Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-29

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through referendum if it concludes
that nothing but war will satisfy the
nations honor. Mr.. Bryan's appeal to
Congress follows:
Exercising the citizens right of pc
tition, / appeal to you. The dispute
with Germany has passed beyond the
domain of diplomacy and some advise
settlement by the sword. The metro
politan press, which. tried to prevent
the reelection of the President and
failed, undismayed by popular ver-
dict of more than one-half million,
now seeks to lash the country into a
fury and urges the government to take
part in the european conflict.
Invasion Not at Hand
TO You and to you only, is given
constitutional authority to declare
war; war which in this case may mean
the signing of the death warrant of
thousands, even millions of your coun-
trymen and the laying of grievous bur-
dens upon future generations. Before
you take this blood upon your hands.
consider l pray you, first, that the
wrongs which you would punish, cruel
and unjustitable as they are, are not
intended primarily against this coun-
Try, but are acts of desperation directed
against other nations with which the
oHenfers are at war. Second, that ouI
land is not threatened with invasion
put that we are asked to go three thou
SAND miles for chance to fight. Third
that we have not the excuse for going
10 war that the European nations had
! They had no machinery for peace; we
have q peace plan offered by this ma
tion to the world and now embodied
IN thirty treaties with three-quarters
OF the population of the globe. The
plan has the endorsement of the Presi-
dent, the commentator of the Senate
and the approval of the people at the
polls. 1t provides for investigation of
ali disputes by an international tri-
bunal before resort to war.
Cites Treaties
fortunately. these treaties compel
us to employ the plan with Great Brit
am, France. Italy and Russia before
going TO war with them. Germany for
mally approved the plan, although no
treaty has yet been concluded with
her. Shall we repudiate our own plan
the first time we have an opportunity
to employ it? If, as the President re-
Gently declared, the American people
do not want war, is it not worth while
to try the peace plan before bringing
upon the people the horrors of war ?
Until an attempt is made and fails, no
one is able to say that it would be i'm
possible to secure the suspension of
ruthless submarine warfare during
the investigation for which the plan
provides. Shall we deny to ourselves
the credit of trying to settle the dis
pute with the treaty plan?
And, is it not worth while to do
our part in trying to avoid injury?
Would it not be better, as well as
cheaper, for the government to carry
on its own vessels such Americans as
must go to Europe rather than engage
in war to vindicate the right of citi-
zens to disregard all risks and ride
upon belligerent ships?
Would Keep Cargoes Separate
rs it not worth while to separate
passengers from contraband cargoes.
so that the captains of passenger ships
can give their entire attention to the
safety of the passengers. Our nation
is the worlds foremost advocate of
peace. If we go to war II should be
for n cause which history will Justify.
IF you reach the conclusion that