The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-29
BRYAN BUTTS IN
Prince of Pacifists Appeals to
Congress by Wire.
Urges Further Investigation
and Arbitration by .. s.
DEATH WARRANT TO MILLIONS
Says Press Seeks to Lash Ma
ton Into Bloody War.
Not Yet Impossible to Suspend
U-BOat Warfare.
WARRANT TO MILLIONS


Jennings Bryan today addressed an
appeal to the senate and house of rep
resentatives urging that an attempt be
made to secure the suspension of Ger
many's ruthless submarine campaign
thru the application of the so-called
Bryan peace plan which provides for
an investigation of all disputes by an
international tribunal before resort to
war. Mr. Bryan asked that congress
also consult the wishes of the people
thru referendum, if it concludes that
nothing but war will satisfy the ma
tons homer.
Mr.. Bryan's message reads:
Miami Florida-To the members
of the senate and house, Washington,
Exercising the citizens right of pc
tition, 1 appeal to you. The dispute
with Germany has passed beyond the
domain of diplomacy and some advise
settlement with the sword.
1.-The Metropolitan Press who tried
to prevent the reelection of the presl-
dent and failed, undismayed by a
popular verdict 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 con-
flict.
Take Blood on Your Hands.
ITO you and you only is given con-
stitutional authority to declare war
war which in this case, may mean the
signing of the death warrant of thou
sands, even millions of your country
men, and the laying on grievous bur-
dens upon future generations. Before
you take this blood upon your hands,
consider, 1 pray you;
'First-That the wrongs which you
would punish, cruel and unjustifiable
as they are. are not intended pri-
marily against this country, but are
the acts of desperation directed
against other nations with which the
offenders are at war.
"econd-That our land is not
threatened with invasion, but that we
are asked to go three thousand miles
for chance to fight.
'Third-That we have not the ex-
cuse for going to war that the Euro
pean nations had. They had no ma
chinery for peace. We have a peace
plan offered by this nation to the
world and now embodied in thirty
treaties with three-quarters of the
population of the globe.
Take 1t to International Tribunal.
THE plan has the endorsement of
the president, the commentator of
| people at the polls, 1t provides for
investigation of all disputes by an in
ternational tribunal before going to
war.
Fortunately these treaties compel
us to employ the plan with Great Brit
ain, France, Italy and Russia before
going to war with them. Germany
formally approved the plan, altho 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 want war, is it not worth while to
try the peace plan before bringing the
people the horrors of war? Until an
attempt is made and fails, no one is
able to say that it would be impoS-
sible to secure the suspension of
| ruthless submarine warfare during
the investigation for which the plan
provides. Shall we deny ourselves the
credit of trying to settle the dispute
with the treaty plan?
Stay Off Relligerent Ships.
"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 citizens
to disregard all risks and ride upon
belligerent ships? Is it not worth
while to separate passengers from con-
traband cargoes. so that the captains
of passenger ships can give their en-
|
sengers? Our nation is the worlds
| foremost advocate of peace. If we go
to war it should be for a cause which
history will justify.
IF you reach the conclusion that
nothing but war will satisfy the ma
| tons honor, is it too much to ask
that, by a referendum you consult
the wishes of those who must, in case
of war, defend the nations honor with
| their lives?
Cause insufficient.
LAS one who expects to live up to
a citizens duties, if war comes, plead
with you to use all honorable means
to preserve peace before you take the
responsibility of plunging our beloved
land into this unprecedented struggle,
begun without any sufficient cause,
and conducted by both sides in utter
disregard of the well settled rights of
neutrals."
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