The Washington times., 1915-06-16
Bryan's View of Wars
Effect On NeutrQLS !

A statement on THE WAR AS 1T
u, AND ITS INJURY TO NEU-
TRAILS" was issued by former Secre-
AIRY of State Bryan today. 1t was as
follows:
shall tomorrow discuss the origin
OF the war and the reasons which
led the nations of Europe to march,
as II blindfolded, into the bloody
conflict which now rests like pail
over the fairest parts OF the Old
war as it Us and the injury it is
doing to the neutral nations.
The war Is without q precedent
in the populations represented; IN
the number of combatants in the
field; in daily expenditures: in the
effectiveness Of the implements en-
ployed; in the lists Of dead ana
wounded: In the widespread suffer-
ing caused, and In the intensity OF
the hatreds aroused.
No class or condition Is exempt
from the burdens which this war
imposes; the rich bear excessive
pressed; the resources of today are
devoured and the products Of to-
morrow are mortgaged. No age Is
immune. The first draft was upon
the strong and vigorous. but the
governments are already calling for
enlistment zone.
The wars afrlictions are visited
upon women as well as upon men.
Upon wives who await in vain a
husbands return and upon mothers
who must surrender up the sons
whose support Is the natural reli-
ance of declining years. Even chill
dren are its victims-chiIdren INFO
cent Of wrong and incapable OF do
ing harm. BY wars dread decree
babies come into the world, father
less at their birth, while the bodies
of their sires are burned like worth
less stubble in the fields over which
the Grim Reaper has passed.
Loathsomeness of War.
The most extreme illustrations coll
lected from history to prove the
loathsomeness of war are over
shadowed by new indictments writ
ten daily; the most distressing pic
lures drawn by the Imagination are
surpassed by the realities of this
indescribable contest.
Surely we behold "the pestilence
that walketh in darkness and the de-
struction that wasteth at noon-day!"
Neutral nations cannot look on
withindifference-the ties that bind
them together are too strong. the
especially true of the United States.
We have q composite population
every nation of Europe having con-
tributed literally to our citizenship.
These. our countrymen. themselves
born abroad or Immediately descend
ed from foreign-born ancestors, can
not but take lively. interest In the
conduct as well as inthe results of the
war. and a still larger circle shares
the concern of those directly con-
nected. Not a soldier falls on either
side but the sorrow expressed in his
home finds an echo at some fireside
In the United States.
Aside from sentimental considera-
tions, neutral nations suffer serious
disturbance because of the war.
Duelists. when dueling was In fash
ion. were careful to select a place
where they could settle their personal
differences without harm to unof-
Tending by ISLANDERS, but warning ma
tions cannot. no matter how earnest
ly they try, avoid injury to neutrals.
As the noisome odors OF a slaughter
house. carried on the breeze, pollute
the air In every direction. so the evil
influences emanating from these wide
extended battle fields taint the at
mosphere of the whole political
world. War is an international nuis-
ance. Nearly every neutral nation
finds new domestic problems thrust