Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-11
SETS UP NEW STANDARD WITH
PERSUASION IN PLACE
or FORCE.
SETS HIMSELF UP As
CANDIDATE FOR MARrYRDoM
Expresses Willingness to Bear Any
Deserved Punishment, From ostra-
eism to Execution-says Note to
Germany Which He Refused to Sign
10 in Line With Old System.

Washington, June 11.-William J.
Bryan, in an appeal addressed TO the
American people" asks them to hear
him before they pass sentence upon
his laying down the portfolio OF sec
iretary of state in the midst of intsr-
national stress.
Confident that the public will credit
him with honorable intentions, Mr..
Bryan frankly says that good inten-
tions are not enough. and that if the
!public verdict is against him, he asks
no mercy, asserting that men in pub
lie life must be willing to bear any
deserved punishment from ostracism to
Iexecution."
Interpreting the American note to
Germany on submarine warfare, which
he refused to sign, as conforming to
the odd system of diplomatic stand
:ards. presidents for which ARE written
in characters of blood upon almost
every page of human history and
characterizing himself as a champion
of the new system-persuasion instead
of force-and as IAN humble follower
secretary of state pleads for the United
States TO lead the world .out OF black
night of war into the light of that day
when swords shall be beaten into
plowshares'
To Appeal to German Americans.
| Tomorrow Mr.. Bryan will issue an
other statement. an appeal he says,
/ TO German The nature
OF this appeal he would not discuss
/. But with the issuance of the third
statement since his resignation the
former secretary says ne will be ready
| TO. rest his case.
| The statement last night, entitled
by the former secretary as the real
| issue" is as follows:
ITO the American people:
You now have before You the
| text OF the note to Germany-the note
T, which it would have been my official
duty to sign had remained secretary
Of state.
| Il ask you to sit in Judgment upon
my decision to resign rather than TO
share responsibility for 1t. l am sure
you viii credit me with honorable mo-
tives. but that is not enough. Good in
tsntions could not atone for a mistake
at such a time, Oh such subject and
under such circumstances. II your
verdict Is against me. ask no mercy;
II cesire none il / have acted un-
wisely.
I'VE Agree in Purpose
a man in publie4 life must act
according 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 peaceful solution OF
the dispute which has arisen between
the United States and Germany. We
mot only desire it. but with equal
fervor we pray for it, but we differ
irreconcilably as to the means Of
securing it
IF It were merely a personal diff
ference it would be a matter OF little
moment. for all the prescriptions are
On his side-the Prescriptions that go
with power and authority. He is your
president: I am private citizen
without office or title-but one Of the
hundred million Of inhabitants.
"ReaI Issue Is Between Systems"
"But the real issue is not between
persons; it is between systems: and
l rely for vindication wholly upon the
strength Of the position taken.
Among the Influences which gov
ernments employ in dealing with each
eminent and antagonistic-force and
persuasion.
Force speaks with firmness and
acts thru the ultimatum. Persuasion
employs argument, courts investiga-
ton and depends upon negotiations.
Force represents the old systematic
system that must pass away. Per-
suasion represents the new system
the system that has been growing-an
too slowly, it is true, but growing for
nineteen hundred years.
in the old system war is the chief
corner stone; war which at its best
is little better than war at its worst.
The new system contemplates an uni
yersal brotherhood established thru the
uplifting power of example.
| Germany Not on "oid System.
IT / correctly interpret the note to
Germany 1t conforms TO the standards
of the old system rather than to the
rules of the new, and cheerfully ad :
NIT that it is abundantly supported BY
4 presidents - precedents written in
characters Of blood upon almost every
page Of human history. Austria fur
nishes the most recent precedent; II
was Austria's firmness that dictated
the ultimatum against Serbia, which
i set the world at war.
Every ruler. now participating in
this unparalleled conflict has pro-
calimed his desire for peace and denied
responsibility for the war. and 1t IL
only charitable that We should credit
all Of them with good faith.
! They desired peace, but they sought
It according to the rules Of the old
system. They believed that drmnes,
\ would give the best assurance OF the
maintenance Of peace, and. faithfully
following precedent they went % near
the fire that they were, ono after an
other, sucked into the contest.
Nations 8aeej0einD Best.
J Never before have the frightful
follies Of this fatal system been %
clearly revealed ~ now. The most
civilized and enlightsned, aye. the most
christian Of the nations Of Europe
are graphing with each other ~ II II
10 death struggle. They are sacrificing
; the best and bravest Of their sons on
the battlefield; thsy are conyertins
thsie gaeds0s into cesesg5es ana thsas