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MR. BRYAN'S SPEECH BEFORE
THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
Mr. Bryan's speech beforo the Inter-parlia-montary
Union at London, July 2G, 190G, was as
"follows:
Mr Prosfdonf and Gentlemen of the Inter
parliamentary Union: I regret that I can not
speak to you in the language which Is usually
employed in this body, but I only know one
language, the language of my own country, and
you will pardon mo if I use that. I desire in
the first place to express my appreciation of the
courtesy shown me by Lord Weardale, our presi
dent, and by Baron von Plener, the chairman of
the committee which framed the model treaty.
The latter has framed this substitute embodying
both of the ideas (investigation and mediation)
which were presented yesterday. I appreciate the
superior wisdom and the greater experience of
this learned committee which has united the two
propositions and I thank this body also for the
opportunity to say just a word in defense of my
part of the resolution. I can not say that it is a
new idea, for since it was presented yesterday I
have learned that the same idea in substance was
presented last year at Brussells by Mr. Bartholdt,
of my own country who. has been so conspicuous
in his efforts to promote peace, and I am very
glad that I can follow in his footsteps in the urg
ing of this amendment. I may add also that it
is in line with the suggestion made by the hon
orable prime minister of Great Britain, Sir Henry
Campbell-Bannerman, in that memorable and
epoch-making speech of yesterday, in that speech '
which contained several sentences anyone of
Which would have justified the assembling of this
Inter-parliamentary Union anyone of which would
have compensated us all for coming here. In that
splendid speech he expressed the hope that the
scope of arbitration treaties may be enlarged. tHe
said:
"Gentlemen, I fervently trust that before
long the principle of arbitration may win
such confidence as to justify its extension to
a wider field of international differences. We
have already seen how questions arousing
passion and excitement have attained a solu- '
tlon, not necessarily by means of arbitration -in
the strict sense of the word, but by refer
ring them to such a tribunal as that which
reported on the North Sea incident; and I
would ask you whether it may not be worth,
while carefully to consider, before the next
congress meets at The Hague, the various
forms in which differences might be submit
ted, with a view to opening the door as wide
.. as possible to every means which might in
any degree contribute to moderate or com
pose such differences."
. This amendment is in harmony with this
suggestion. The resolution is in the form of a
postscript to the treaty, but like the postscripts
of Borne letters it contains. a very vital subjectin
fact, I am not sure but the postscript in this case
Is as important as the letter itself, for it deals
with those questions which have defied arbitra
tion. Certain questions affecting the honor or
Integrity of a nation are considered outside of the
jurisdiction of a court of arbitration, and these
are the questions which have given trouble. Pas
sion Is not often aroused by questions that do
not affect a nation's integrity or honor, but for
fear these questions may arise arbitration is not
always employed where it might be. The first
advantage, then, of this resolution is that it se
cures an investigation of the facts, and if you
can but separate the facts from the question of
honor, the chances are 100 to 1 that you can set- m
tie both the fact and the question of honor with
out war. There is, therefore, a great advantage
in an investigation that brings out the facts, for
disputed facts between nations, as between
friends, are the cause of most disagreements.
The second advantage of this investigation
is that it gives time for, calm consideration. That
has already been well presented by the gentleman
who has preceded mo, Baron von Plener. I need
not say to you that man excited is a very differ
ent animal from man calm, and that questions
ought to be settled not by passion, but by delib
eration. If this resolution would do nothing else
but give time for reflection and deliberation,
there would be sufficient reason for its adoption.
If we can but stay the hand of war until con
science can assert itself, war will be made more
remote. When men are mad they swagger around
and tell what they can do; when they are calm
they consider what they ought to do.
The third advantage of this Investigation is
that it gives opportunity to-mobilize public opin
ion for the compelling of a peaceful settlement
and that is an advantage not to be overlooked.
Public opinion is coming to be more and more
a power in the world. One of the greatest states
men of my country Thomas Jefferson, and if it
would not offend I would say I believe him to be
the greatest statesman the world has produced
said that if he had to choose between a govern
ment without newspapers and newspapers with
out a government he would rather risk the news
papers without a government. You may call it
an ' extravagant statement, and yet it presents
an Idea, and that idea is that public opinion Js
a controlling force. I am glad that the time is
coming when public opinion Is to .be more and
more powerful; glad that the time is coming
when the moral sentiment of one nation will
influence the action of other nations; glad that
,the time is coming when the world will realize
that a war between two nations affects others
than the nations involved; glad that the time is
coming when the world will insist that nations
settle their differences by some peaceful means.
If time is given for the marshalling of the force
of public opinion peace will be promoted. This
resolution is presented, therefore, for the reasons
that it gives an opportunity to investigate the
facts, and to separate them from the question of
honor, that it gives time for the calming of pas
sion, and that it gives time for the formation of
a controlling public sentiment.
I will not disguise the fact- that I consider
this resolution a long step in the direction of
peace, nor will I disguise the fact that I am here
because I-want this Interparliamentary Union to
take just as long a step as possible in the direc
tion of universal peace. We meet in a famous
hall, and looking down upon us from these walls
are pictures that illustrate not only the glory
that is to be won in war, but the horrors that
follow war. There is a picture of one of the
great figures in English history, (pointing to
the frescoe by Maclise of the death of Nelson).
