South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-12
BRYAN FEARS THE
KAISER MAY BE
CAUSE OF BREAK
Tells German-AmeriCanS 1t is
Their Duty to Prevent War
by Using Influence on Ger
man Government.


in which they were urged 10 do their
utmost 10 prevent conflict between
the United States and Germany. The
statement is as follows.
TO the COMMUNICATIONS:
Permit me TO address a word to
you as one American citizen speaking
10 fellow citizens IN whose patriotism
he has confidence. IL is natural that
in a contest between your fatherland
and other European nations, your
sympatnies should be with the cOun-
Try of your birth. 10 Is no cause for
censure that this is true; IL would be
reflection upon you If IL were not
true. Do not the sons of Great Brit
Bin sympathize with their mother
country Do not the sons of France
sympathize with theirs? IL not the
game true OF Russia and of Italy?
Why should II not be true Of those
who were born in Germany or Aus
tria? The trouble is that the eNtrem-
lists on both sides have mistaken
natural attachment felt for birthplaces
Tor dislOyalty 20 this country.
THE president has been UnJustly
criticised BY the partisans of both
sides-the very best evidence of his
neutrality. If he had SO conducted
the government as 10 wholly please
either side, il would excite not only
establishment, but misglVings, for par
tisans cannot give an unbiased Judg-
ment. they will of necessity look at
the question from their own point of
view, giving praise or blame, accord
ing as to the act or belief of its real
character, helps or hurts the side with
which they have aligned themselves.
Administration Neutral.
The fact that the administration
has received more criticism from Ger
in
sympathy with the allies is due TO the
fact that. while both sides are at lib
srty, under international law, to pur-
chase ammunition in the United
States. the allies because of their con-
troll OF the seas have the advantage
of being able TO export II. IL IS UNI
fortunate that partisan supporters OF
Germany should have overlooked the
legal requirements of the situation
and thus misunderstood the position
of the administration. The admins
tration's position has not only been
perfectly neutral, but II could not
have been otherwise without pal
pable and intentional violation of the
rules governing neutrality
This government is not at liberty
10 materially change the rules of in
ternatiOnal law during the war be-
rause every change suggested is dis
cussed, not upon it's merits as an alb
Etract proposition, but according TO
she effect 1t will have upon the con-
test. Those who wanted to lay an en-
barge upon the shipments OF arms de-
Tended their position on the ground
that IL would hasten peace, but 1t IS
strange that they could have overlook
ed the fact that the only way in which
such action on our part could hasten
peace would have been by helping one
side 10 overcome the other.
Attacks We're Unfair.
while the attacks made upon the
president by the extremists OF both
sides were very unjust, IL was equally
unjust 10 suspect the patriotism OF
those who took sides. 4 Ieel Wen
enough acquainted with the Europe
an born Americans 10 DeueNe ll'I III
q war between this country ana any
European power. the naturalized cltl-
Eens from that country would De as
muck TO enlist as native born citizens.
As / am now speaking TO German
Americans. ] ann glad 10 repeat In pun
lie what J have often said IN private
and would have said in public before
hut for the fact that it would not have
been proper for one in my oIuclaI po-
siticn TO do so--namely, that In case
OF war between the United states ana
Germany-if SO improbable a SuppO-
sition can be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Americans would be as prompt To en-
list and as ldtlulul ~ NA4C AAe'S o. go
other portion of our people. what
] have said in regard TO German
Americans is an introduction TO an ap-
peal which / feel IL my duty 10 make
10 them.
"First-If any of them have ever
in moment of passion or excitement
suspected the president of lack of neu-
1ralitv or lack of friendship toward
the German government and the GER
man people let that thought be FOR
gottep never again TO be recalled.
have since my resignation, received
numerous kilograms from German
Americans and German-Amerlcan So
Cieties commencing my actloh' lhlhk
The seuders of these telegTamS un-
derstand my position, but that no one
NAV mistake IT, let me re-state IL. Inc
president is not only deslrous or
pesce but he hopes for II and has
adopted the methods which he thinks
most likely 10 contribute toward
Differ ~ To Method
"Nlv difference from him Is as 10
method. not as to purpose. and my
atterances since resigning have been
intended TO cryStalize public sentiment
in support OF his efforts 20 MAINTAIN
peace, or 90 use a familiar phrase
peace with honor but remember lHat
when I use the phrase peace Win
sense that those do who regard every
opponent OF war as favoring peace
a. any price
Peace az any price is not a true
sentiment of any ones position OF OF
the policy of any group. Ihe words
are employed by jingoes as an eN-
preston OF contempt and are applied
1ndisCTiminately 10 all who have faltn
I'm the nations ability to find peace
ful way out Of every difficulty SO long
as both nations want peace. The
alarmistS OF the country have nad
control Of the metropolitan press and
rhey have loudly proclaimed that the
prolongauOn of negotiations or the
suggestion OF international investiga-
ton would be a sign OF weakness
and everything is weakness that does
not contain hint OF war. The lingo
sees IN the rainbow % promise only
one color. red.
Their Duty TO Help.
Second rrf tho nFeEl- /