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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1906)
irrr ' I V . Mtf l."4 -"r - ' AUGUST 17, 1306 The Commoner. ww'ij'fjgrr.- European Newspapers And The Peace Amendment at the Royal Gallery, house of lords, by one o America's political gladiators Mr. W. J. Bryan,' who has already fought one strenuous contest for the chief magistracy of tho North American republic, and who, if rumor speaks truly, will wage,another in a couple of years' time. It was known that the famous orator would address tho congress shortly after its meeting, and as a re sult the hall was well filled at tho outset with an audience on the tiptoe of expectation. A good speech was expected, and those who listened were not disappointed. Mr. Bryan's fine voice rang like a silver clarion through tho spacious gallery music to the ear, even of those who did not understand the language in which he was speaking whilst his imposing presence captivat ed the eyes. The audience was spellbound when Mr. Bryan mounted the tribune, nor was tho effect dissipated as his words went out. There was something in the melodious voice which brought home to old British parliamentarians a recollection of the mellifluous accents of John Bright." The Daily Mail, of July 25, says: "Although French is the official language of the inter-parliamentary union, -Mr. W. J. Bryan used his native tongue yesterday in the eloquent and characteris tic speech in which he advocated an appeal be fore resort to war to impartial arbitration on any issue, whether it fell within tho competence of an arbitration" treaty or not." The London correspondent for the Paris edi tion of the New York Herald, says: "A great speech on the benefits of arbitration was deliv ered yesterday at the Westminster conference of the Representatives of the world's parliaments by Mr. William Jennings Bryan. 'The silver tongued orator,' says the Standard, was in hig best form, his eloquence completely taking the assembly by storm. At the close of his speech the delegates cheered for fully a minute, and some of them were so deeply moved they rushdd. forward and shook Mr. Bryan by the hand. Tho speech, was made in reply to the announcement of Baron von Plener, of Austria, that an amend ment which Mr. Bryan had put forward was to be combined with the original resolution. The council's proposal provided only for the media tion In a dispute of friendly powers, but Mr. Bryan wished to lay it down that contracting parties should agree to a reference to a cominis eion of inquiry. The resolution as altered and adopted read: 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 sep arately or jointly invite, as the case may neces sitate, the formation of an international commis sion of inquiry or the mediation of one or more friendly powers. This requisition will take place, if necessary, according to Article VIII. of The Hague convention for the peaceful settlement of international affairs When Mr. Bryan rose to speak he had a great reception." The Paris edition of the New York Herald makes the following editorial reference: "Mr. Bryan's reputation as a public speaker, already well known In tho United States, was enhanced Internationally yesterday by an eloquent address in London, delivered before the conference of the inter-parliamentary union. His subject, broad ly speaking, was arbitration versus armament, and his handling of it caused great enthusiasm among his hearers. A report of Mr. Bryan's speech appears on the first page." The London Daily Express for July 25, says: "The leading feature of yesterday's sitting of the inter-parliamentary conference at Westminster was a speech by the silver-tongued orator of America, Mr. W. J. Bryan. The stately Victoria hall was crowded early with delegates from all countries. Even a representative from Japan came to give greeting to his brother legislators. The delegates entered in groups, chattering and gesticulating. The attendants were kept busy. All the visitors areTiot accustomed to English habits. 'Votre chapeau,' said one attendant to a 'portly gentleman, who was looking absently around him. The stranger did not grasp the meaning till the attendant shot a hand out to wards the hat perched jauntily on the offending deputy's head. Then it was promptly removed. They walked around, studied the great picture on the wall that faced the canopy, and talked on regardless of the chairman's opening speech. Sud denly an awed silence fell upon the assembly. A portly, impressive man was on his feetT It was the man who may sometime be America's presi dent It was a peace speech terse, rapid, epi grammatical. He pleaded for arbitration In Ques tions generally considered out of tho sphere of. arbitration. Tho special advantages of arbltra tionwero, he said, that facts could bo separated from questions of honor; that it gavo time for calm consideration; that It permitted tho 'mobili zation of public opinion In favor of peace.' " Tho London Times of July 25, prints a long editorial, from, which this extract is-takon; "Mr. Bryan's eloquent speech to tho conference yos torday should do much to rekindle Interest in , those issues. Tho well-known American orator covered a wide range a wider range, Indeed, than may seem to most people to bo within practical bounds today. But tho force and fire of such, an appeal are not lost because they transcend the actual. It was well that tho conference should set about their labors with such inspiring words ringing In their ears, and it was appropriate enough, at this moment, that those words should havo fallen from an American speaker." From the news report of the London Times, the following is taken: "Great interest was tak en in tho subject aB It was known that Mr. Bryan, whoso fame as an orator is world-wide, would speak in support of his amendment Before the conference met an arrangement was come to, whereby the resolution and the amendment wore combined. Mr. Bryan, whoso appearance at tho tribune was greeted with loud cheers, spoke in support