wounded and
more than $40. 900. 100000 have been
expended. .
e.In horrible detail and extent of
suffering the war has surpassed any
thing known to history An offer of
mediation is not only amply justified
On the ground of humanity, but it is
demanded. If. however other reasons
are desired they can be found in our
obligation to the other neutral nations
ssAn of the neutral nations are suf-
fering because Of this war which OBJ
staructs the highways of thew orld,
interferes with neutral trade. and
trail nations are the innocent bystand-
ers whose people are being killed,
Internationally, of course, but killed.
These neutral nations are compelled
to bear burdens of staxation that
would not be necessary but for the
war, and all of them are in danger of
being drawn into the conf1ict-some of
them; are almost forced into it.
s'fOur nation not only shares the
sufferings Of other neutral nations, but
has an additional reason for desiring
the restoration of peace, namely, that
the war is being used/as a reason for
demanding a change in our national
policy which lowers our ideals and
puts us into a, mad rivalry with Eu-
rope in the increase of military and
naval expenditures.
ITO be the means of bringing the
war to an end would not only add to
our moral influence, but. it might save
the country a billion or more in taxes,
and would also put an end to the man
ufactured scares which are being used
to frighten the public. The other neu
trail nations wait US.
There is abundant reason to believe
that the President either alone or in
other neutral nations can secure from
the nations at war a statement of
| terms upon which peace is possible.
and such a statement would be the
beginning OF an exchange OF views
which would lead to a treaty. The
terms must be announced some time.
Why not now?
ITO ask for a statement of these
| terms is merely to ask the be1ligerent
nations to say for what they are fight
ing. Each of the governments at war
certainly knows what it is that it de-
mands-otherwise it could not justify
a continuation of the slaughter. And
| if the benigerent nations know for
what they are fighting, why not tell
| nation can afford to- wage war for Sc
cret reasons. esecially when in doing
so it necessarily brings injury to neu-
trail nations.
Here is a question which the neu-
trail nations certainly have a right to
ask: What are you fighting about?-
in other words, what is it that, being
done, the world can have peace?
Publicity will in itself sift out UNI
worthy motives and unreasonable de-
mands. When the world knows what
! each nation demands as a condition
recedent to peace, the responsibility
| can be located and moral pressure can
| be brought to bear in favor of a
peace that will rest upon reason and
give promise of permanence. To say
| that this war must necessarily con-
! tinue any length of time, even for a
day, is equivalent to saying that there
are questions which can be settled
| only by the sword and to say that is
war will be no more. To deny the pos
sibi1ity of an era of peace, based upon
love and brotherhood, is to challenge
4 Christian ciViliZat ion-a return to saw
agery-to deny the coming of that era
is inexcusa b1e.'