prmr
The Commoner
JULY, 1915
Republican Solicitude
Unnecessary
Tho republican press has seized upon Mr. Bry
an's resignation as an excuse for giving expres
sion to a vast amount of unnecessary solicitude.
Tho editors who have made it their business for
several decades to point out tho menace involved
in democratic success are now lying awake nights
worrying about the possibility of discord in the
democratic household. Insomnia is such a
frightful disease that the democrats, out of hu
man sympathy if for no other reason, ought to
exert themselves to allay these fears. What is
there in Mr. Bryan's resignation that can give
hope or encouragement to a republican? No per
sonal element enters into it; it was simply an
irreconcilable difference of opinion as to the
methods to bo employed for settling a disputo .
which had arisen between this country and Ger
many. Unless the veracity of both the president
and Mr. Bryan is to be impeached, the
sole cause of the resignation is set forth in the
letter of resignation and in the letter accept
ing it.
This is not like a republican quarrel over .office
it is not a conflict between two ambitions. Tn
other words, it is not a Chicago (republican)
contest, with two men splitting the party rather
than that either should surrender to the other
the prize which they both coveted. The fact that
the republicans and progressives are "getting
together" without any change in principle or
policy shows that it was not a principle or policy
that ruptured tho party.
The president and his secretary of state were
seeking to promote peace but they differed as to
the methods most likely to result in peace. They
agreed to disagree they separated, each res
pecting the other's position. Their purposes
havo not changed their zeal for the party's wel
fare has not abated they aro alike wedded to
the principles and policies for which the demo
cratic party stands.
The republicans aro singularly dull of compre
hension if tliey think that the difference beween
tho president and Mr. Bryan will redound to the
benefit of tho republican party.
W. J. BRYAN.
A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW
Before leaving Washington for tho west, Mr.
Bryan gave out the following statement to the
press under date of June 27:
"I have noticed that a number of the jingo
papers are publishing a statement to the effect
that after the sending of the first note to Ger
many, I gave Ambassador Dumba the impression
that the note was not intended to be taken se
riously. I am not willing that the uninformed
shall be misled by that portion of the press
which is endeavoringlo force this country into
war.
"I reporjted to the president the conversation
which I had with Mr. Dumba, and I received uia
approval of what I said. When we learned the
conversation has been mkepresented in Berlin,
I brought the matter to the attention of Mr.
Dumba, and secured from him a statement cer
tifying to the correctness of the report of the
conversation which I had made to the president.
"Ambassador Dumba's statement was sent to
our embassy at Berlin and Ambassador Dumba
also telegraphed the German government affirm
ing the correctness of my report of the inter-
v'ew and denying the construction that had been
placed upon it. These are the facts in the
case."
Tho suggestion of Governor Whitman as a re
publican candidate for president has apparently
had a bad effect on the New York executive or
Possibly he is listening to the boys at his ear
hinting that political suicide lies along the, road
f being a people's governor, a title he bore as a
candidate for chief executive. The certainty that
William Barnes, jr., will be the leader of the
New York delegation in the next republican na
t.ional convention must make the governor won
der if it would be worth while being a candidate.
In the frontier days a large percentage of the
men who walked the streets of the cattle or min
ing towns went prepared for war trouble, me
small minority did not carry guns. Anybody wno
has ever read tho story of the wild days of the
e'st will recall that tho graves in the "lc
eteryere invariably filled by the "killers, me
unarmed minority usually lied in bed.
AN ODE TO FREEDOM
(By Edwin Markham, author of "Tho Man
with the Hoe, and Other Poems." Read at In
dependence Day celebration, July 5, 1915, Pan
ama Pacific Exposition.)
Hero in tho forest now.
As on that old July
When first our conscript fathers took the vow,
The bluebird, stained with oarth and sky,
Shouts from a blowing bough
In green aerial freedom, wild and high.
And now, as then, tho bobolink,
Out on tho uncertain brink
Of the swaying alder, swings,
Loosing his song out, link by golden link;
While over tho wood his proclamation rings,
A daring boast that would unkingdom kings!
Even so the wild birds sang on bough and will
That day the Bell of Independence Hall
Thundered around the world tho Word of Man,
That day when Liberty began
And mighty hopes were blowp on every sea.
But Freedom calls her conscripts now as then
Calls for heroic men:
It is an endless battle to be free.
As the old dangers lessen from the skies,
New dangers rise.
Down the long centuries to be,
Again, again, will rise Thermoplae
Again, again, a new Leonidas
Will hold for God tho imperilled Pass.
As tho long ages run
New Lexington will riso on Lexington;
And many a Warren fall
Upon the endangered wall.
Yet the black smoke of battle, it will pass
Sometime, sometime like vapor from glass.
There will be rest for all the weary flags,
And rest for bugles on tho battle crags.
Still there will be no rest for man's strong soul-'
Before him shines an ever-flying goal.
Still must he seek for freedom evermore:
No halt for any soul on any shore.
Man is tho conscript of an endless quest,
A long divine adventure without rest.
Each hard-earned freedom withers to a bond:
Freedom forever is beyond beyond!
