The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-19
BRYAN OPENS FIGHT
ON DEFENCE PLANS
Tampa Speech Brings New
Plea for Good Roads and
Love for Neighbors.
No ATTACK on WILSON

= TAMPA, Feb. is.-wtlliam J. Ryan
made his opening address here to-nisht
against preparedness before a
lively sinai, audience. He did not at
tack the Administration directly. rather
counnins himself to a plea for universal
peace. This Is impossible 90 Ions as
the nations continue to arm. he said.
Mr.. Bryan refused to make any COM
ment on the challenge Of Richard Met
calfe to a Joint debate. which has not
reached him as yet. His friends a that
he will not consider II.
Mr.. Bryan divided his lecture into
three parts: First. the war as IL Is
and it's injury to neutals second. the
false philosophy out of which the wal
had grown and the natural result OF thai
false philosophy third. the way out. or
the road to permanent peace.
TIE question, ! repeat. Ia not
whether we would be willing or able
to defend ourselves n attacked" said
Mr.. Bryan. The real question Ia
standard OF honor and build our hope
of safety upon preparations which cannot
Be made without substituting for the
peaceful spirit Of our people the spirit
Of the militarist and the swagger OF the
bully. The spirit that leads nations to
put their faith In physical force Is the
spirit that leads people into war. IL
II the spirit that expresses itself in
threats and revels In the ultimatum. II
sou would know what the dangers Of
preparedness will he II preparedness be-
comes a national policy and Is admins
tered by these who are leading in this
crusade Just imagine what the situa-
ton would be to-day. with so many
opportunities 10 get into trouble. "
We had In the White House a lingo with
a duellist's standard of honor and anx
ious for a fight. We have reason TO
he grateful that we have as President
a man who loves peace n who liz try
ing to And a peaceful solution OF all the
problems that confront US.
Raps secuPity League.
= There are two organizations in this
country which. claiming a monopoly Of
the patriotism OF the nation. have taken
upon themselves the task of getting
the country ready for war. The Secur-
lily League thinks that We should spend
$500. 600. 900 a year on the navy and
$4,000. 900 a year or the army. 5000
600. 900 more than we are spending. or
nearly double the present a%ppropria-
tione.
THE Navy League is older. has more
eiphers at It's disposal and has the ad-
vantage OF making its bid after the
other bid had been made. II insists that
we ought TO appropriate $500. 900, O0O
for the navy and have an army of
100000 men. Its programme could
not be carried out for $3.50. 000. 900 a
ear three times the present app-o-
prtatiOn. or an increase Of 5000, 900, 00C
q year.
III the jineoes insist tina, we are IL
danger OF attack let us propose that ",
get ready by building roads. II vii
greatly increase our defensive power Il
We are able to quickly mobilize on,
army and rapidly transport, II TO thu
point threatened And there ~ an ad
vantage about this kline OF preparedness
II after we have prepared ourselves tn,
war does not come we shall be able I,
make good use OF The preparation II
the work Of production. II. however
we divert the money from useful chan
nels and spend IT all on ba,tleships an,
arms and ammunition We shall hav,
wasted our money II the war does no
come. And II II does come the chance,
are that before II comes changes il
methods Of warfare will very much re
duo the value Of the preparation il
NuI'U VIC uhNc I1NeSte0-
I'VE cannot single out "A nation an,
begin TO prepare against il without cul
tivating unfriendliness TOWARD thai ma
ton and we aniiot make hatred "A ma
uonal policy for a generation withou
having our people anxious to fight n
soon as they are ready to fight. J
IRE nations at wal had spent in the cul
tivation Of friendship but a small per
centage OF the amount they have spen
In stirring up hatred there would be n
war in Europe to-day. We should no
transplant upon American soil this TIRE
Of hatred unless we are prepared to ga
II the fruits Of the tree. for it IA
been bearing its bloody frui, through
out the years.
"The third reason which ! ask yor
TO consider Is this The preparedness
which We are now asked to make I
against nations which are not preparing
TO fight us. But suppose We get read
to fight them, Will they not prepar
against US" II they can scare MS whe
they are not prepared will We not scar
them when We do prepare? And thei
will not their preparation compel US I
prepare more. and will we not scar
them again and they Us again, and "
them again, until bankruptcy overtako
IA all" This is no new thing The pee
ME who prof, by furnishing prepared
ness have been playing IRE nations G
Europe against each other for n genera
ton. Every hattleship that is built I
one country is made the excuse ~
building more battleships in other cour
tries. IT We are urged IN depart fro1
the traditions OF the past and to en,e
upon a new policy there are two answer
which can be made, either Of them sun
Client.
Not the Time tn Gimme.
First. five ever intend to chang
our policy the change must not h
made while this war lasts. II we chang
now II will be a confession that "
have been wrong M that Europe ha
been right, and If we make this COZ
fession We shall not only he powerles
to assist the belligerent countries by
good example bur shall by imita,iu
~coura them III the course which ha
drawn them into this unprecedente
conflict. IT We are ever 70 change ol
policy now of all times is not the tim
There never has been a time in Mt
years when W. were in less LANCER tina
now, No nation has any thought ,
waging war against US and our pr,
p%aredness IL increasing relatively MOI
rapidly than ever before. This is II
day for which the ages have been wal
ing, 10 1900 years the gospel of II
Prince of Peace l,as been making il
majestic march aroun the world. an
during these centuries the philosophy
The Sermon on he Mount has becon