Lord Nelson is represented as dying, and around
him are the mangled forms of others. I under
stand that war brings out certain virtues. I am
aware that it gives opportunity for the display
of great patriotism; I am aware that the examplo
of men who give their lives for their country
is inspiring; but I venture to say there is as
much Inspiration in a noble life as there is in
a heroic death, and I trust that one of the results
of this Interparliamentary-Union will be to em
phasize the doctrine that a life devoted to the
public, and ever flowing, like a spring, with good,
exerts an influence upon the human race and
upon the destiny of, the world as great as any
death in war. And if you will permit me to men
tion one whose career I watched with interest
and whose name I revere, I will say that, In my
humble judgment, the sixty-four years of spotless
public service of William Bwart Gladstone will,
in years to come, be regarded as as rich an orna
ment to the history of this nation as the life of
any man who poured out his blood upon a battle
field. All movements in the interest of peace have
back of them the idea of brotherhood. If peace
is to come in this world, it will come because peo
"ple more and more clearly recognize the Indis
soluble tie that binds each human being to every
other. If we are to build permanent peace it
must be on the foundation of the brotherhood of
men. A poet has described how in the civil war
that -divided our country into two hostile camps
a generation ago- in one battle a soldier in one
line thrust his bayonet through a soldier in the
opposing line, and how, when he stooped to draw
it out, he recognized in the face of the fallen
one, the face of his brother. And then the poet
describes the feeling of horror that overwhelmed
the survivor when he realized that he had taken
the life of one who was the child of the same
parents and the companion of his boyhood. It
was a pathetic story, but is it too much to hope
that as years go by we will begin, to understand
that the whole human race is but a larger family?
It is not too much to hope that as years go
by liuman sympathy will expand until this feel
ing of unity will not be confined to the members
of a family or to the members of a clan or of
a community or state but shall be world-wide. It
is not too much to hope that we, in thiB assembly,
possibly by this resolution, may hasten the day
when we shall feel so appalled at the thought
of the taking of any human life that we shall
strive to raise all questions to a level where the
settlement will be by reason and not by force.
At the conclusion of Mr. Bryan's speech the
amended resolution was unanimously adopted.
It reads as follows:
"If a disagreement should arise between
the contracting parties which is not one to
be submitted to arbitration, they shall not
resort to any act of hostility before they,
separately or jointly, invite, as the case may
necessitate, the formation of an international
commission of inquiry or the mediation of one
or more friendly powers. This requisition
will take place, if necessary, according to
Article VBXN of The Hague convention for
the peaceful settlement of international
conflicts."
European Newspapers And The Peace Amendment
Extracts from European newspaper comments
on Mr. Bryan's address before the Inter-parlia-
mentary Union at London, follow:
The Westminster Gazette, in its issue of July
25, says: "We need not say that we have the
utmost sympathy with the sentiments expressed
by Mr. Bryan in his speech to the Inter-parliamentary
conference yesterday. A great step
would, indeed, bo taken towards securing the
iiuuuu oi me woria ir it could be laid down as a
general principle that nations in controversy with
each other should not have recourse to hostilities
before having jointly or separately demanded an
uiwraauraai commission of inquiry or the media
tion of a friendly power. That, as Mr. Bryan
said, would at least give a delay in which pas
sions might cool arid tho public opinion favorable
to peace be mobilized. Nor is u nitnmfiiin
hopeless ideal, as our own experience in the
iNorm aea incident nas shown. But the practi
cal difficulty is that, while the peace parties are
concentrating on this proposal for delay, the
military experts are more and more agreeing to
gether on the immense advantages of snatching
the initiative in case of war. Attacks before a
declaration of war are now the theme of military
and naval essayists, and, unless we can interpose
some definite veto of international law, the ten
dency will be to rush rather than to delay hos
tilities, and the. power which hangs back at the
critical moment, in order to Invoke arbitration,
may be exposed to a heavy penalty for its virtue.
By all means let the peace parties continue to
preach patience and conciliation, but let them
also as practical men take note of this contrary
drift of military and -naval opinion, and see
whether it can not be checked by international
law."
The Evening Standard and St. James -Gazette
of July 25, says: "Mr. Bryan's speech made
a great impression on the inter-parllamentary
conference. It was not only eloquent but it
shadowed forth a high ideal and speeches with
that dual attribute are sure to touch the
imaginations of men. In stating the case for
arbitration among nations from the loftiest point
or view stating it, moreover; in silvern speech
Mr. Bryan aroused in his hearers a momentary
enthusiasm for the brotherhood of man and the
cause of universal peace. Seeing that that was
the effect of his words, we regret his audience
was limited. For the cause is one which can
well be served by inspiring eloquence, and until
the inspiration of -peace touches the heart of
mankind, the progress of arbitration will be
hampered."
The Standard of July 25 says: "Tf we are
to build permanent peace, it must be on the
brotherhood of man!' These words were ad
dressed yesterday to the peace copgress meeting
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