Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-06-11
Mr.. Bryan's Resignation
CFrom the New York Tribune-)

In forcing an issue with Mr.. Bryan
and compelling the latter TO offer his
resignation as Secretary OF state
President Wilson has performed
high public service. He has sacrificed
personal comfort to patriotic duty.
IL would have been far more con-
venient from party point of view to
have kept the cabinet intact, retaining
MIR. Bryan in office by hattering his
self-esteem and compromising with
him on some details of the second
note to Germany. The same politi-
cal considerations which induced Mr.
Wilson to make Mr.. Bryan his Secre-
tary of state still hold good. though
to a less menacing extent Out of
Office Mr. Bryan may be expected to
oppose Mr.. Wilson as energetically
as he has supported him while a menu
Der of his political family.
But such a utilitarian compromise
necessarily FLASHED with the Fresi-
dents higher obligations 10 himself
and 10 the country. II was obvious
that national interests would have ia
he consulted first, and national in
terests could not be served by the re-
tention at the head OF the State De
pariment Of a man who put personal
theories above national policy and
was prepared 10 use his influence tC
make futile the assertion BY the
United States of its purpose TO main
tain al all hazards the rights of Amer
leans lawfully travelling on the higl
seas.
To Mr. Bryans credit il must b.
said that his devotion 10 his persona
! ideas Overcame his oagerness to re
main in public office. If he meant Il
live IN to his professions a ruptur
between him and the President owe
the Lusitania correspondence was in
evitable.
When the first note was sent h
was only casually consulted in il
! preparation. The public was Above
TO know that he was practically ie
nored. His warmest friends elaine
for him only that he contributed on
of the minor paragraphs. He siene
the note however, doubtless wit
many mental observations and con
tenting himself with the rehectio
that after all il was primarily r.
quest to Germany for information an
only secondarilY concrete statemer
of American policy.
But the iron OF the situation mus
have entered his soul When the tim
came TO frame the second note he ha
recovered his sell-respcct anu wa
willing to disclose fully his radici
antagonism. as a. peace-at-any-pri
man, to statements of our positio
from which we could not recede hoT
orably and which We might he con
PEELED to back up by force.
Mr. Bryan never should have bee
Secretary of state in any cabinet. Fl
great delusion is that the world Ia
got rid forever of the powder cat
Wifi the whole world alamo wit
war, such an ohsession on the part {
the head Of Department of F0reig
Affairs is a peril to the nation whic
employs him A man of Mr. Bryan
type is misht in any cabinet
such a crisis.
Il is a sign of Mr. Wilson's deve
opmont as a statesman that he no
recognizes the FOLLY OF the Bryan a.
pointment. The President was at q
beginning too much in sympathy wi
the vague, impractical visions whit
Mr.. Bryan intended TO translate in
practice i'm the conduct of our fOreil
affairs He, too, was a dilettante
the outset But he has now learn
by painful experience that all {
balance. all the wisdom. eli the
miliarity with American policy In {
past which a statesman can comma
are needed TO direct the manageme
of our foreign relations in time
stress.
He must regret with a great bite
ness of spirit that he did not set
ideal of a Secretary of state high
now that that ideal has been shi
tered into thousand pieces. and
must look elsewhere possibly ev
outside his own party-for a m
competent to fll the place IN his a