The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-22
AN APPEAL FOR PEACE.
To The American People:

To The American People:
In the presence Of threatening
be Overestimated, l venture to ad-
dress my countrymen, justifying my
appeal by my interest in their vel
fare and by their acquaintance with
me.
The president has felt it his duty
to break off diplomatic relations with
Germany for reasons stated in his
message, and has announced to con-
gress his purpose, in case of an overt
act, to ask authority to use any
means necessary to protect our sea-
men and people.
We are thus face to face with
grave possibility of being drawn into
senators and congressman, who must
act for the people in this crisis desire
to carry out the will of their con-
stituents, but unless the rank and
file of the people make known their
ths snes o By dr @ast adgs paSc
opinion by the expressions of the
metropolitan press which may or
may not correctly reflect the senti-
ments Of the nation.
To decide whether war is neces-
sary or not we must consider the sit
both sides think themselves in Z
death struggle, and both sides feel
Justified in resorting to acts which
we regard as contrary to information
al law as heretofore interpreted.
While we dispute their right to con-
duct the war as they have, and ear
nestly protest against the violation
OF our rights and the sacrifice of our
interests, we must not forget that the
injuries which We suffer from both
sides are incidental to their effort to
injure each other and are in no case
intended against us. we can better
an9rd, therefore. to be patient and
came from avoided enemies and were
The president, in his noble appeal
to the belligerents, has asked that
they forget the bitterness engender-
ed by the killing of more than six.
expenditure of more than fifty bill
lions in money, and come together
in honorable peace. Ii we can ex-
pect such an exhibition Of virtue by
them, are we not in duty bound to
measure up to the standard which
we lave set for them?
There are several alternatives
postpone until the war is over the
settlement of any dispute which can
not now be settled by peaceful
means. we can keep American citi-
zens off belligerent ships. Third, we
can refuse clearance to ships OF the
countries carrying contraband and
passengers on the same ship. Fourth,
we can withdraw protection from
American citizens who are willing to
jeOpardize the nations peace by
travelling as seamen with contraband
on American or neutral vessels. Fifth,
we can, if necessary, keep all Amer
lean vessels out OF the danger zone
for the present, just as the mayor OF
a city keeps citizens in their homes
when a mob is in possession of the
street. Sixth, congress, which has
exclusive power to declare war, tan
submit the declaration to referen-
OF actual invasion.
Other alternatives are likely. to be
suggested. We can not depend upon
precedent to meet an unprecedented
situation. The most important thing
is that the officials at Washington
shall know that the people at home
protest against entering this war on
either side, with its frightful expen-
dlture of blood and treasure; that
they are not willing to send Ameri-
can soldiers across the Atlantic to
march under the banner Of any Eur
opean monarch or to die on European
soil in settlement of European quars
rels; and that they are not willing to
surrender the opportunity to render
q supreme service to the world as a
friend of all and peacemakeT when
peace is possible
Wire Immediately to the president,
your senators and your congress
men a few cents now may save
dollars in taxation and possibly a
son.
fSigned) w. j. BRYAN.