Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-29
BRYAN CALLS UPON
CONGRESS To KEEP
j. s. OUT OF WAR
CoMMoNER ADDRESSES OPEN
LETTER TO MEN IN WHOSE
HANDS FUTURE OF NATION
NOW RESTS, AS A CITIZEN.

Mama. Fla, March % Willial
JENNINGS Bryan, one time secretary {
state and ardent peace advocate,
a last effort to stayc off the partic
nation of tho United States in IN
Eurnrean war today issued an ope
appeal to members Of congress.
Charging the Metropolitan Press
with efforts to lash the country into
war lurore Bryan appeals to the mel
bers of congress to maintain peac'
Mr.. Bryan states in his declaratio
that if var Genes he expects to- 'liy
up TO citizens duties
The appeal follows;
To the members of the United
States Senate and eHouse of
Representatives:
Gentlemen, Exercising the
citizens right OF petition, ! appeal
10 ycu. The dispute with Ger
many has passed beyond the do
main of diplomacy and some ad-
wise settlement by the sword. The
Metropolitan Press. which tried
to prevent the reelection of the
president and failed, undismaycd
by popular verdict of more
than one-half million. one seeks
to hash the country into a fury
and urges the government to take
part in the European conflict.
To you and to You only is CIV
en- constitutional authority to
declare war--war which in this
case may mean the signing of the
death warrants Of thousands,
oven milliCns of our countrymen,
and the laying of grievious bur-
dens upon future generations. Be
fore you take this blood upon
your hands, consider, pray you,
first. that the wrongs which you
would punish. cruel and unjusti-
fable as they are, are not intend
Cd primarily against this coun-
try. but are acts of desperation
directed against other nations
with which the offenders are at
war
Second, that our land Is not
threatened with invasion, but
that we are asked to 90 there for
a chance to ght.. Third that we
may not have the excuse for go.
ing to war that the Europeans
had They had machinery for
peace, we have a peace plan, Of
fCred by this nation to the world
and now embodied in thirty trea-
Ties with threc.quartors Of the
population of the rlobe. Tho plan
has the endorsement Of the presi-
dent. the commcndation Of the
senate and the approval of the
people at the polls. II provides
for investigation of all disputes
by an international tribunal be-
fore resort to war.
Fortunately these treaties
compel us to employ the plan with
Great Britain, France, and Italy
and Russia before going to war
with them Germany formally
approved the plan, although no
treaty has yet been concluded
with her Shall we repudiate
our plan he first time we have
an opportunity TO employ il? II,
as the president recently decIar-
cd the American people do not
want war, is it not worth while
TO try the peace plan before
bringing upon the people the hor-
rors Of war? Until an attempt Is
made and fails, no one Is able TO
say that it would he impossible 70
secure the suspension OF Ruth
less" submarine warfare during
The Investigation for which the
plan provides. Shall we deny TO
ourselves the credit Of trying TO
settle the dispute with the trea-
ty plan?
And. is il not worth while TO do
our part in trying to avoid in
jury? Would it not be better, as
well as cheaper, for the govern
ment to carry on its own vessels
such Americans as must 90 to
Europe. rather than engage in
war TO vindicate the right of citi'
zcns to disregard all risks and
ride upon belligeront ships?'
Is 1t not worth while to sep.
eratc passengers from contraband
cargocS SO that the captains OF
passenger ships can give their en-
tire attention to The safety of the
passengers? Our nation Is the
worlds foremost advocate o1
peace. il we 20 to war 1t should
be for a cause which history will
Justify,
''lr you reach the conclusion
that nothing but war will satisfy
the nations honor Is it too much
to ask that by n referendum, yol
consult the wishes Of those wht
must. in case of war defend tht
nations honor with their lives?
"As one who expects to live up t
a citizens duty, If war comes,
plead with you to use all honor
able means to preserve peace be
fore you take the responsibility o
plunging our beloved land int,
this unprecedented struggle, be