Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-16
New York, June II, 1911

|
aow comnIataly = ia dominated by war.
The RESIGNATION of secretary Bryan, an
important incident in our relation with
Germany, was somewhat of shock to
values But surprises of this sort have
heen FOO numerous lately to exert the
effect they would have had few
months ago. II is TO be hoped that Mr..
BRYAN will nct embarrass the admins
tration bv nntagonizing the policy of
Mr.. Wilson. who has the support of ev-
cry patriotic and hign.minded Ameri-
can. 1t is inconceivable that Mr.. Bryan
would Intentionally attempt to divide
the nation at such q critical period.
AS president of the American Peace
and Arbitration League, of which Pres
ident Wilson is honorary president, my
opinion is that the only unfortunate
feature of the resignation Of Mr.. Bryan
as secretary of state is that it occur
red at this critical iuncture, since it
will likely give the impression abroad
that our people are divided m the
president s policy, especially in the
present dispute with Germany. Beyond
that no serious consequences can come
from it. Mr.. Lansing, counsel to tae
state department, is skilled in diplo-
macy and is well qualified to fill the
vacancy caused By Mr. Bryan s resig-
nation, and will prove a good cCtwOrker
with the president. | am sure the
president is as much an advocate of
maintaining peace with all foreign ma
tons as Mr.. Bryan is, but he naturally
wants it with honor and not at any
price, as do also the American people.
The president 8 latest message to Ger.
many is admirable in temper and un-
questionable in purpose 1t puts the
American cause upon high plane and
will command unqualified support.
In all probability our differences
with Germany will be successfully ad'
lusted through diplomatic channels, ana
freSluehC wilson shOulu not pe nam,
pered by internal dissenslohs: Talk OF
war with Germany must be discouraged
on every hand, IL wlll not De sought
by the United states, ana IL IS I'M.
possible to believe that Germany Will
precipitate conflict Neither coun'
Try can do the other much harm from
a military standpoint although the
economic war upon Germany that would
DC much more injurious than mlltary
Dlows. we might readily stop such sup
Plies as now tind tnelr way from mere
to Germany with less harm td ourselves
than to her Our government collld
sel2e the many German shlps now IN
termed IN TINS country and also seques,
ter the large amounts OF securities heid
mere on German account. lhe harm 10
ueEhans from war Wlth the united
states would not END mere, Dut u Is not
necessary to serlosly consider such
cOhtlhgehcles; except perhaps 10 rear
iae them, 50 that reason ana selflnter'
est on botn sides Will labor Tor the
maintenance OF peace
The arrangement Of the world S for
eign trade continues market feature;
and yet in view Of the unprecedented
extent of the struggle the disturbance
is much less than might have been ex-
pccted, 1t is estimated that the for
| egn trade of the belligerents aggre.
gates about SlO,OOO,O0O, 900 year, of
which about $2,5OO,OOO,OOO has been
completely shut off. OF course this
is vast disturbance; yet in proper
tion to the whole, it mas not thus far
proved as serious a matter as might
have been anticipated. Our own for
eign trade, as is well known, has been
much derangcd. With Germany, Aus.
tria, France, Smth America, China and
Japan our exports have much decreased,
Fortunately, the losses have been more
than made up by shipments of bread.
stuffs and war materials to the bel.