Evening journal., 1915-06-11
BRYAN FOR Peace
BY NEW SYSTEM
Asks That United States
Lead World Out of "Black
Night of War"
WILL APPEAL TO
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BY The United Press.


Y of the American peace party, former
Secretary of State Bryan was work
ing today on a plan TO secure con-
certed action on a method TO end all
wars. His first step was taken last
night. when he issued statement OK
planning that he believed the United
States should lead the way TO substi-
tute persuasion for force in settling
international disputes. His second |
was to be taken probably late today,
when he will issue an APP
., peal to COMMUNICATIONS to |
work along lines which in his |
opinion will lead to a shortening of /
the European struggle.
s. Bryan is understood to have taken /
the position that even though the |
German reply to the latest American |
note is a rejection of our demands, |
q the matter will not be closed. He will |
try TO substitute his arbitration plan ]
for any drastic action President Will |
son may consider necessary and will |
"a work from now until the German re-
ply is received to concentrate public
sentiment in the United States behind
such a proposition, in the hope that at
last the President will see a way to
accept IT,
Friends of the former secretary in
clined TO resent criticisms of his
resignation at so critical a time He
himself did not endorse their views,
insisting that as soon as all of the
facts are known. his action will be
endorsed by everybody in the coun
try who oppose war He left the cab
met when he might have remained,
il was pointed out. at the very time
when he felt he could concentrate the
attention, not alone of the American
public. but of the entire world, on
the one subject dearest to his heart
establishment of a brotherhood of ali
men in all the world. He made it
plain in his first complete statement
that he realizes the consequences if
= he was wrong. Good intentions, he
declares cannot atone for a mis'"ke
at such time. He. however, believed
his action justified and would con-
tinue to defend it until convinced that
the people have repudiated him.
Bryan plans many conferences with
those who. in the past. have been
his close advisors and who, in the
present instance consider him right
He said today that when he issues his
statement to the German Americans,
he will rest his case" until special
occasion arises. It is understood
N that he has practically determined
M that until it is plain just what sort of
M an answer Germany is to return,
there will be no need of his taking any
further steps to secure endorsement
of his new policy.
Text Of Bryan Statement
The text OF Mr.. Bryan's statement
follows:
ITO the American people:
"You now have before you the text
of the note to Germany-the note
which it would have been my official
duty to sign had / remained secre-
tary of state. l ask you to sit in
Judgment upon my decision to resign
rather than to share responsibility for
it I am sure you will credit me with
honorable motive, but that is not
enough. Good intentions could not
atone for a mistake at such a time,
on such a subject and under such
circumstances. If your verdict is
against me, ] ask no mercy; l desire
none if l have acted unwisely. A
man in public life must act according
to his conscience, but however con-
sCientiOusly he acted, he must he pre-
a pared to accept without complaint
any condemnation which his own
errors may bring upon him; he must
be willing to bear any deserved pun
IA ishment from Ostracsm to execution.
But hear me before you pass sentence.
Agrees With Wilson in Purpose.
The President and / agree in pur-
pose; we desire a peaceful solution
Of the dispute which has arisen be
tween the United States and Germany.
We not only desire it, but with equal
fervOr we pray for It, but we differ
irrecOncilably as to the means of Sc
curing it. If it were merely a per-
sonal difference il would be a matter
of little moment for all the presump-
tions are on his side-the presump-
tions that go with power and auth
ority. He is your President, I am a
private citizen without Office or title
but one of the hundred million of
inhabitants.
But the real issue is not between
4 persons; it is between systems, and I
rely for vindication wholly upon the
strength OF the position taken.
Among the influences which gov
ernments employ in dealing with each
other there are two which are pre-
eminent and antagonistic, force and
perfsuasion. Force speaks with firm
ness and acts through the ultimatum
persuasion employs argument. courts
investigation and depends upon nego-
tiation. Force represents the old sys-
TEN, the system that must pass away
persuasion represents the new system
tht oJoASM AAdl mas DeeQ grow
ing, all too slowly, il is true, but grow
ing for 1900 years. In the old sys-
tenn war is the chief cornerstone. war
which at its best is little better than
war at its worst-the new system con.
templates a universal brotherhood es.
tablished through the uplifting power
Of example.
COnstrueS Note War-Like.
x IF / correctly interpret the note Ia
Germany, it conforms to the stand
ards of the old system rather than IL
the rules of the new, and | cheerfully
~ admit that it is abundantly supported
by precedents-preceden written in
characters of blood upon almost
every page of human history. Aus
III tria furnishes the most recent pre-
m cedent; it was Austria's frmness that
Ill dictated the ultimatum against Servia
Ill which set the world at war Every
ruler now participating in this un-
~ paralleled conflict has proclaimed his
desire for peace and denied RESPONSE
bility for the war, and it is only
charitable that we should credit all
"A of them with good faith They de-
l...f