of the resolution In its altered form. Ho was heard with tho greatest attention, and was frequently applauded as ho made his points in favor of the settlement of disputes by peaceful means. His speech was the outstanding feature of the -day's deliberations, but the rest of tho proceedings was followed with marked attention and interest by tho delegates." From the London Times' news report of tho luncheon given In Westminster hall, at which luncheon Mr. Bryan spoke, the following is taken: "The lord chancellor, in proposing 'The Inter-parliamentary Union,' said that ho esteemed it a conspicuous honor that he had been privi leged to take the chair on that occasion, when so many had come from tho uttermost parts of the earth in order to attend that conference. There were assembled there men of many lan guages, many creeds and many nations, interested in subjects that stirred human nature to its depths; but he thought that already, short as tho time had been, they had discovered that they did possess common Ideals and common purposes. The chief among these was a craving for peace (cheers) and lie thought that there could be no more proper place for the expression of that wish than England, where every one, from tho sov-. ereign on the throne to the poorest person in his majesty's dominions, had but one feeling and one aspiration. He believed that It was not sufll pient to wish for peace; it was necessary to aim at methods by which it could be obtained. Tho first of those methods was by arbitration. (Cheers.) Ho would express his sympathy with the purposes expressed by Mr. Bryan in regard to arbitration. If time and deliberation could only he secured, the dangers of war would almost disappear, and he was looking forward to the time when those who had in obscurity struggled for the cause would stand 1n tho opinion of mankind alongside the greatest heroes who had secured victories In time of war. (Cheers.) Tho other method was diminution of armaments, as to which he would only say that an ounce of ex ample was worth a ton of precept, and he trusted that some nation might soon show an example in that respect (Cheers.) He concluded by ex pressing his cordial and hearty welcome to those who had done them the honor of coming there that day and by proposing the toast, coupled with the distinguished names of Count Apponyi, a famous -Hungarian statesman, xthe Hon. W. J. Bryan, one of the greatest orators and public men in the United States of America, and Baron d'Estournelles de Constant, than whom no one had rendered more service to the cause of inter national good will. (Loud cheers.) "Mr. Bryan, in the course of his speech, said that the rivalry in the building of warships might be illustrated by a simple story of three men who lived about a little lake. One of them, sus picious of the other two, decided to build a boat to protect himself in case of attack. Then the man who built the boat went to the next nearest neighbor and, pointing to the boat, took aside the second man and urged him to build two, so that he would be ready for the attack if the first man made it And having secured the building of the two hoats, ho went to the third man and pointed out that both the other neighbors had boats and that ho must have threo In ordor to bo prepared against the other two. By tho Umo ho had secured three ho could go to tho first man .and point out how Insufficient his protection was. (Laughter.) And so thcro was no limit to tho rivalry In regard to armaments but the absolute exhaustion of tho nation. Those present woro one in tholr dcslro for ponce, and that unity on that great question reminded him that as they got nearer tho heart thoir differences grow loss and less. Whllo ho feared tho plutocracy of wealth and respected tho aristocracy of learning, ho thanked God for tho democracy of tho heart (Cheers.) It was ono of tho objects of that Inter parliamentary conforenco to present to tho world nn Idoal consistent with peace, and that Ideal was that moral courago must not bo placed nolow physical courago in tho estimation of man's worth. (Cheers.) He would oven place it abovo, for man shared physical courago with tho bruto, hut in moral courago ho stood alone in God's universe. (Cheers.) Ho appreciated tho courago of tho man who, under the inspiration of shout and drum and fife, rushed Into tho midst of carnage and gavo his llfo for his country; but he ad mired no less tho moral courago of tho man who, in tho face of danger, not to body but to position in society, dared to stand steadfast against tho wrong and defy tho world if ho thought himself in tho right (Cheors.) Ho thought tho valtio of a human llfo had been too little consldored. Who was prepared to toll us that tho world had won more by war than it had lost? Ho could not lovo a God who mado man's progress depend upon his taking his brother's life, nor could ho revere a God who formed a plan of tho universe that made it necessary for men to fight and kill each other in order that they might reach the highest stage of human progress. He stood the other day by Shakespeare's birthplace, and he asked himself what tho world would have lost if, instead of devoting his genius to verse, Shakes peare had been a Tommy Atkins, and had in the early bloom of youth died upon some battlefield. Let them measure tho influence of such a life upon- tho world. (Cheers ) Ho otood lo by tho birthplace of the Scotch poet, and he asked what tlje world would havo lost If Burns had never sung his immortal songs to the world. (Cheers.) He rojoiccd In that poaco movement because it had for its object the elimination of .war and the promotion of tho world's welfare by peaceful means. (Cheers.)" SPECIAL OFFER Everyone who approves tho work Tho Com moner Is doing is invited to cooperate along tho lines of tho special subscription offer. Ac cording to the terms of this offer cards each good for ono year's subscription to The Commoner will bo furniBhed in lots of five, at the rate of $3 per lot. 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