The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-06-17
BRYAn,S nOIE 10
The AMERICAN PUBLIC


which it would have been my official
duty to sign had remained secre-
tary OF state. ask you to sit in
judgment upon my decision to resign
rather than to share responsibility
for 1t. l am sure you will credit me
with honorable motives. but that is
not enough. Good intentions could
not atone for mistake at such a
time ON such a subject and under
such circumstances. If your verdict
is against me, ask no mercy; /
desire none If 1 have acted unwisely.
man in public life must act ac-
cording to his conscience but how
ever conscientiously he acts, he must
be prepared to accept without COM
plant any condemnation which his
own errors may bring upon him; he
must be willing to bear any deserved
punishment from ostracism to execu-
ton. But hear me before you pass
sentence.
The president and agree in pur-
pose; we desire a peaceful solution
of the dispute which has arisen be-
tween the United States and Ger
many. We not only desire it, but
with equal fervor We pray for it, but
we differ irreconcilably as to the
means OF securing it. II it were mere
ly a personal difference it would be
matter OF little moment, for all the
presumptions are on his side-the pre-
sumpuons that go with power and
authority. He is your president. l.
am q private citizen without office
or title-but one OF the hundred mil
Lion Of inhabitants.
But the real issue is not between
persons: It is between systems; and
n rely for vindication wholly upon
the strength of the position taken.
Among the influences which govern
ments employ In dealing with each
other there are two which are pre-
eminent and antagonistic-force and
persuasion-
II correctly interpret the note to
Germany, it conforms to the stand
ards Of the old system rather than to
the rules Of the new and cheerful
ly admit that it il abundantiy sup
ported by precedents- precedents
written in characters of blood upon
almost every page OF human history.
Austria furnishes the most recent
precedent: it was Anstria's firmness
that dictated the ultimatum against
ServiA. which set the world at war.
Every ruler now participating in this
unparalleled eonfiict has proclaifn-
ed his desire for peace and denied
responsibility for the war snd 1t is
only charitable that we should credit
all OF them with good faith. They
desired peace. but they sought it ac-
cording to the rules of the old sys-I
tenn. They believed that firmness
would give the best assurance of
the maintenance OF peace and faith
fully following precedent they went
SO near the fire that they were, one
after another suckd into the contest
Never before have the frightful fol-
hes os this fatal system been so
clearly revealed as now. The most
civilized and enlightened-aye. the
most Christian. of the nations of Eu-
rope are graphing with each other
as II in a death struggle. /: /:
This is what firmness. supported by
force. has done in the old world;
shall we invite It to cross the Allan
tic? =:
As a humble follower OF the Prince
OF Peace; as devoted believer in the
prophecy that -They that take up the
sword shall perish with the sword.
l beg to be counted among those who
earnestly urge the adoption of a
course in this matter which will
leave no doubt of our governments
willingness to continue negotiations
with Germany until an amicable un-
derstanding is reached or at least un-
til the stress of war is over
Some nation must lead the world
out Of the black night Of war into the
light OF that day when swords shall
be beaten into plow-shares''
Why not make that honor ours?
Some day-why not nowf-the nations
will learn that enduring peace can
not be built upon fear-that good win
does not grow upon the stalk Of vio-
ience. Some day the nations viii
nlace their trust in love. the weapou