The National Security league has been sending
letters broadcast to the clergv asking them to
speak on "National Defense," and suggesting
several to.pics. Frederick Lynch, editor of the
Christian Work, who received one of these let
ters, wrote the New York Times that in the opin
ion of the ministry of the country "if there ever
was a time when great nations as well as great
men should be thinking of what they can do for
the rest of the world rather than of taking care
of themselves it is now." Mr. Lynch also wrote
that a referendum he recently took showed Uiat
twenty-nine out of every thirty were opposed to
the movement for an increased armament.
The New York World (Uncovered, in thin com
munication from Henry J. F Truelson of Bel
field N. D., printed in its June 21st Issue, that
it was not voicing tho sentiments of the people In
its denunciations of Mr. Bryan: "After canvass
ing fortv-seven vtes in regard to tho resigna
tion of Mr. W. J. Bryan, among professional men
and farmers in his community, the following Is
the result: Forty-six approved of Mr. Bryan s
course and but one was in favor -f the presi
dent's course. Among them are nino democrat,
personally known to me. The people here do
not want war at any price."
The entire effort of those gentlemen who are
now nointing the republican party in tho way
SSt IMs Warv to ro in order to achieve snr,
pVss is directed towards making the people be
liw that the business interests are opposed to a
insinuation of the democratic partv in power.
Just note what business Interests in vour section
a?P objecting to tho democratic policies .and you
win ce a very fa'r idea of the kind of busings
EVIrEk thaaro graUr looking boimfnllr
towards the reincarnation of the old republican
party. ,
A Nebraska woman has btjen waiting for fifty
threo years for the return of her husband, and
is reported as still cheerful. This is not men
Honed particularly as an item of interesting
news out to encourage that part of Big Business
E 'i i waiting for the return of old and to it
happy conditions. It proves that human endur
ance is limitless.
GERMAN NOTE CHANGED
Tho Washington Pont of Juno 13, 1915, con
tained the following news (torn:
"Formor Secretary of State Bryan, who re
signed his portfolio rather than nlgn the second
noto to Germany, issued another statement late
yesterday, declaring that tho note was mntcrlHl
ly revised following tho presentation of his res
ignation. Tho revision, Mr. Bryan averred,
softened tho noto, but wan not sufficient to jus
tify him in withdrawing his resignation.
"It Is true," said Mr. Bryan, "that I saw the
final draft of tho noto Just boforo my resignation
took effect, but it contained an Important change.
I had no knowledge of this cliango at tho time
my resignation wns tendered and nccopted.
"This change, while very much softening the,
noto, was not, however, sufficient. In my Judg
ment, to justify me in asking permission to with
draw my resignation.
"As Germany had ouggested arbitration, I felt
that wo could not do less than reply to this offer
by expressing a willingness to apply tho prin
ciples of tho pcaco treaties to the cane."
"What was tho change In the noto?" Mr. Bry
an was asked.
. "T can not discuss that," ho replied.
It was suggested that tho claiiBO added to the
noto was that saying tho United Btatos would
entertain anv evidence Germany might havo that
officials of this government had not thoroughly
performed their duty in examining tho Lusltanla
before her departure to sco that she wan not
armed for offensive action. Mr. Bryan only
smiled at tho suggestion.
Secretary Lansing also declined to discuss
changes made in tho noto.
Tho clauso rof erred to follows:
"If the Imperial German government should
deem itself to ho In possession of convincing
evidence that the officials of tho government of
tho United States did not perform these duties
with thoroughness the government of the
United States sincerely hopes that it will submit
that evidenco for consideration."
"Irrespective of whether that clause was In
serted or not," Mr. Bryan was asked, "does it
not open the way for further negotiations with
Germany?"
"I can only reiterate what I havo said, that
tho noto wan softened," Mr. Bryan replied, "but
not sufficiently to justify me in asking permis
sion to withdraw my resignation."
INTERVIEW IJY Mil. BRYAN
Tho following Interview was published June
12. 1915:
Tho next two weeks will bo devoted largely
to rest. During tho two years and three month
which have elapsed since I entered tho state
department I havo had but llttlo vacation con
siderably less than the time which tho law gives
to all government employees. If any historian
is interested enough to examine tho record he
will find that no former secretary has been at
his desk a greater number of hours each day or
p. greater number of days In the year, and I am
nuro none of my predecessors has had to deal
with more problems of tho first magnitude. It
has been a long and severe strain, and Mrs.
Bryan has shared it with mo. We both feel the
need of rest and shall avail ourselves of this
opportunity to securo it. We shall go to Old
Point Comfort tonight, spend Sunday and Mon
day there, and return Tuesday morning. By that
time we shall havo our plans matured for the
remainder of Juno and possibly for a longer
period.
MR, BRYAN CONGRATULATES SECRETARY
LANSING
Juno 24, 1915,
My dear Mr. Secretary:
Allow mo to extend to you my cordial con
gratulations and to let you know how much
gratified I am that you have been selected as
my successor. The year .during which we have
been associated together In the state department
has given me an opportunity to become inti
mately acquainted with you, and confidence and
affection havo followed acquaintance.
May every success attend you, personally and
officially.
Mrs. Bryan joins me In kindest regards to Mr.
Lansing and in good wishes for you both.
With assurances of respect, I am, my dear
Mr. Secretary,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) W. J. BRYAN.
Honorable Robert Lansing,
Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.